Latest news with #Blackford
Indianapolis Star
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana high school basketball player rankings: Top 10 in-state prospects in Class of 2028
Disclaimer: This list is bound to change. Prospect rankings for players with just one year of high school basketball experience is always difficult (some of the best players in this class likely have not even played varsity yet). But it is a starting point. Here are the top-10 prospects — ranked primarily on college potential, along with production as a high school player — by Preps Insider Kyle Neddenriep (this does not include players who have left state for prep school): The 6-5 Washington is an outstanding talent who picked up his first offer last month from Purdue. Matt Painter usually knows what he is doing when it comes to making early offers. Washington was maybe the most productive of any freshman in the state, averaging 14.5 points per game for a 4A team that finished 19-5. Washington, who had an opportunity to try out with Team USA U16 team in May, is averaging 16.1 points per game on the Adidas 3SSB circuit with his Indiana Elite team on 39.2% shooting from 3. The 6-4 Coolman can really play. He was one of the standouts of the Top 100 Underclass Showcase last month despite playing against older competition. Coolman averaged 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists as a freshman for a Class 4A Penn team that finished 16-9. He shot 40.6% (52-for-128) from the 3-point line and 92% from the free-throw line. Coolman already has offers from Coastal Carolina and Purdue Fort Wayne. He is averaging 9.4 points and 2.8 assists while shooting 42% from the 3-point line playing alongside Washington this spring. Top Indiana seniors: Ranking best 25 in-state prospects in 2026 class Top Indiana juniors: Ranking best 20 in-state prospects in 2027 class The 6-6 Lampley possesses the type of talent that could make him a top-50 national prospect (ESPN had him ranked No. 24 in its initial rankings in May). He picked up an offer from Rutgers prior to his freshman season at Lawrence Central. Lampley only played in a three games with the Bears (3.3 ppg, 2.7 rebounds) before leaving the team with older brother Kenneth and eventually transferring to Pike. Lampley's upside is high enough to put him No. 1 on this list with a strong sophomore season. The 6-4 Leggett was the MVP of the Futures Game last month, going for 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting, including 4-for-6 from 3. He also had nine rebounds, three steals and two assists. Leggett averaged 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a freshman for a Class 2A Blackford team that finished 14-10. Leggett shot 31.7% (26-for-82) from the 3-point line. Luke Brown all over again? Rising sophomore bringing excitement back to Blackford The 6-5 Gilbert, a transfer from Warren Central, is going to be a big piece of the Wildcats' team this season alongside seniors Brennan Miller, Cam Webster and Duke Karnes. Gilbert is long and can extend his offensive game to the 3-point line. Gilbert is capable of being a really good player the next three years for Lawrence North. The 6-3 guard averaged 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 assists per game for the Class 4A Pirates, who went 7-19. Hardiman shot 33% (31-for-94) from the 3-point line. He was one of the standout players of the Futures Game last month, scoring 18 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the 3-point line. The 6-6 Bowling averaged 9.2 points and 3.6 rebounds as a freshman, shooting 62% from the field and 69% from the free-throw line. He was one of the standout players at the Charlie Hughes Shootout, leading his young team to a 2-2 record. The 6-3 Clark was one of HSE's best players at the end of last season, including putting up 10 points, two rebounds and two steals in a close sectional loss to Noblesville. Clark averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds on the season, shooting 52% from the field. The 6-7 Basila was one of just six freshmen invited to the Top 100 Underclass Showcase, which says a lot about his talent. The native of the Congo arrived in Chesterton in January and certainly looks the part of a Division I player. I would expect him to make a big jump going into his sophomore season and beyond. The 6-5 Harris is a different type of athlete who can make the highlight plays. In his first varsity season, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds for a Lutheran team that finished 8-16. Harris has the ability to jump up this list. ∎ Davis Baker, Lawrence North: The 5-11 Baker will be an outside shooting threat for the Wildcats to go with the established players. ∎ Will Davison, New Palestine: Averaged 3.8 points and shot 41.7% from the 3-point line on a 26-win team that played in the 3A semistate. ∎ Jaxson Delaney, Cathedral: The 6-5 Delaney, the son of Cathedral coach Jason Delaney, will run the floor, rebound and play hard. Had a good showing at Charlie Hughes Shootout. ∎ Rayveon Fetz, Mississinewa: The 5-10 guard was one of the top scoring freshmen in Class 2A, averaging 12.