High school basketball Preseason Fab 15: No. 9, Park Tudor

From now until the beginning of the high school basketball season, I'll count down the area high school boys basketball Fab 15. Here's a look at No. 10, No. 11, No. 12, No. 13, No. 14 and No. 15 on the list. We continue today with No. 9:

No. 9 – PARK TUDOR

Any discussion of high school basketball dynasties in recent years has to include Park Tudor, which has won three Class 2A state titles in the last four years.

Can the Panthers keep it going? They will have to do it without graduated star Trevon Bluiett, who averaged a state-leading 35.6 points a game as a senior and finished his career No. 6 on the state's all-time scoring list with 2,568 points.

Second-year coach Kyle Cox knows there is no replacement for Bluiett, now a freshman at Xavier. But he believes this year's team can be deeper and more well-balanced than last year's title team.

"One thing we didn't have last year was strength in numbers," Cox said. "So much of our offense and game plan was run through Trevon. Now, any one of our five kids on the floor in the top part of our rotation are going to be scoring threats. There's not anybody who you can play off of and I think we'll be able to exploit that."

Park Tudor, which was 24-4 a year ago, also loses guards Austin Shelton (10.5 ppg) and Alex Mack (8.6 ppg) to graduation. The most experienced players returning are 6-4 senior Dwayne Gibson (8.7 ppg, 7.8 rebounds) and 6-2 senior guard Bryce Moore (11.2 ppg, 4.7 assists).

Moore recently committed to Western Michigan.

"Bryce has transitioned himself into a well-known commodity," Cox said. "We'll have to play through him a little more. He's so darn physical and he's really developed a great outside shot."

Gibson has played a utility role on Park Tudor's championship teams, even playing the center position despite his 6-4 frame. Cox said that should change this year, as Gibson will move to the wing.

"Dwayne should be more comfortable this year," Cox said. "He can get on the wing and make plays instead of having to play center. One of our strengths should be our versatility."

Another senior who should have a major impact is 6-8 forward Evan Frank. Last year in a reserve role, Frank averaged 4.2 points and 6.0 rebounds, shooting 62 percent from the field.

"He's going to be a main contributor," Cox said. "He may not score every time but he can get it in the post and drop off passes or get out on the pick-and-roll. He's a very good basketball IQ guy. He probably had 10-12 double-doubles for us this summer in 16 games."

Brandon Tiassum, a 6-5, 280-pound senior and Notre Dame football recruit, will likely play a sixth man role. Cox compares him to a "poor man's Darius Latham", referring to the former North Central standout who is playing on the defensive line for Indiana's football program. Tiassum played in 14 games as a junior.

Juniors Miles Simmons (6-foot), Richard Wilson (5-11) and senior Angad Sikand (6-3) will play a reserve role.

Cox has high hopes for a sophomore class led by 6-8 Jaren Jackson Jr. and 5-9 guard Kobe Webster. Jackson, the son of former Georgetown standout and NBA veteran Jaren Jackson, has picked up offers from Indiana and Purdue this fall. He averaged just 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds as a freshman.

"He's not to the point where he can shoulder the load," Cox said. "Trevon could do that and average 20 points a game. Jaren isn't physically ready yet. He just turned 15. Jaren has a knack for how to play, though. He's developed a really good 3-point shot where he can stretch the defense. He's going to be drastically different from November to February. It's going to be a growing process through the season but his upside is off the charts."

Webster is a heady player who can knock down the outside shot. He saw action in 22 games last season and averaged 1.4 points.

"He has to get acclimated to varsity basketball," Cox said. "Can he do it? Yes, he did this summer. It'll just take a little time."

Other sophomores who could see time are 5-11 wing Brent Brimmage and 5-9 guard Isaiah Rice.

Park Tudor will have its hands full in Sectional 42 against programs like Scecina and Howe. The Panthers may not be quite as front-and-center as they were the past couple years but Cox likes this team's depth and potential.

"We're going to try to play fast and put a lot of pressure on the other team," Cox said. "We feel like our top five is as good as anyone. What's exciting to me is that we have guys who can come in and not have a dropoff. We proved that this summer. It's going to be interesting and going to be a process, but I think it will be pretty exciting this year."

Why Park Tudor could be ranked higher: There is a good mix between veterans like Moore and Gibson and relative newcomers like Jackson and Webster. This team will look a lot different without Bluiett but there's enough offense here that the Panthers should be fine.

Why Park Tudor could be ranked lower: There's a lot of teams lining up to get payback on Park Tudor and it may take some time before things come together.

Circle the date: Feb. 11, at Scecina. This could be a preview of a much bigger game in the sectional.