Video: 10 big time high school basketball player on the ride presented by Eastbay
Watch 10 hoopsters on the rise, including New Albany's Romeo Langford.
The New Albany Bulldogs were somewhat of a surprise Class 4A boys state basketball champion last year, but they are front and center this time around, ranked No. 8 in the nation by MaxPreps and No. 1 in Indiana. They opened their season with a 61-38 rout of Bloomington South, one of the state's top 10 teams.
In December alone, the Bulldogs will be challenged in four of the top 10 state games of the month, due in large part to 6-foot-4 junior Romeo Langford, who had 24 points and nine rebounds in the opener - the school's 25th straight victory. Langford is ranked as high as the No. 2 junior in the country by one recruiting service.
Playing a greatly beefed-up schedule, the Bulldogs will take on state-title contender North Central and its 6-8 senior Mr. Basketball favorite, Kris Wilkes, on Dec. 10 at Southport High School. Five days later they will challenge towering La Lumiere (LaPorte) - ranked No. 1 in the nation by some services - in an ESPN-televised national headliner at New Castle, Ind., which has the largest high school gymnasium in the world with 10,000 seating capacity.
On Dec. 20, New Albany will play state-ranked Carmel at home in preparation for the talent-laden Hall of Fame Classic on Dec. 30 at New Castle, also site of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. The Bulldogs will take on state-ranked Warsaw, which opened with a 62-41 victory over Columbia City behind 25 points by All-State candidate Kyle Mangas.
That same day No. 2-ranked Lawrence North (Indianapolis) will be challenged by Logansport, hoping to win and get a shot at the Bulldogs in an evening headliner which could be a preview of the state championship. North has captured four state titles under veteran coach Jack Keefer, is experienced, deep and still a young team.
The Wildcats also have a schedule equal to that of New Albany. They will play two tall and talented teams earlier in the month. On Dec. 10 they will tangle with Fort Wayne North (Fort Wayne), which opened with a 72-60 victory over Arsenal Tech (Indianapolis) as 6-8 sophomore Keion Brooks exploded for 32 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks and 6-10 senior Jaylen Butrz added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Twelve days later they will be challenged by Snider (Fort Wayne) and it's 6-11 senior, Malik Williams.
Top 10 Indiana games in December
Dec. 9 -
North Central (Indianapolis) at
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers).
Dec. 10 -
Lawrence North (Indianapolis) vs.
Fort Wayne North Side (Fort Wayne) at Southport (Indianapolis).
Dec. 10 -
New Albany vs.
North Central (Indianapolis) at Southport (Indianapolis).
Dec. 10 -
South Bend Riley (South Bend) at
Southport (Indianapolis).
Dec. 15 - New Albany vs.
La Lumiere (LaPorte) at New Castle.
Dec. 20 -
Carmel at New Albany.
Dec. 22 -
McCutcheon (Lafayette) vs.
Merrillville at Marion.
Dec. 22 - Lawrence North (Indianapolis) vs.
Fort Wayne Snider (Fort Wayne) at Marion.
Dec. 30 - New Albany vs.
Warsaw at New Castle.
Dec. 30 - Lawrence North (Indianapolis) vs.
Logansport at New Castle.
