The annual FORUM Tipoff Classic returns to historic Southport Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 14. The event features four of the top five teams in the state—No. 1 Fishers, No. 2 Greenfield-Central, No. 4 Jeffersonville, No. 5 Lawrence North. Plus, Fishers ranks No. 1 in 4A, while Crispus Attucks rates at the No. 1 3A team.
Each year, dating back to the event's inception, has featured the eventual Indiana Mr. Basketball. Flory Bidunga won the 2024 award after playing against Fishers last December. He is now coming off the bench for the Kansas Jayhawks.
University of Connecticut signee Braylon Mullins has a great chance to join the list. Mullins had 31 points in the 2023 FORUM Tipoff Classic against Southport. Currently ranked as the No. 16 player in the 2025 class by 247Sports.com, Mullins is the frontrunner for the 2025 Indiana Mr. Basketball award. Through three games, Mullins averages 36 points per game. Last weekend, the 2025 shooting guard scored 41 points on only 18 shots against Ben Davis.
Mullins and Greenfield-Central play a deep Lawrence North team at 5:00, the day's fourth game.
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FULL SCHEDULE
8:30 PM – Fishers vs. Crispus Attucks
7:00 PM – Jeffersonville vs. Noblesville
5:15 PM – Greenfield-Central vs. Lawrence North
3:30 PM – Avon vs. Southport
2:00 PM – Zionsville vs. New Palestine
12:30 PM – Warren Central vs. South Bend Riley
Fishers is back at the FORUM Tipoff to play Crispus Attucks. Fishers won the 2024 4A title and have a great chance to repeat. Fishers brings back a majority of its production from the state title team—JonAnthony Hall, Justin Kirby, Cooper Zachary, Millen McCartney, Jason Gardner Jr., and Nathan Baker all return after playing significant roles last year. Hall is a Stanford football commitment; Kirby is headed to Miami of Ohio; Gardner is shaping up to be an elite 2027 point guard, and Zachary has D1 offers as a sophomore. Gardner already has scholarship offers from Indiana, Purdue, and Notre Dame. Gardner recently took an unofficial visit to Indiana for the Minnesota game.
Garrett Winegar’s program will not miss a beat this season.
Attucks features a veteran squad led by Dezmon Briscoe. He is a Mr. Basketball candidate with many D1 options. Behind Briscoe, Attucks is a major contender for the 3A state title as head coach Chris Hawkins looks for his second state title. Seniors Chris Hurt, Kayden English, Imon Cousins, Lamar Jones, Ronsione Thomas, and Eric Jackson bring experience and skill to the Tigers.
Hawkins has the Tigers off to a 5-0 start with wins over Lawrence North, East Chicago Central, and North Central.,
In the penultimate game, two 4A state contenders face each other—Jeffersonville and Noblesville. The Red Devils were a possession away from playing for the 4A state title last year and brought back nearly everyone, including three Division 1 commitments. Northwestern-bound Tre Singleton saw his recruitment blow up in July before picking the Wildcats. Singleton injured his lower leg in the preseason but is expected back soon. He has classmates Michael Cooper and P.J. Douglas, both Wright State commitments, to carry the load.
Despite a loss to Pike, Sherron Wilkerson has a loaded squad for a deep 4A run.
Much like Jeffersonville, Noblesville's fantastic season ended in a one-possession game. The Millers lost an all-time classic sectional game to Fishers, 49-47. Scott McClelland lost many key pieces from that team, but the Millers have a bunch of talent back. The junior backcourt of Justin Curry and Baron Walker will be one of the best in the state.
Lawrence North is yet another 4A state title contender competing in the 2024 FORUM Tipoff Classic. Led by Butler signee Azavier Robinson, the Wildcats went 25-4 last year and could be better this season. Chris Giffin has talent at every position around Robinson—Kai McGrew, Brennan Miller, Jamar Thomas, Cam Webster, and Duke Karnes.. They put a hurting on Gary West Side last weekend.
Avon, another 4A contender, plays Southport in the third game. Avon brings in talented transfer Keriawn Berry from Louisville. He adds to an already talented and experienced roster. Rohan Pearson, Jedidiah Minnett, Deandre Lott-Hancock, and Kendrick Dunmore look like a group to build on last season’s success.
Southport will have a new look under Ben Rhoades. He takes over the Cardinals after five years at Mt. Vernon. Jack Turner and James Kalala are back for the Cardinals and will need to have big games to beat Avon.
Zionsville vs. New Palestine in the second game features a few of the best scorers in the state—New Pal’s Julius Gizzi, Zionsville’s Maguire Mitchell, and Drew Snively. There will be fireworks between that group.
New Pal is 2-0 with a rivalry game on Friday night against Greenfield-Central. Julius Gizzi averages 28.5 points per game through the first two games.
Warren Central and South Bend Riley get the day started. Criss Beyers is once again building the Warriors after they went 14-11 in his first year back at WC. Riley went 21-5 last year, and Alex Daniel brings back most of his production, plus he added Tyrese Jones from Clay. They have a chance to make a deep 4A North run.
Riley is 4-0 this season.
Mr. Basketballs who played in the FORUM Tipoff Classic:
(Event year)
Flory Bidunga (2023)
Markus Burton (2022)
Braden Smith (2021)
Caleb Furst (2019, 2020)
Anthony Leal (2019)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (2017, 2018)
Romeo Langford (2015, 2016, 2017)
Kris Wilkes (2016)
Kyle Guy (2014, 2015)
Caleb Swanigan (2014)
Most points scored in a FORUM Tipoff Classic game:
Romeo Langford (New Albany) 42 points vs. Fort Wayne North Side 2017
Isiah Moore (Park Tudor) 41 points vs. Cloverdale 2016
Markus Burton (Penn) 38 points vs. Zionsville 2022
Kooper Jacobi (Silver Creek) 36 points vs. Blackhawk Christian 2019
Jalen Haralson (Fishers) 35 points vs. Bloomington North 2022
Keion Brooks (North Side) 33 points vs. Cathedral 2016
Kooper Jacobi (Silver Creek) 33 points vs. Blackhawk Christian 2020
Jalen Moore (Cloverdale) 33 points vs. Park Tudor 2016
Braden Northern (Silver Creek) 32 points vs. Blackhawk Christian 2020
Kris Wilkes (North Central) 32 points vs. New Albany 2016
Trayce Jackson-Davis (Center Grove) 31 points vs. Hamilton Southeastern in 2017
Tayshawn Comer (Cathedral) 31 points vs. Covington Catholic 2021
Zane Burke (Blackhawk Christian) 31 points vs. Silver Creek 2020
Braylon Mullins (Greenfield-Central) 31 points vs. Southport 2023
Romeo Langford (New Albany) 30 points vs. North Central 2016
Braden Smith (Westfield) 30 points vs. Homestead 2021
Damien Jefferson (East Chicago Central) 30 points vs. Brownsburg 2014
Addison Wagler (Barr-Reeve) 30 vs. Marquette Catholic 2014
Caleb Swanigan (Homestead) 29 points vs. Lawrence Central 2014