There were a handful of players in the 2019 FORUM Tip Off Classic that exceeded Indiana Basketball Source's expectations. Here's a look at those players. (Pictured: Kole Hornbuckle)
Anthony Ball – Southport – 2023 – 12 points, 14 rebounds.
Ball is an imposing athlete for a high school freshman. The six-foot-five Ball dominated in the paint. He has great length and strength, and Ball used those tools to hit the glass hard. He also finished at a high rate. Ball showed that he is a player worth tracking in the years to come.
Connor Lucas – Brownsburg – 2020 – 15 points
Lucas started off the year hot but didn't have a great game Friday night against Lawrence North. He bounced back with 15 points against Heritage Hills. He hit a few three-pointers that blew the game open for Brownsburg. Lucas also had a couple of finishes at the basket. It was a strong showing for him.
Charlie Williams – Carmel – 2022 – 12 points and seven rebounds.
Williams has had a good start to his sophomore season, but he upped his game against Reitz. His production of 12 points and seven rebounds was higher than expected. Williams helped Carmel grab control of the game. With his size and skill, Williams has great potential. As he gets stronger and more experienced, Williams is going to keep increasing his production and consistency.
Miles Wilkison – Greensburg – 2020 – 13 points and four rebounds.
Wilkison stepped up in the second quarter when the Pirates jumped in front of Southport. Wilkison did a good job of using his physical strength to score going to the basket. He was like a bowling ball heading towards the lane. He also pulled up for a couple elbow jumpers.
Kole Hornbuckle – Hamilton Southeastern – 2020 – 15 points, six rebounds, four assists.
Hornbuckle was efficient and effective across the board. He shot 6-8 from the field while racking up four assists as well. He even had a couple of steals. The production displayed what Hornbuckle can do when he is aggressive and on his game. With his size and athleticism from the guard spot, there isn't much that Hornbuckle can't do. He just needs to have this production more consistently.
Branden Northern – Silver Creek – 2022 – 17 points and three steals.
Although Northern has been a scoring threat for Silver Creek this year, the pregame focus was on Trey Kaufman and Kooper Jacobi battling against Caleb Furst. Northern was able to contribute at a high level through his speed and aggressiveness. The sophomore is a game-changer with his defensive ability. He has the ability to pressure the ball the length of the game for an entire game and usually does. Once he gets a steal, Northern turns it into Silver Creek points as well as anyone in Indiana high school basketball right now.