With three AAU tournaments and the April evaluation period complete, we decided to update our 2014 rankings for the state of Indiana. There are 75 players rated along with another 30 to keep on your radar. To access the rankings, follow the links below.

Here is a closer look at why the top players received their ratings along with some of the high-potential prospects that have not started to make their mark yet.

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First through Sixth

I don’t think there is any doubt that Trey Lyles is the best current player and prospect down the road in the class. He is a true 6-8, maybe 6-9 and has guard skills. Lyles used to be very reluctant to go into the post, but he is venturing inside more and more.

Jaquan Lyle at number two is just as obvious at Lyles at number one. Lyle is one of the best passers in the state and can break defenders down off the dribble. It seems like he has gotten a little more explosive and is finishing well above the rim now. His outside shooting has also improved.

Before his injury, James Blackmon Jr. was really progressing nicely. During his freshman year, he was just a shooter against good competition. He expanded his game as a sophomore and looked to get to the rim more frequently. We will have to see how he recovers from his injury that will keep him out the whole AAU season.

I’ll admit that I have not been on the Trevon Bluiett bangwagon in terms of his college potential, but he keeps getting it done at a high-level. He’s not a great athlete, but he uses his body very well. His release seems to be pretty low, but he has not had any problems getting it off so far. Bluiett is a basketball player that knows how to score, it’s that simple.

Aaron Brennan is a player that has really come on strong during the end of the high school year and the start of the AAU season. He is the most skilled player in the class with his back to the basket. He can also step out and knock down an outside shot. Brennan has also improved his athleticism by dropping some weight recently. I do not believe he will ever be quick enough to guard small forwards at the college level though. So at 6-6 and not an elite athlete, he would likely struggle a lot at the high-major level but would be good at the mid-major level where he would not face the same size as he would at the high-major level. Brennan is still body-faced and he might get to 6-8.

Coming in at number six is P.J. Thompson. Thompson has been having a fantastic spring. He is a true point guard-he knows when to score and when to dish off to a teammate. He was almost unreal good during the adidas Spring Classic. He shot the ball great, he was making perfect passes, and he was getting into the lane consistently. The only thing holding him back from being a high-major player is his height. He is only 5-9 and does not have that ultra quickness to make up for his height.

Seven through Fifteen

Much like Trevon Bluiett, I have not been very high on Tyler Wideman’s long-term potential. I always figured he was done growing while in the 6-6 range without being a very good athlete or outstanding skills. He is still about 6-6, maybe 6-7 but he has slimmed down and is jumping much better. He still is not a fantastic athlete, but much better. His skills have improved some as well especially with his mid-range jumper. I’m keeping him on the high-major borderline just in case his face-up game really takes off.

Troy Spears, Sam Logwood, Sean Sellers, Mack Mercer, and Perry Poindexter all have much better potential than their current skill level. Spears has struggled a bit this spring especially in terms of getting to basket which was his specialty last spring. Logwood shows flashes of his potential and is a great athlete with length. His perimeter skills have to continue to improve though. Sean Sellers has been very productive this spring, but needs to add muscle in the upper body and become more fluid with the ball to solidify his standing. This weekend will be the first time that I have seen Mack Mercer this spring. I am interested to see how he does against the top competition of the Spiece Run-N-Slam. He is one of the very few “bigs” in the class so far. Perry Poindexter has his ranking almost entirely due to his potential. His length and athleticism give him the tools to be a high-major player, but his energy level and production are not very consistent at this time.

Other High-Potential Prospects

Jacob Johnson is still more of a post player than a perimeter player, but his athleticism and toughness gives him a chance to be really good. He shows that he can shoot it from the perimeter, but is still more comfortable around the rim.

Rashaun Richardson is the highest ranked player off of pure potential. His production is nowhere close to his potential. He is 6-7 after being 6-1 last year. Richardson is a very good athlete that can run the floor and jump. He has a nice touch around the basket. His outside shot needs some work, but he can knock it down from the outside if left open. Richardson has a chance to be really good, but he has a lot of work ahead of him.

Brad Hunt is very similar to Richardson in the fact that his current production is not even on the radar of his potential. He is 6-9 with good hands and good feet. He moves great laterally for a 6-9 sophomore in high school. Hunt has the intensity and will to be good as well. Next year at this time, he could have everyone talking.

It is kind of weird to be talking about potential being higher than his current skill set with Jordan Garnett since he started from day 1 for Warren Central. He is finally moving to the perimeter and doing well on the perimeter. He is 6-4 or 6-5 and a great athlete. That is what has always given him a chance. He is handling the ball and shooting it from the outside much better as of late. If he continues that improvement, he could end up as a mid-major small forward.

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