Recruiting: HSE's Zach Gunn being courted by IU, Butler

It could be starting to shape up as an in-state recruiting battle for Hamilton Southeastern junior-to-be Zach Gunn.

The 6-6, 205-pound Gunn, who plans to visit Ball State on Saturday, has offers from Butler, Indiana and IUPUI. Since the contact period for 2017 prospects opened on June 15, Gunn said he's been hearing "a lot" from Indiana.

Gunn played with his Hamilton Southeastern teammates in the Charlie Hughes Shootout this weekend, leading the Royals to a 3-0 record in pool play Saturday. One of those wins was over Bloomington North as Indiana coach Tom Crean watched son Riley.

Crean no doubt kept an eye on Gunn as well.

"Coach Crean has been telling me to keep improving on my game and that they want me there," Gunn said. "He wants me to keep getting better and working hard. I've heard from IU the most since June 15."

Gunn's role changed dramatically from his freshman to sophomore season. On a veteran 23-4 team his first season, nearly half of his field-goal attempts came from the 3-point line and he made 45 percent to average 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. As the lone returning starter as a sophomore, Gunn's role expanded and he averaged 18.0 points and 10.2 rebounds for a team that finished 9-17 but made a run to the sectional championship game.

"My freshman year I was just kind of a spot-up shooter for those guys," he said. "Last year I think I did a little bit of everything – put it on the floor, go in the post and shoot from the outside. I got more comfortable as the season went on."

Hamilton Southeastern lost to Carmel, 40-27, in the quarterfinals of tourney play in the Charlie Hughes Shootout on Sunday. Gunn rolled his right ankle early in the second quarter and didn't return, though he said it wasn't anything serious.

Gunn said Saint Louis assistant coach Calbert Cheaney has also ramped up his contact recently. Michigan, Michigan State and Xavier have also been in touch since June 15.

"Hopefully after July I'll get a couple more offers and have a couple more choices," he said. "After July I'll probably start to narrow it down and then next summer have a choice made so I can focus on high school basketball."

At the top of his priorities is finding a program that fits his style and will allow for a chance to play right away. Staying close to home could also be a factor.

On Butler, Gunn said: "I could see myself playing at Butler. I've always been a Butler fan. They do it the right way. They don't have that star, star player, but get it done with the guys they have."

On Indiana: "I've watched IU since they had D.J. White and I've always been a fan. Crean has kept in contact and said he'd love to coach me. It'd be a dream to play there."

• Playing basketball on Father's Day took on extra meaning this year for Lance Dollison, a 6-5 senior-to-be with Division I interest.

Dollison's father, Larry, had his right leg amputated below the knee two weeks ago after cancer returned to the leg. The elder Dollison played at Muncie Central in high school and at Earlham College.

"It's been tough," Lance said. "It makes me want to go harder and makes me want to be successful even more. I'm trying to do it for him, too. It makes me want to be a high-level player even more and never take a play off."

Dollison said Western Illinois, Northern Kentucky and Detroit are the programs showing the most interest. He's planning to attend Detroit's elite camp this week.

Manual advanced to Varsity B division championship

Manual advanced to the championship of the Varsity B division of the shootout under former Shortridge coach and Kokomo standout Donnie Bowling.

Tristan Popa, a 6-9 senior-to-be, is one several new faces on Manual's team. Popa is the son of University of Indianapolis women's basketball coach Constantin Popa, a 7-3 Romanian who starred at Miami (Fla.) from 1991-95.

Tristan Popa started in the Noblesville system through his sophomore year before switching to home school as a junior and playing at Horizon Christian, a non-Indiana High School Athletic Association school. Popa said he hasn't decided if he'll continue in home school and play basketball at Manual – which is now allowed by the IHSAA – or enroll full-time at Manual for his senior year.

Popa, who has visited NAIA Davenport University (Mich.), has solid perimeter skills for a player his size.

"I have to improve the other phases of my game," he said. "When I get stronger I'll be able to get in the post and use my hook shot, which I've been working on with my dad. Right now against bigger kids I don't have the strength to stay in there a lot. It's not my comfort zone."

Lawrence North wins tournament championship

Lawrence North completed a 6-0 run through the Varsity A division and won the tournament championship with a 53-47 win over Carmel in the final. The Wildcats defeated Noblesville (quarterfinal) and Brebeuf Jesuit (semifinal) to reach the championship. Carmel defeated Hamilton Southeastern (quarterfinal) and New Albany (semifinal). … Broad Ripple defeated Manual, 60-47, to win the championship of the Varsity B division. … Roncalli junior-to-be Christian Stewart averaged 23.3 points in three games on Saturday, including a 41-point effort in an overtime lost to Merrillville. Stewart, who shot 7-for-15 from the 3-point line vs. Merrillville, averaged 3.1 points a game as a sophomore.

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