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists, shooting 39% from 3. ∎ Jaylin Foster, Scecina: The 6-4 Foster averaged 9.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game as a freshman. ∎ Kyan Hudson, Eastern Greene: The 6-1 Hudson was the top scoring freshman in Class 2A last season, averaging 16.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists. ∎ Jaxson Johnson, Muncie Central: The 6-2 guard was one of the top freshmen scorers in 4A, averaging 11.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists for an 8-16 team. ∎ Ishmael Kiteka, Cloverdale: The 6-8 Kiteka averaged 13.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots per game for the 9-15 Clovers. ∎ Niles Knox, Angola: The 6-4 Knox, a strong interior player, averaged 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds as a freshman for a 15-8 team. ∎ Bryce LaCross, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian: The 6-3 guard averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds and shot 41.5% (51-for-123) from the 3-point line. ∎ Teagan Leonard, North Vermillion: The 5-11 Leonard averaged 20.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, shooting 48% from the 3-point line. ∎ Lavell Love, Decatur Central: The 6-1 Love averaged 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals for the Hawks. ∎ Josh McBride, Norwell: McBride averaged 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as a freshman for Norwell, helping his team to a 12-12 season. ∎ Bishop Moore, Beech Grove: The 6-6 Moore averaged 11.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots for an 8-17 team. ∎ D.J. Nash, Kokomo: The 6-3 Nash averaged 9.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists as a freshman for the Wildkats. ∎ Drake Sefton, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian: The 6-3 guard averaged 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds, shooting 10-for-20 from the 3-point line. ∎ Daniel Thomas, Tri-West: The 5-9 guard averaged 9.1 points and shot 37.9% from the 3-point line for the Bruins. ∎ Jaece Vogt, West Lafayette: The 6-5 Vogt averaged 7.8 points and 3.3 rebounds as a freshman on 52% shooting from the 3-point line. ∎ Quintyn Voltz, Princeton: The 6-1 Voltz led Decatur Central in scoring, averaging 12.0 points, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals for the Hawks. He transferred to Princeton. ∎ Jordan Yates, Tindley: The 6-3 Yates averaged 8.4 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman at Shortridge, shooting 29% from the 3-point line (23-for-79).
The Herald Scotland
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Ian Blackford: SNP must offer Scots a bold economic plan
Mr Blackford warned that the dire state of the UK's public finances would have direct consequences for Holyrood, whose budget is heavily dependent on decisions taken at Westminster. Read more: 'For the SNP Government, whose budget is largely based on Barnett consequentials, it means an ongoing squeeze on real-terms spending,' he wrote. 'The 2026 election will largely focus on devolved responsibilities, but the capacity to deliver over the next Parliament will be constrained by the UK financial settlement.' Mr Blackford said the scale of the UK's fiscal challenge was stark. The tax burden continues to rise, with the UK Government's own forecasts suggesting the tax-to-GDP ratio will hit 37.7% by 2027–28 — the highest level seen in peacetime Britain. The Office for Budget Responsibility has said this could rise to 38% later in the decade. Yet despite the record tax take, the UK Government is still struggling to balance the books. Public sector net debt now stands at £2.87 trillion — around 96.4% of GDP — the highest May debt-to-GDP ratio in modern times. Servicing that debt costs more than £100 billion a year, or roughly 3.9% of GDP. All of this is adding to the pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has committed to not borrowing to fund day-to-day public spending, and to get debt falling as a share of GDP by 2029–30. She has limited choices following last week's U-turn on the welfare bill, which wiped out a projected £5bn saving. Labour has insisted it will keep its election promises not to increase income tax, National Insurance or VAT, but Ms Reeves has reportedly told Cabinet colleagues further hike may now be necessary in the Autumn Budget. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Chancellor may ultimately need to find an additional £25bn to £30bn by 2028 to avoid imposing deep cuts to public spending. Mr Blackford said there little chance of Ms Reeves scrapping her fiscal rules, and borrowing more. 'The financial markets will punish the Chancellor if she tries to increase borrowing, and she knows this,' he wrote. 'Put simply, the financial markets will largely determine the fate of the Chancellor and our fiscal future.' The prospect of a new Chancellor who might change the borrowing rules has already spooked the markets. When Ms Reeves was seen crying in the Commons at Prime Minister's Questions — after Sir Keir Starmer refused to back her — the pound fell against the dollar and the euro, while gilt yields soared. Rachel Reeves wipes away a tear during PMQsMr Blackford, a former investment banker, said: 'International comparisons make clear that investors impose a risk premium on UK debt. The current 10-year UK Government gilt yield is 4.5%. In Germany, it is 2.6%. In Switzerland, a modest 0.4%. Our neighbour Ireland has a rate of 2.8%. 