Braylon Mullins, Azavier Robinson, Trent Sisley are early favorites for 2024 Mr. Basketball
Flory Bidunga is officially 2024 IndyStar Mr. Basketball. The Kokomo star was named on 198 ballots to outdistance runner-up Jack Benter of Brownstown Central, who was named on 122 ballots from coaches and media from around the state.
Exactly a year ago at this time, after Penn’s Markus Burton won a runaway vote for 2023 Mr. Basketball, I had Bidunga, Benter and Brownsburg’s Kanon Catchings as the frontrunners for the 2024 award. Catchings moved to Atlanta and played his senior year at Overtime Elite. I had Franklin’s Micah Davis and Ben Davis’ K.J. Windham, also finalists, on the next five to watch. I did not have Keenan Garner of Fishers and Evan Haywood of Brebeuf Jesuit, the final two finalists, listed anywhere among 18 names. Whoops.
So, what does the landscape look like for next season’s Mr. Basketball? Like this season, I don’t expect this list below to be accurate a year from now. But knowing what we know now, here is how I see the field as it stands about six months from the start of the season:
Three to start with …
Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central
The 6-5 Mullins might not have been as high on this list a year ago, but a big-time junior season should make him one of the top names to watch for 2025. Mullins, now considered a top-100 prospect in the nation, averaged 25.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.2 steals for the Cougars, who were 24-0 before falling in the sectional championship to New Palestine. Mullins shot 43% (61-for-142) from the 3-point line as a junior. He will go into his senior season with 1,271 career points. Mullins’ recruitment will also be worth watching. Mullins has heavy interest from Indiana, Notre Dame and Iowa, among others. Greenfield-Central has not won a sectional title since 1998. Can he lead the Cougars to tournament success?
Azavier Robinson, Lawrence North
The 6-1 Robinson was named the Marion County Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 20.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game to lead Lawrence North to a 25-4 record, a Marion County tournament championship and sectional and regional titles in Class 4A. Lawrence North should again be one of the top 4A teams in the area and the state next season. Robinson, who has offers from a number of high-major programs, including Butler, Illinois, Indiana, Marquette, Notre Dame, Xavier and others, will go into his senior season with 1,370 career points.
Trent Sisley, Heritage Hills
The 6-7 Sisley had another monster season for the Patriots, leading his Class 3A team to a 19-5 record. Sisley averaged 24.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 blocked shots and 1.8 steals per game for Heritage Hills while shooting 60% from the field and 33.7% (28-for-83) from the 3-point line. Sisley, ranked as the No. 75 prospect in the country on the 247sports composite, is also involved in a recruiting battle that includes Indiana, Notre Dame and Purdue. He is already his school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,715 career points and figures to rise high on the state’s all-time list with a season similar to his junior year.
Next in line …
Dezmon Briscoe, Crispus Attucks
The back-to-back City Player of the Year averaged 14.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots as a junior. The 6-8 Briscoe shot 49% from the field and led Attucks to a 19-7 record and a City tournament championship, along with a championship at the Hall of Fame tournament. The team landscape will change a bit for Attucks going into next season as the Tigers move from Class 4A to 3A, but the route through the tournament might be nearly as difficult. Briscoe, a four-star prospect, has offers from Butler, Cincinnati, Iowa and others. He will go into next season with 880 career points.
Julius Gizzi, New Palestine
The 6-3 Gizzi might not have been included on one of these lists before the season. But now? He belongs. Gizzi averaged 28.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists for New Palestine (22-6), leading his team to a Class 4A sectional championship. He has 1,049 career points going into his senior season with a chance of passing his brother Maximus’ school record of 1,612 points. He shot 38.2% from the 3-point line as a junior (55-for-144).
Brady Koehler, Cathedral
The 6-9 Koehler was named a core Junior All-Star after a season that saw him average 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game for a team that finished 18-6. Koehler shot 38.6% from the 3-point line and 50% overall from the field. He has offers from Butler, Notre Dame and Wake Forest, among others.
Kellen Pickett, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian
The 6-9 Pickett averaged 20.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.8 blocked shots per game as a junior for a team that finished 22-7 and came one win from the Class 2A state finals. Pickett was a 54% shooter from the field, including 31% from the 3-point line (26-for-84). Pickett has offers from Central Florida, Purdue Fort Wayne and Valparaiso. He has 1,040 career points going into his senior season.
Tre Singleton, Jeffersonville
The 6-8 Singleton has the benefit of a strong finish to his junior season after helping Jeffersonville come within an eyelash (a one-point loss to Ben Davis in the semistate championship) of playing for a Class 4A state title. Singleton averaged 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the 20-8 Red Devils and shot 61% from the field. He has several mid-major offers, including Indiana State, Miami (Ohio), Valparaiso and Richmond.
Jack Smiley, Valparaiso
The 6-2 point guard had a monster junior season as he averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists for a 19-7 Valparaiso team. He shot 40.1% (57-for-142) from the 3-point line. Smiley has offers from Ohio and Valparaiso and will go into his senior season with 1,164 career points.
Mark Zackery IV, Ben Davis
Why not the 6-1 Zackery? He might be a higher-ranked football prospect (he will be on the short list of Mr. Football candidates going into the fall), but he is one of the best basketball players in the state. The point guard averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals and shot 39.4% from the 3-point line (37-for-94) as a junior, playing a high level in the tournament to help Ben Davis into the Class 4A state finals. Zackery has played on state championship teams in football (Class 6A as a junior) and basketball (Class 4A as a sophomore).
Other names to watch …
Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville: The 6-3 Cooper averaged 16.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists, and played his best basketball on a run to the Class 4A semistate championship game against Ben Davis (a one-point loss). He shot 41% (48-for-116) from the 3-point line.
JonAnthony Hall, Fishers: The 6-1 guard, like Zackery, is known as a football recruit. But he played a big role in Fishers’ Class 4A state title, averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals.
Cedric Horton, Richmond: The 6-5 Horton averaged 18.0 points and 5.6 rebounds for a 20-win Richmond team. He has mid-major offers, including Indiana State, Kent State and Miami of Ohio. Horton has scored 898 career points.
Damien King, Anderson: The 6-4 King averaged 23.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game and has several mid-major Division I offers. King has 839 career points.
Chase Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph: The 6-4 Konieczny played in a Class 3A state championship as a junior, averaging 20.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He shot 39.5% from the 3-point line and has 1,472 career points.
Dominque Murphy, East Chicago Central: The 6-5 Murphy averaged 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds for a 22-win sectional title team. He has already scored 1,369 career points.
And a few more: Chase Barnes, Fort Wayne Wayne; Gavin Betten, Manchester; Alex Couto, Carmel; Carter Kent, Jennings County; Maguire Mitchell, Zionsville; Joshua Renfro, Christian Academy; Papi Rivera, North Central; Drew Snively, Zionsville; Jaymen Townsend, Marion
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Mr. Basketball: Early look at 2025 top contenders
