IHSAA boys basketball top sophomore standouts in Central Indiana
It was a breakout season for several sophomores in high school basketball. Here are 30 Central Indiana players from the 2026 class who produced for their respective teams this season:
Keaton Aldridge Jr., Cathedral
The 6-4 Aldridge had a big year for the Fighting Irish, averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game for a 18-6 team. Aldridge posted four games of 20-plus points and shot 56% from the field.
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David Brigham Jr., Christel House Manual
The 6-1 guard averaged 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game for Christel House, shooting 46% from the field, including 35% from the 3-point line.
Caden Claxton, Shelbyville
The 5-9 guard averaged 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as Shelbyville went 11-12 to post its highest win total in five years. Claxton has scored 521 career points in two seasons.
Justin Curry, Noblesville
The 6-3 Curry averaged 10.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the 22-3 Millers, who fell just short in the sectional championship against No. 1 Fishers. Curry shot 36% (41-for-114) from the 3-point line.
Tyrone Elmore, Mooresville
The 6-3 Elmore averaged 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists this season for Mooresville. He shot 52% from the field and 70% from the free-throw line.
Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon
The 6-2 left-handed point guard played in just the final six games of the season due to a football injury but is one of the top players in the class. He averaged 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in his limited time, shooting 9-for-24 from the 3-point line.
Roosevelt Franklin, Washington
The 6-2 guard helped the Continentals to their first sectional championship since the 1995 season in Class 3A. Franklin averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game for a 14-13 team.
Grady Gardner, Martinsville
Martinsville will have a new coach after Kip Staggs retried but that person will have some good pieces to build around, starting with the 6-2 Gardner. He averaged 16.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists last season, shooting 41.1% from the 3-point line.
Albert Gooden III, Lawrence Central
The 6-foot guard averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals for the 12-10 Bears. Gooden shot 52% from the field, including 38.1% from the 3-point line. Gooden was also Lawrence Central’s leading rusher on the football team as a sophomore.
DeZhon Hall, Pike
The 6-4 Hall played in just 13 games due to injury in his first season at Pike but averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He was offered by Illinois, Texas A&M and Wisconsin last fall.
Evan Harrell, Carmel
The 6-8 Harrell played his best basketball in the second half of the season, averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists for a team that finished 12-11 after a slow start. He shot 49% from the field and 81% from the free-throw line.
Elexander Harris, Tech
The 6-foot guard averaged 14.0 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals this season for a Tech team that improved to 15-9 after going 9-15 the previous season.
Edward Hazelett Jr., Franklin Central
The 6-7 Hazelett averaged 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the Flashes, who reached the Marion County tournament championship. Hazelett has offers from Indiana State and Kent State and interest from several high-major programs.
Doron Harris, Lawrence Central
The 6-1 point guard averaged 9.2 points, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals and 1.5 rebounds for the Bears, who finished 12-10. Harris shot 33.3% from the 3-point line in 22 games.
James Kalala, Southport
The 6-7 Kalala averaged 11.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game. He shot 53% from the field. Kalala posted seven double doubles.
Kai McGrew, Lawrence North
The 6-8 McGrew averaged 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game to help the Wildcats to a 25-4 record, Marion County tournament title and Class 4A regional championship. McGrew shot 55% from the field.
Drew Matelic, Speedway
The 6-3 guard averaged 14.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game, shooting 32.5% from the 3-point line. He scored at least 10 points in each of his final 17 games.
Brennan Miller, Lawrence North
The 6-7 Miller averaged 9.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game to help the Wildcats to a 25-win season and regional championship. Miller shot 51% from the field, including 10-for-30 from the 3-point line (33.3%).
Jedidiah Minnett, Avon
The shooting guard averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 assists per game to help Avon to a 15-11 season and the program’s first sectional championship in five years. Minnett shot 33.1% (47-for-142) from the 3-point line.
Mar Nicholson, Shelbyville
The 6-5 Nicholson averaged 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the 11-12 Golden Bears, shooting 51% from the field.
Ethan Roseman, Bishop Chatard
The 6-foot Roseman averaged 22.2 points, 4.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game this season for the Trojans.
Eli Sego, Triton Central
The 6-foot Sego averaged 17.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.3 assists this season for the 16-7 Tigers. He shot a blistering 44.8% (43-for-96) from the 3-point line.
Julien Smith, Mt. Vernon
The 6-foot guard averaged 14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for a 15-9 team. Smith shot 34% from the 3-point line. He has scored 674 points in his two seasons at Mt. Vernon.
Noah Smith, Plainfield
The 6-8 Smith averaged 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for the 15-8 Quakers. Smith, who shot 56% from the field, including 12-for-37 from the 3-point line, has an offer from Indiana State.
Joe Taylor, Roncalli
The 6-7 Taylor put together a strong season in his first varsity campaign, averaging 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. He shot 59% from the field, including 50% (17-for-34) from the 3-point line.
Jamar Thomas, Lawrence North
The 6-5 Thomas did not see a lot of playing time on a deep team but made the most of it by averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds. With his size and athleticism, Thomas should be a key contributor for the Wildcats moving forward.
Elijah Tricker, Danville
The 5-9 point guard averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for the 22-4 Warriors, who reached the Class 3A semistate. Tricker improved his shooting numbers across the board from his freshman year, hitting 50% from the field and 70% from the free-throw line.
Baron Walker, Noblesville
The 6-1 Walker played his way into a key role as a knock-down outside shooter (30-for-53 from 3 for 57%), averaging 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the 22-3 Millers. Walker should be a big part of Noblesville’s core the next two seasons.
R’mani Wells, Mt. Vernon
The 6-4 Wells averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds as a sophomore for Mt. Vernon after averaging 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds as a freshman.
Cameron Webster, Lawrence North
The 5-10 Webster averaged 3.7 points, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 rebounds this season off the bench in 22 games for the Wildcats. Webster gives Lawrence North a spark.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Top sophomores in Central Indiana boys basketball from 2023-24 season