There are a lot of high school basketball players on the move. This is not a complete list – not even close – but 35 names to note from Central Indiana that are new to their schools this season:
A.J. Amos, Beech Grove: The 6-1 Amos is a physical guard who transferred from Lawrence North and should step into a big role right away for the Hornets.
Jeremiah Bellamy, Lawrence Central: The 6-4 junior averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a sophomore at North Central. I would expect Bellamy to either be a starter or one of the first two players off the bench for a talented Bears’ team.
Josh Bowers, Covenant Christian: The 6-9 Bowers is a junior at Covenant Christian after playing with the Northwest Warriors home school program previously. He averaged 12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots as a sophomore.
J.J. Craig, Lawrence Central: The 6-3 junior guard could be poised for a breakout year after averaging 5.1 points and shooting 38% from the 3-point line as a sophomore at Warren Central. He joins a talented Bears’ lineup.
Cash Daniels, Carmel: The 5-10 Daniels looks like a perfect fit for the Greyhounds, who have a lot of good pieces around the junior point guard. Daniels averaged 4.1 points and 2.1 assists last season for Cathedral.
Tyrone Elmore, Avon: The 6-4 senior actually started out at Avon as a freshman, then attended Mooresville as a sophomore and junior. Elmore averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in a 14-12 sectional title season for Mooresville.
Drelan Hainje-Vaden, Franklin Central: The 6-3 senior will not be eligible to play until the end of December per the transfer rule. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.0 rebounds as a junior at Phalen Academy. He is a likely starter for the Flashes when he returns.
Chris Hill, Lebanon: The Lebanon football team is still playing going into Friday’s Class 4A regional. Hill has been a big part of that success at quarterback for the Tigers and should help on the basketball court, too. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.4 assists at Bishop Chatard.
Parker Gibson, Tri-West: The 5-10 Gibson should factor into the starting lineup for the Bruins, who are coming off an 18-7 season. Gibson played on the junior varsity team last season at Lawrence Central.
Chandon Gilbert, Lawrence North: The 6-5 Gilbert, a sophomore, transferred from Warren Central after his freshman year. He was impressive in June for the Wildcats and is expected to start alongside the Wildcats’ veteran seniors.
Elexander Harris, Tech: The 6-foot guard, who started out at Tech, returns to the Titans after averaging 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals as a junior last season at Crispus Attucks. Harris shot 36% from the 3-point line.
Kenneth Lampley, Pike: The 6-6 Lampley, a junior transfer from Lawrence Central, played his freshman season at Tindley, where he averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Lampley has offers from Mississippi State and Rutgers.
Landon Lampley, Pike: The 6-7 sophomore is a four-star prospect ranked No. 35 in the country by 247sports. Lampley, a transfer from Lawrence Central, should have a big season for a talented Pike team. He has offers from Florida State, Mississippi State and Rutgers.
Lavell Love, Lawrence North: The 6-2 sophomore was one of the top scorers for Decatur Central last season, averaging 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Love shot 56% from the field for the Hawks.
Pai’re Loving, Washington: The 6-1 senior comes to Washington from Christel House, where he averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals as a junior.
Bryce Mathis, Scecina: The 6-1 guard had an outstanding junior football season and should add a lot to the Crusaders’ basketball program right away. Mathis averaged 15.8 points and 2.8 assists as a junior at Perry Meridian.
Josh McGee, University: The 6-2 senior guard is a projected starter for University, which is coming off a Class 2A state finals appearance and 20-10 season. McGee averaged 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals last season for Metropolitan.
Kai McGrew, Fishers: The 6-9 senior is one of the top players in the state. He averaged 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season for Lawrence North to earn Junior All-Star honors. McGrew should be an immediate impact player for Fishers.
Boomer Minch, Scecina: The 6-2 sophomore guard will be a main rotation player who could work his way into a starting role for the Crusaders. Minch was a junior varsity player last season at Guerin Catholic as a freshman.
Ibby Musa, Beech Grove: The 6-3 senior, a transfer from Decatur Central, could factor into a starting role for a Beech Grove team that has a lot of new pieces.
Joey Ortman, Roncalli: The 6-4 junior joins a veteran team that returns a lot of talent from last year’s 16-9 season. Ortman averaged 10 points and 3 rebounds last season as a sophomore for Greenwood.
Jevon Perry, Lutheran: The 6-5 Perry, a senior transfer from Ben Davis, should factor into the starting lineup for the Saints, who are coming off an 8-16 season. Perry played in seven varsity games last season for the Giants.
Gavin Petty, Lawrence Central: The 6-6 Petty is a talented senior who played at North Central his first three seasons. He averaged 10.3 points and 2.7 rebounds as a junior, shooting 34% from the 3-point line.
Trey Schabel, Speedway: The 5-10 junior guard is a projected starter for the Sparkplugs after averaging 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season at Cloverdale. New coach Bobby Wonnell expects Schabel to be an impact player.
Derek Scott Jr., Tindley: The 5-11 senior guard, who transferred at midseason last year from Tindley to Gary 21st Century, is back with the Tigers and expected to be a big part of the team after averaging 11.7 points, 3.2 steals and 2.0 assists last season.
Tiyon Sibande, Beech Grove: The 6-3 junior, a transfer from Crispus Attucks, is expected to be part of the main rotation for the Hornets.
Elijah Smith, Park Tudor: The 5-10 junior guard, a transfer from Brebeuf Jesuit, should factor into the rotation this season for the Panthers. Smith played on the junior varsity last season for the Braves.
Zach Tansel, Guerin Catholic: The 6-foot guard played in 11 games last season as a sophomore for Hamilton Southeastern, averaging 2.1 points per game. He will likely come off the bench for the Golden Eagles.
Bles’sed Thomas, Crispus Attucks: The 6-foot Thomas is a big addition for the Tigers after averaging 13.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists as a sophomore at Tech. Thomas shot 38% from the 3-point line for the Tigers.
Britton Thomas, Lawrence North: The 6-4 Thomas, a senior, will be a main rotation player for the Wildcats.
Caleb Wells, Lawrence Central: The 6-5 junior, who played his first two seasons at Seckinger High School in Buford, Ga., should step right into the starting lineup and be an impact player for the Bears.
Vincent Wells, Lawrence Central: The 6-foot senior, the older brother of Caleb, comes to Lawrence Central from Seckinger High School (Ga.) and will be a valuable player in the guard rotation.
Miles Wiley, Park Tudor: Wiley, a 6-1 senior guard, also played football and is a standout in track and field. Wiley transferred from Carmel, where he averaged 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 16 games as a junior. He is a projected starter for Park Tudor.
Chrishon Woodward, Brownsburg: The 6-5 Woodward will add a lot for Brownsburg. He averaged 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals as a junior at North Central, shooting 55% from the field.
Jordan Yates, Tindley: The 6-4 sophomore is coming off a strong freshman season at Shortridge, averaging 8.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game.
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