(Chris Mantis from the 2019 NCAA Basketball Academy)
Every year, there are players that had strong arguments to make the Indiana All-Star team. This season, that list was a bit longer than usual. Here are the main omissions.
There was a list of 30 players that could have made the team, but here are the players that Indiana Basketball Source had the best cases to make the team.
The first tier of players that could have made it were Chris Mantis (Lowell), Colson Montgomery (Southridge), Jake Heidbreder (Floyd Central), and Quimari Peterson (Gary West Side). Mantis had a great career at Lowell and singlehandedly pulled Lowell to many victories this season. His fantastic senior season and consistent career earned a vote from Indiana Basketball Source. He will play his college career at Appalachian State.
Montgomery's postseason run to end his high school career will be remembered for a long time. He put Southridge on his back and nearly carried them to the 2A state title game. Southridge lost to Parke Heritage 40-36. Throughout the postseason, Montgomery scored the majority of the Raider points. It was a mind-blowing run by Montgomery.
Last year, Heidbreder helped Floyd Central win its first sectional title since 1989. The Highlanders had a strong season this year before losing to Jeffersonville on a last-second shot in triple overtime. Heidbreder was excellent all season as he carried Floyd Central in all areas. He posted a great final three seasons at FC.
Peterson helped the Cougars to the 4A semi-state before losing to the eventual champs, Carmel, in overtime. He also turned heads at the Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 60 workouts. He was a steady force for Gary West Side all season. With so many weapons around him, Peterson's outside shooting was able to shine. Last week, he committed to Indiana State.
With Furst and Kaufman-Renn locked into the team, there was not a major need for size from the players on the bubble. Once Blake Sisley was added, it likely shut out a group of really good players. This is a real team that will play games, so roster makeup is taken into account. LT Hatton (North Harrison), DJ Hughes (Lawrence North), Curt Hopf (Barr-Reeve) were the main contenders for the other frontcourt spots. All three had great high school careers.
Jayden Brewer was a bit of a wildcard. He posted up and down numbers as a junior at Avon. Then, he missed the first half of his senior year at Ben Davis due to an eligibility ruling by the IHSAA. Once he was on the court, Brewer was incredible. The six-foot-five wing is a superb athlete, but he made an impact in all areas. He made Ben Davis a sectional contender. Without him, Ben Davis does not win the sectional over Pike. Additionally, his efficiency went through the roof as a senior.
The list keeps going, but these were the players that stood out the most that did not make the 2021 Indiana All-Star team.