Powerhouse Park Tudor aiming for 4th title in 5 years Saturday

• Park Tudor vs. Frankton%2C 12%3A45 p.m.%2C Saturday

Prior to 2010, Yogi Ferrell's sophomore year, Park Tudor's boys basketball program had just one regional title to its name and a pair of sectional crowns.

Since then, the Panthers have been arguably the state's top program regardless of class. After Ferrell led it to a surprising run to the state finals as a sophomore, Park Tudor has captured three Class 2A titles in four years and will go for a fourth on Saturday when it faces Frankton at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Park Tudor has also won a pair of Marion County tournament titles during that span, proving its dominance extends beyond small schools. Its overall record is 121-13, with only two coming to 2A opponents (both to Broad Ripple in 2013, the latter Park Tudor's only tournament loss in the last five years).

Ferrell and Trevon Bluiett, IndyStar Mr. Basketball runners-up in 2012 and '14, respectively, had a major hand in the Panthers' emergence. But the tradition has carried on and it figures to continue even next year as Park Tudor moves up to Class 3A under the Indiana High School Athletic Association's tournament success factor.

"I knew early on that I'd have to bring it every day in practice or I wasn't going to make it," said Bryce Moore, a senior guard and Park Tudor's leading scorer (18.9 ppg). "I watched Yogi and then Trevon's leadership with everything he did. Now it's my turn to lead these younger guys. They look to us and we can help them out."

Park Tudor's ability to sustain as a power can be attributed, in part, to always having a younger group with experience waiting in the wings. When Ferrell graduated in 2012 after back-to-back titles, Bluiett was only a sophomore. The class behind Bluiett, now seniors, includes the 6-3 Moore, 6-8 Evan Frank (10.0 ppg, 9.1 rebounds), 6-4 Dwayne Gibson (9.5 ppg, 4.8 rebounds) and 6-5 Notre Dame football recruit Brandon Tiassum (3.8 ppg).

This year's senior class knows nothing but consistent success. Coach Ed Schilling left after the 2013 season to return to the college game as an assistant at UCLA. Assistant Kyle Cox moved up to replace Schilling and won another 2A title last year.

"I thought it always helped us that the coaches didn't just coach the starters," said Gibson, who has signed to play at Division II Nova Southeastern (Fla.). "They'd never let you feel like you couldn't do what the other guys could do on the court. The second unit was always involved, which I know helped me when I was younger. We were always in the mix, not just on the sidelines."

Park Tudor will certainly miss this senior class, especially as it moves up a classification for the next two-year cycle. But the sophomore class, led by 5-10 guard Kobe Webster (10.0 ppg, 50 percent 3-pointers) and 6-9 forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (9.0 ppg, 5.7 rebounds), is the core for future success. Both players are receiving a high level of Division I interest, with Jackson already gaining offers from Butler, IUPUI, Indiana and Purdue.

In six tournament games, Jackson has blocked 35 shots. Webster has been a 3-point machine in the tournament, hitting four in a semistate win over Linton-Stockton last weekend.

"For Jaren and Kobe to learn and watch and see a guy like Trevon last year and see what it takes to be dedicated and be a winner and then this year with our senior class, is a great opportunity," Cox said. "Now for the next two years they can carve out their own legacy in the 3A tournament. We've been fortunate to have guys come through who have really worked hard and make it fun to coach."

The potential of the sophomore class doesn't end with Webster and Jackson. Isaiah Rice, a 5-10 guard, is averaging 3.0 points a game and sees key minutes. Brent Brimmage, a 6-foot guard, and Trace Arbuckle, a 5-10 guard, could also factor in next season.

"We have a lot of great sophomores so it'll probably be a big senior night when we're done," Jackson said. "It's a great class, so we're going to have to fight for minutes."

Jackson went head-to-head in practice last year with Bluiett. It was a humbling experience at times as a freshman to guard one of the top-10 scorers in the history of Indiana high school basketball.

"He got his quite a bit," Jackson said. "But it trained me. I know what to expect when I'm guarding players this year."

There's always a transition process for young players making the transition to varsity ball. Moore can appreciate the sink-or-swim nature of it now, looking back at his sophomore year. Park Tudor knocked off Pike that year for the Marion County title; Pike went on to a runner-up showing in the Class 4A tourney.

"I see the confidence growing in the younger guys," Moore said.

Cox wouldn't mind competing for 4A titles in a couple years. Jackson and Webster would be gone by then, but there may be a new class of Panthers ready to make the jump.

"I remember last year after we won state I texted (Cox) and told him I wanted to win another ring," Webster said. "It's definitely addicting. But that's the main goal for all of us. We know what we're focused on and we know what we have to do to get there."

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

IHSAA state basketball finals

When/where: Saturday, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Tickets: $15 per session

TV: All games shown live on Fox Sports Indiana

Class A: Marquette Catholic (24-6) vs. Barr-Reeve (26-2), 10:30 a.m.

Class 2A: Frankton (26-2) vs. Park Tudor (25-2), 12:45 p.m.

Class 3A: Griffith (19-10) vs. Guerin Catholic (21-8), 6 p.m.

Class 4A: Homestead (28-2) vs. Evansville Reitz (29-1), 8:15 p.m.