High school basketball Preseason Fab 15: No. 5 Pike

From now until the beginning of the high school boys basketball season we'll be counting down the Preseason Fab 15, a ranking of the top teams in Central Indiana. We started with No. 6 Park Tudor, No. 7 Carmel, No. 8 Lawrence Central, No. 9 Fishers, No. 10 Tech, No. 11 Ben Davis, No. 12 Hamilton Southeastern, No. 13 Martinsville, No. 14 Mt. Vernon and No. 15 Pendleton Heights. Next on our list:

No. 5 – Pike

Sectional titles have become an annual tradition at Pike, which has won a program-record five in a row. No. 6 is not out of the realm of possibility, even with No. 1 state-ranked Southport also in the Sectional 11 field.

"Even though it's new people year-to-year, the kids have confidence playing in big games," sixth-year coach Bill Zych said of the program's sectional success. "We have more losses than some teams at the end of the season but our schedule prepares us for those games. Our kids are focused and ready to go when they get in those tournament games."

The Red Devils stunned Southport last year, 49-48, to win the sectional title. That came after a four-time win over the Cardinals in the Marion County tournament earlier in the season. Pike loses some key pieces from that team, in particular 6-8 forward Tahjai Teague (13.7 ppg, 9.8 rebounds) and 6-3 forward Jeff White (9.7 ppg, 3.8 rebounds).

But there is reason for optimism with the return of "The Justins." Justin Thomas, a 6-foot senior, averaged 13.1 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 steals per game last season. Thomas, who picked up an offer from Drake in October but will wait through the season before making a college commitment, has become a more well-rounded guard. He wasn't much a threat last year from the 3-point line, going 10-for-28.

"He's shooting the ball a lot better," Zych said. "I think people dared him a little bit last year but I don't think that's going to happen this year. I think a lot of schools are going to be pleasantly surprised how much better he's gotten. He's a hard-nosed kid; he's tough and he's a gym rat. He's really improved his game."

Thomas is joined in the backcourt by 6-foot junior Justin Roberts. As a junior, Roberts averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He is also receiving significant Division I interest and owns an offer from IUPUI. Zych expects him to improve on his 23 percent 3-point shooting (16-for-70).

"His decision-making has grown from when he was a freshman," Zych said. "He's more of a point guard. He's making better decisions with the ball. You really have two point guards on the floor at the same time when them. That can be beneficial for us. Last year it was more Justin Thomas in the half court and it might be that way again, but either one can play the point."

Pike also returns its top outside shooter from last season in 6-2 senior Derek Hawthorne (9.8 ppg, 3.2 rebounds). Hawthorne, the quarterback of the football team, shot 35 percent last year from the 3-point line (37-for-105).

"He broke his leg the summer before (his junior year) so physically he's 100 percent better than he was last year," Zych said of Hawthorne. "He gives us another scorer and a big-time athlete."

Durante Lee, a 6-5, 195-pound senior, started half of the season a year ago. Lee averaged 3.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 55 percent from the field as a junior.

Beyond those four, there is not a lot of varsity experience. Elijah Pennington, a 5-11 junior, played in eight varsity games last year and will be in the rotation off the bench. Darian Porch, a 6-5 sophomore, and Isiah James, a 6-5 junior, are thin but skilled players. R.J. Cook, a 6-4 senior, can shoot it from the outside. The other two who could factor in are 5-10 junior Justin Williams and 6-4 freshman Brandon Vernon.

"We don't have that big solid post player but we've been able to get away with it," Zych said. "Our guards are going to have rebound for us because Tahjai isn't here."

Pike figures to play an uptempo style. The Red Devils have typically been one of the highest-scoring teams in the area under Zych.

"We've always been a transition team and with (Roberts and Thomas) having another year playing together, I think we'll get the pace we want. We have some guys who can score. We just have some younger guys who will have to adjust to varsity basketball."

Why Pike could be higher: Pike always seems to rise to the occasion the sectional. If it can beat Southport again, there's no reason to think Pike can't make a deep run. Thomas, Roberts and Hawthorne make up a quality trio of guards.

Why Pike could be lower: How will the Red Devils hold up inside? Teague was a big loss but so is the versatile Jeff White. Teague changed a lot of shots with his length.

Circle the date: Dec. 18-19. Back-to-back weekend home games against Lawrence Central and Crown Point will be a good early test.