Five tough cuts for Indiana All-Star team

Every year, there are a few players with a strong case who are left off the IndyStar Indiana All-Star roster. I'm hesitant to call them "snubs" because that would diminish the achievements of the 13 players – or 14, this year – who were named to the team. But this year, in particular, was a tough season to separate the 14 All-Stars from another group of about 10 or 12 who had a strong case. There were a couple names I thought for sure would be there and were not. All-Star director Charlie Hall doesn't have any easy job. Here are five players I thought could have easily been selected and were not:

Hyron Edwards, East Chicago Central: I had Edwards categorized as "probably in" last week when I took a shot at projecting the team. Edwards, who is uncommitted for college, was on the IBCA's "Supreme 15" seniors and was third team all-state by the Associated Press, putting him among the top 15 vote getters regardless of class. Edwards had a strong senior season and helped East Chicago Central to a 20-4 record. What may have hurt Edwards, however, is that the Cardinals never won a sectional in his four seasons.

Bryce Moore, Park Tudor: I thought Moore, a Western Michigan recruit, had probably clinched a spot when Park Tudor won its third Class 2A state title in four years and he posted a 31-point game in the state championship. He averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a senior. It appears that the All-Star committee went with Devin Cannady and Joel Okafor as point guards and went with another wing or post player instead of adding a third point guard. Carmel's Ryan Cline and Howe's Harris Brown have also played some point.

Dylan Windler, Perry Meridian: It's quite possible that we look back at this class in a few years and wonder how the 6-6 Windler was not on the All-Star team. I think Windler is capable of having a very nice career at Belmont. His numbers as a senior at Perry Meridian – 27.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game – are All-Star quality and some. Perry Meridian was 12-10 against a good 4A schedule. The Falcons lost by 27 in the sectional to Pike, which likely didn't help.

Pat Bacon, Lawrence North: I'm not sure Bacon, who is uncommitted for college, got the look he might have deserved because he was relatively off-the-radar prior to his senior season. But he had an outstanding senior year (21.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 44 percent 3-point shooting) against one of the toughest schedules in the state. He was named Marion County Player of the Year and led Lawrence North to a 19-6 record and its first sectional title since 2009. Bacon flat got it done.

Alex Stein, Evansville Reitz: If Evansville Reitz closes out Homestead and wins Class 4A, who knows, maybe Reitz gets a second player on the team. The 6-3 Stein, a University of Southern Indiana recruit, averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.6 steals for a team that finished 29-2. Stein certainly looked like an All-Star the times I watched him play.