(Xavier Booker from April)

 

The 2021 FORUM Tipoff Classic displays dozens of college prospects over the six games. Here is a look at the event's top unsigned or undecided prospects.

 

Xavier Booker (Cathedral) is leading the Fighting Irish through two games. He emerged as a national prospect over the spring and summer with G3 All-Indy, and the six-foot-ten 2023 forward is carrying it over to the high school season. There are not many players around the country with Booker’s size, athleticism, and skill set. He makes moves with the ball that guards a foot shorter wish they could make. Consistency is the key for Booker, but his long-term potential is off-the-charts. Booker’s scholarship offer list is extensive with Purdue, Indiana, Ohio State, Butler, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Iowa, and many others.

 

Logan Imes (Zionsville) is solidifying himself as a high-major point guard. The 2023 prospect is averaging 16.5 points through two wins for the Eagles. At 6’3”/6’4”, Imes possesses the ideal size for a point guard and thrives off the dribble. Bigger point guards typically give up a quickness advantage, but that is rarely the case with Imes. He is a fantastic decision maker and regularly creates open shots for his teammates. Imes is also an excellent defender. Imes sports scholarship offers from Butler, Wake Forest, Penn State, Creighton, Akron, and others.

 

Nick Richart (Zionsville) is the junior center for the Eagles. He tallied nine points and four rebounds, but Richart will produce more as the season develops. He missed most of June and July due to injury. He is a tough post player with good hands and moves well. Richart is a division one prospect, although he does not have an offer yet.

 

JQ Roberts (Bloomington North) solidified himself as a high-major prospect in July with Indiana Elite 2023. The big, strong forward is a fantastic athlete in transition. Roberts also plays above the rim on the glass, and he finished the summer by rebounding at an extremely high level. He was recently at an Indiana game for an unofficial visit and holds a scholarship offer from the Hoosiers. Roberts also has offers from Iowa, Butler, and others.

 

Nick Klaiber (Bloomington North) missed July due to an injury, and his recruitment stalled from it. He is a tremendous downhill driver that enjoys distributing the ball. Klaiber is also a threat from the outside and a tremendous leader behind his toughness. In addition, Klaiber is a high-academic prospect that draws Ivy League and Patriot League interest.

 

Through two games, Lyna Brooks (Franklin Central) has been a top scorer for Franklin Central. The sophomore guard shows tremendous potential. Brooks is a good athlete but offers the most potential as a shooter. Once he adds strength, his finishing will come around as well. In the 2024 class, there are not too many better in-state prospects than Brooks.

 

AJ Dancler (Southport) started as a freshman for the Cardinals but continues to get better. He is a natural scorer that finds ways to score through transition, slashing, cutting, and shooting. It is hard to stop Dancler since he scores in various ways. The junior guard picked up scholarships from Northern Illinois, Ball State, and Kent State.

 

Nickens Lemba (Southport) plays as hard as any player in the state. Lemba is also a great vertical athlete that dunks whenever he gets a sliver of space around the basket. He attacks the glass and runs the floor in transition with enthusiasm. The junior forward sports an offer from IUPUI and will likely see more D1 schools enter the picture in the next six months.

 

Evan Ipsaro (Covington Catholic) is a hard-nosed competitor who regularly gets to the basket off the dribble. He will do the dirty work for Covington Catholic and always pressure opponents. If an opposing guard relaxes at all, Ipsaro will take advantage of it. Currently, the junior guard has offers from Cleveland State, Youngstown State, and Bellarmine, with more schools keeping tabs on him.

 

Andrew Leeper (Homestead) has been involved in a ton of Spartan victories over recent years. The lefty forward rebounds, spaces the floor on the perimeter, and scores at the basket. The senior is the second-leading scorer for Homestead through a couple of games. Leeper sports multiple D2 offers – Saginaw Valley State, Tiffin, Ohio Dominican, West Liberty, and many others.

 

Kyron Kaopuiki (Homestead) is a talented junior guard getting his chance this year for the Spartans. With Fletcher Loyer leading the way, Kaopuiki is rarely going to get the headlines, but Kaopuiki is a versatile backcourt player. He can handle it, defend multiple positions, and hit outside shots. Kaopuiki shows college potential despite having a minor role until this season.

 

Hagen Knepp (Barr-Reeve) is the type of player that seems like he has been at a place for a decade. Knepp played a vital role as a freshman for the Vikings. The lefty wing loves to operate in the mid-range and continues to expand his shooting range. Knepp is also a strong perimeter.

 

Cam Haffner (Westfield) opened his senior year with 17 points in a win over Pendleton Heights. When Haffner gets hot from the outside, look out because he can rattle off three-pointers in a hurry. Haffner shot 39 percent from three-point range on 219 attempts as a sophomore and junior. He can fill it up, and Braden Smith will find him when he has a hot hand. Haffner has an Indiana Tech (NAIA) offer, and D1 schools continue to monitor his game.

 

Jake Davis (Cathedral) is one of the best spot-up shooters in the state. That distinction rarely goes to a power forward like Davis, but he has earned the title with his production over his first two high school seasons and on the club circuit. Through two games, Davis knocked down eight triples for the Fighting Irish. That shooting ability keeps him on the radars of many division one schools.

 

Christian Nunn (Crispus Attucks) spent three years posting huge numbers at Liberty Christian, and now he is poised to do the same for Crispus Attucks. In the first two Tigers games, Nunn posted 28 points per contest. He is explosive and dangerous in transition with his size and athleticism. When he gets downhill in the halfcourt, look out because it does not matter who is guarding the rim. Nunn scores that well off the dribble. He has D2 and NAIA offers at the moment.

 

Dezmon Briscoe (Crispus Attucks) is a freshman in the Attucks starting lineup. Early in his high school career, the six-foot-eight center is a great shot blocker. He shows excellent timing and overall instincts. Offensively, he displays potential as an outside shooter. Briscoe is a player with tremendous long-term potential.

 

Schedule for December 11, 2021 at Southport High School

12:30 pm            Heritage Christian vs. Southport

2:00 pm              Bloomington North vs. Franklin Central

3:30 pm              Central Noble vs. Barr-Reeve

5:00 pm              Zionsville vs. Indianapolis Attucks

6:45 pm              Covington Catholic (Ky.) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral

8:30 pm              Homestead vs. Westfield

 

For tickets, go to https://gofan.co/app/events/473432?schoolId=IN2200

 

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