(JonAnthony Hall takes a jumper against Crispus Attucks. Photo: JT Cocherell)

In the nightcap of the 2024 FORUM Tipoff Classic, overall No. 1 Fishers defeated 3A No. 1 Crispus Attucks 70-55. Attucks never led, but sophomore guard AJ Jones led Chris Hawkins' team back from an early deficit. In the end, Fishers proved why they are the top team in Indiana. Jason Gardner Jr. put the game away by scoring 18 points to lead the Tigers. Garrett Winegar's squad also had Cooper Zachary, Justin Kirby (Miami of Ohio), and Nathan Baker score 11 points.

Fishers won the 2024 4A state title, and the early-season signs point to them repeating. The Tigers have been dominant to begin the year. In fact, the 15-point win at the FORUM Tipoff Classic was the smallest winning margin of the season for them. 

Attucks played without Indiana All-Star and Mr. Basketball candidate Dezmon Briscoe. He was in a walking boot at Southport High School on Saturday. Plus, Attucks played its third game in three days when they faced Fishers. They battled the loaded La Lumiere team on Thursday before beating Warren Central on Friday.

Fishers does not have much size outside of Nathan Baker, but they have athtleticism, skill, and toughness in an abundance. JonAnthony Hall (Stanford football), Kirby, Gardner, and Zachary will apply as much defensive pressure as any core group in the state. And, Millen McCartney took multiple charges against Attucks.

Chris Hurt (IU-South Bend) and Kayden English helped Jones, but Attucks did not get much offensive production from the rest of the lineup. Hurt has played well to begin his senior year. He finished with 15 points, three steals, and three rebounds. English added 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals. No other Attucks player scored more than five points.

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

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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