Brown, Anderson Among North-South All-Star Game
MARTINSVILLE – An elite group of Indiana’s senior basketball players will convene at John R. Wooden Gymnasium at Martinsville High School this Saturday, April 7, to prepare for the 30th annual North/South Indiana All-Star Classic.
This girls and boys doubleheader will be played at 5 p.m. (girls) and 7 p.m. (boys). The North/South Indiana All-Star Classic is sponsored by Martinsville High School, Hoosier Basketball Magazine and Pacesetter Sports in Terre Haute.
Twenty-four girls will compete in the first half of this doubleheader including 10 players that have been named to the 2018 Indiana All-Star team. The second game, the boys, features three future Big Ten basketball players as well as the state’s leading scorer.
The 2018 Classic Game Director is Athletic Director Kip Staggs of Martinsville. Tickets are $ 10 and can be purchased from Martinsville High School by calling (765) 342-5571 ext. 4026.
Five Indiana All-Stars highlight the North Girls’ squad, topped by one of the state’s leading scorers— Leigha Brown (28 ppg), DeKalb {Nebraska}— along with another top scorer in Emily Kiser (21.1), Noblesville {Michigan}. The remaining Indiana All-Stars for the North are Jenasae Bishop, East Chicago Central {Boston College}; Cassidy Hardin, Center Grove {Purdue} and Tomi Taiwo, Carmel {Iowa}. More Division I talent is showcased by Ellen Ross, Fort Wayne Dwenger {Butler} and Ajah Stallings, North Central (Marion) {Purdue-walk-on}. Two other North high scorers are Cameron Cardenas, Beech Grove and Kendall Fisher, Tindley both averaging 22.5 ppg. The North girls will be coached by Eric Kundich, East Chicago Central and Mark Hurt, Mooresville.
The South girls’ roster also includes five Indiana All-Stars. Two are 20+ point per game scores—Angel Baker (21.7 ppg), Pike {Wright State} and Kayana Traylor (21.4 ppg), Martinsville {Purdue}. The other three are Mackenzie Blazek, Whiteland {Illinois}, Anna Newman, Evansville North {Evansville} and Michaela White, Pike {Indiana State}. The South also features Kyra Whitaker of 2018 class AAA state runner-up Greensburg and Division I signee Sadie Hill, Perry Meridian {Murray State}. The South girls will be coached by Vince Cerbone, Martinsville and Kyle Shipp, Whiteland.
Twenty-four boys compete in the second game of this doubleheader which features 10 players who scored more than 20 ppg this past season. The North is led by two future Big Ten Rivals— Eric Hunter, (27.8 ppg) Tindley {Purdue} and Damezi Anderson (19.1) South Bend Riley {Indiana}. Three others are committed to Division I colleges— Jack Hansen, Guerin Catholic {IUPUI}, Jamal Harris, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks {New Orleans} and Myja White, Brebeuf Jesuit {Miami-Ohio}. The North also boasts the state’s top scorer in Jalen Moore, Cloverdale who scored over 1000 points this season with his 36.8 average. Two more high scorers are Tyler Watson, Tri-West (26.8) and Jared DeHart, Indian Creek (23.3). Warren Central’s Antwaan Cushingberry is an IHSAA state champion. The North boys will be coached by Criss Beyers, Warren Central and Patrick Rady, Cloverdale.
The South roster features Aaron Henry of 2017 IHSAA State Champion AAAA Ben Davis, a Michigan State recruit along with two 2018 IHSAA State Champion finalists— Mekhi Lairy (26.2 ppg) of AAA runner-up Evansville Bosse {Miami-Ohio} and Hayden Langkabel (26.6) of class A State Champion Morristown. Additional high scoring support for the South team comes from Gavin Bizeau (22 ppg), Plainfield {Duquesne} and De’Avion Washington (20.3), Terre Haute South {Indiana State} both bound for Division I programs. Chance Coyle (20), Bloomington South and Glen Rouch (22.6), Boonville will both play for Division II Southern Indiana next fall. Sean East was a member of AAAA New Albany’s 2016 IHSAA state championship team. The South boys will be coached by Mark James, Ben Davis and Maynard Lewis, Terre Haute South.