Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in prep basketball. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2023-24 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Flory Bidunga of
Kokomo is the 2023-24 Indiana MaxPreps Player of the Year. The 6-foot-9 senior center led Wildkats to a 25-4 record and Class 4A regional finals.
For the season, Bidunga averaged 19.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.4 blocked shots and 3.2 assists per contest while shooting 81 percent from the field – missing just 54 shots on 290 field goal attempts.
Flory Bidunga tallied 1,609 points, 1,132 rebounds and 402 blocked shots in three seasons at Kokomo. (Photo: Raymond Nanko, M.D.)
Bidunga posted 22 double-doubles and three triple-doubles. In a win over New Albany in December, he tallied 25 points, 23 rebounds and six blocks. Three weeks later in a victory over New Haven, he posted 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks. Finally, in a February win over Anderson he piled up 17 points, 24 rebounds and 10 blocks.
Regarded as the No. 11 prospect in the Class of 2024 by
247Sports, Bidunga signed with Kansas in November over offers from Auburn, Creighton, Duke, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan and Michigan State among others.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released April 10. Past selections include 2024 NBA All-Stars Bam Adebayo (2016), Paolo Banchero (2020), Scottie Barnes (2020), Devin Booker (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015), Jalen Brunson (2015), Anthony Davis (2011), Kevin Durant (2006), Anthony Edwards (2019), Tyrese Maxey (2019), Julius Randle (2013), Jayson Tatum (2016), Karl-Anthony Towns (2014) and Trae Young (2017).
Past Indiana MaxPreps Players of the Year2019-20 – Anthony Leal, Bloomington South (Bloomington)
2020-21 – Caleb Furst, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (Fort Wayne)
2021-22 – J.J. Starling, La Lumiere (La Porte)
2022-23 – Flory Bidunga, Kokomo
