American Family Insurance ALL-USA Central Indiana Super Team
The first five members of the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Central Indiana area boys basketball Super Team all led their teams to new heights during decorated high school basketball careers.
Lawrence North's Pat Bacon, Howe's Harris Brown, Carmel's Ryan Cline, Guerin Catholic's Matt Holba and Brownsburg's K.J. Walton — all seniors — were selected to the first team by the Star. A closer look at the five players:
Pat Bacon, Lawrence North (Sr.)
Relatively unheralded going into his senior season, the uncommitted 6-foot guard put together a remarkable year and led Lawrence North to a 19-6 record and its first sectional title since 2009. Bacon, named the Marion County Player of the Year, averaged 21.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and shot 44 percent from the 3-point line.
Harris Brown, Howe (Sr.)
The 5-11 Evansville recruit was one of the state's most dynamic scorers, averaging 30.3 points per game. He also averaged 4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3 steals. Brown led Howe to its first City tournament championship since 1987 and an 18-4 overall record.
Ryan Cline, Carmel (Sr.)
The 6-5 Purdue recruit averaged 20.7 points, 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shot 43 percent from the 3-point line as a senior. Cline played a key role on a state title team as a sophomore and helped the Greyhounds to a 69-7 record over three seasons.
Matt Holba, Guerin Catholic (Sr.)
The 6-6 Holba led Guerin Catholic to a Class 3A championship as a senior as he averaged 18.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.2 blocked shots. The Lehigh recruit was a key part of Guerin's success for two years, which included a run to the semistate last season.
K.J. Walton, Brownsburg (Sr.)
The 6-3 guard averaged 19.7 points and 5 rebounds as Brownsburg won back-to-back sectional titles for the first time since the 1994 and '95 postseason. The uncommitted Walton posted a 42-point game against Warren Central.
SECOND TEAM
Two seniors were named to the second team — Bryce Moore (Park Tudor) and Tahjai Teague (Pike). The 6-3 Moore, a Western Michigan recruit, averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists as Park Tudor won a Class 2A championship. The 6-8 Teague, a Ball State recruit, averaged 13.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots as Pike won the Marion County tournament and captured a sectional title for the fifth consecutive year.
Three juniors made up the rest of the second team: Southport's 6-10 Joey Brunk (16.5 ppg, 9 rebounds, 1.1 blocked shots), Lawrence Central's Kyle Guy (20.3 ppg, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 43 percent 3s) and Tech's C.J. Walker (23.8 ppg, 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals). Brunk and Walker are highly-sought uncommitted recruits; Guy has pledged to Virginia.
THIRD TEAM
Four seniors and a sophomore were named to the third team. The seniors are Southport guard Malik Bennett (18 ppg, 3.6 assists, 2.8 steals, 41 percent 3s), Roncalli guard Jimmy King (24.3 ppg, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 45 percent 3s), Pendleton Heights wing Sean McDermott (16.0 ppg, 6.6 rebounds) and Perry Meridian wing Dylan Windler (27.1 ppg, 10.2 rebounds, 38 percent 3s). Bennett and King are uncommitted; McDermott is headed to Butler and Windler to Belmont.
North Central 6-8 sophomore Kris Wilkes (17.4 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 58 percent field goal shooting) was also picked for the third team.
Honorable mention
Twenty-five players were named honorable mention:
Seniors: Michael Benkert, Center Grove; Gary Bonds, Scecina; Luke Callahan, Danville; Keegan Culp, Carmel; Brennan Gillis, Ben Davis; T.J. Henderson, Scecina; Darrell Hutchison, Crispus Attucks; Keegan Kollmeyer, Fishers; Darrian Ringo, Brownsburg; Zach Rutland, Scecina; Derek Smits, Zionsville; Wes Stowers, North Central; Trevor Waite, Tri-West; Grant Weatherford, Hamilton Heights
Juniors: Marcus Burk, Franklin Central; Hunter Crist, Hamilton Heights; Eron Gordon, Cathedral; Djimon Henson, Warren Central; John Kiser, Noblesville; Justin Thomas, Pike; Jordan Walker, Cathedral; Brian Warren, Howe
Sophomores: Zach Gunn, Hamilton Southeastern; Justin Roberts, Pike; Paul Scruggs, Southport
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.