A Dive Into The Career Scoring Race
Indiana Basketball Source dives into the six players in the 2018 class that could finish their careers with over 2,000 career points.
(A look at the updated top 150 career scoring list in Indiana)
Romeo Langford – Current Career Points: 2,513 – Current Season Average: 33.38 - Regular Season + 1 Sectional Game Remaining: 9
Langford is unlikely to catch Damon Bailey’s all-time career scoring record at this point. He’s currently seventh on the all-time list. He would really need to put his scoring into hyper-drive in order to catch Bailey. New Albany’s sectional is also tough with Floyd Central and Jeffersonville. New Albany is arguably the top team in the state, but the Bulldogs will have to fight to get out of their sectional. It is highly likely that Langford gets into the top four spots, if he plays out the season. He only needs 120 points to secure the fourth position. If New Albany reaches the 4A state title game, Langford would need to average 41.4 points per game the rest of the way to tie Damon Bailey’s record. That’s not out of reach, but it is unlikely.
Eric Hunter - Current Career Points: 2,288 – Current Season Average: 26.59 - Regular Season + Sectional Game Remaining: 7
Hunter sits at 15th on the all-time list. He needs 132 points to crack the top 10. If Hunter stays on his season pace, he will slip into the top 10 in Tindley’s second-to-last regular season game. Hunter would be able to reach as high as fifth if Tindley is able to get back to the 1A state title game. Langford would likely finish higher than Hunter even if Langford loses in the first game of the sectional and Hunter makes the state title game.
Jalen Moore – Current Career Points: 1,979 – Current Season Average: 37.9 - Regular Season + Sectional Game Remaining: 9
Jalen Moore has already scored 569 points with nine games left to be played for Cloverdale. At his current pace, Moore would finish with 2,320 if Cloverdale loses its first sectional game. Cloverdale doesn’t have a great chance to make the state finals like New Albany or Tindley, but they will be the favorites to win its sectional. If Cloverdale makes the regional round, Moore could reach the 10-12 range. 2017 Cloverdale alum Cooper Neese is currently eighth on the list with 2,496 points. It is possible but unlikely that Moore will pass him.
Mekhi Lairy – Current Career Points: 1,839 – Current Season Average: 26.4 - Regular Season + Sectional Game Remaining: 9
Lairy currently sits at 112th on the all-time scoring list. On his current pace, Lairy will get to 2,076 points if Bosse drops its first sectional game. Bosse, like New Albany and Tindley, has a great chance to make a deep run in the tournament. If Bosse makes the state title game, Lairy would finish in the top 15 of the all-time scoring list if he maintains his 26.4 points per game.
Robert Phinisee – Current Career Points: 1,805 – Current Season Average: 30.8 - Regular Season + Sectional Game Remaining: 7
Phinisee is having a huge senior year. At this pace, Phinisee will pass the 2,000 career point mark in McCutcheon’s first sectional game. If McCutcheon is able to win its sectional, Phinisee could finish in the top 35. Early in the year, it didn’t look like McCutcheon would be advancing beyond the sectional, but the Mavericks have been playing really well of late. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Phinisee lead McCutcheon on a postseason run.
Damezi Anderson – Current Career Points: 1,712 – Current Season Average: 20.47 - Regular Season + Sectional Game Remaining: 8
Anderson isn’t scoring quite as much as the others on this list this season. His points have been held back a bit since Riley has been blowing out most of its opponents. Riley is 15-0 on the season. Anderson is 31 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in South Bend history. Even if Riley is shocked in the sectional, Anderson has a good chance at breaking the top 100 all-time. Anderson would have a chance to break the 2,000 career point mark if Riley makes a deep run in the state tournament.