'We are paying a price for the perception of investors of a lack of financial competence. We make jokes about Liz Truss and her cataclysmic approach to financial management, but her predecessors and successors hardly earn an A-plus.' Mr Blackford said the result would be a period of sustained pressure on public services across the UK, including in Scotland. 'For the public, the catastrophic failure to deliver an economic policy that supports sustainable growth has meant declining living standards,' he wrote. 'The last Westminster Parliament was the first in the post-war period during which living standards fell. I would not bet on this Parliament delivering a different outcome.' He also warned of the UK's limited ability to cope with any future economic shocks. 'Heaven help us if we face another external shock, given UK PLC's balance sheet. I shudder to think how the UK could finance another Covid-style crisis.' However, the bleak picture, he said, presented the SNP with an opportunity. 'Politics ought to be about hope. The SNP can seize the opportunity to paint a landscape showing how things could be different in Scotland,' he wrote. 'I have previously argued for the establishment of an industrial council. It is much needed. Or, if one is not to be established, the SNP at the very least needs to set out how it will drive a step change in investment, jobs and growth. 'We have the opportunity to drive economic opportunity from our massive potential in green energy — not green energy in itself, but using that power to create a sustainable green industrial future, building on our strategic opportunity to create a competitive advantage from affordable green energy. 'Doing our bit for net zero while creating the circumstances for a sustainable increase in economic growth.' Ian Blackford called on the SNP to look at establishing an Industrial CouncilMr Blackford argued that Scotland's ability to achieve this economic renewal was inextricably linked to the case for independence. 'When we talk about independence, it is not about an abstract concept. It is about transforming life chances. More of the same within the UK — low growth and public services under pressure — can be broken. 'The SNP needs to spell out how it can change the landscape and unlock economic growth by harnessing our natural resources and, of course, our human capital. There is a better way. It is up to our leaders to chart it.' Read more: Currently, around one-third of Scotland's budget comes via the Barnett formula, meaning UK Government spending decisions directly influence Holyrood's funding envelope. Last month, Ms Reeves set out her spending plans for the next three years, with the Scottish Government due to see a £9.1bn increase in funding during that period. A breakdown of the spending, released yesterday by the UK Government, showed that included a £5.8bn rise in health spending. Education consequentials were worth £2.1bn, while justice spending added £451m, housing and local government £380m, and transport £807m. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray hailed the increase, saying: 'The UK Government's Plan for Change has delivered the largest real terms settlement for the Scottish Government since devolution began in 1999, and ensured a definitive end to austerity in Scotland with £9.1bn more for the Scottish Government until the end of the decade. 'That's £9.1bn over and above record real terms budgets. 'That's more money than ever before for the Scottish Government to invest in Scottish public services like our NHS, police, housing and schools. 'It is for the Scottish Government to determine how it spends this money. 'It is notable, however, that almost £6bn of additional funding has been generated by health spending, and over £2bn has been generated by spending on education. 'Many Scots will expect to see better outcomes in their schools and hospitals given this record funding.' However, Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the settlement still left Scotland short-changed. 'The UK Spending Review document sets out in black and white that our funding for day-to-day spending is set to grow by only 0.8% over the next three years, compared with 1.2% average growth for UK Government departments,' she said. 'This will short-change us by £1.1bn. 'What's more, we face an estimated £400m shortfall from the UK Government's failure to fully fund their employer National Insurance increase.'
The Herald Scotland
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Ian Blackford urges SNP to support defence spending
At this week's NATO summit, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer committed to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. READ MORE Mr Blackford said this was a "seismic shift" and would have "massive implications for the budgets of every government department over the next decade." "Though in these islands we have excellence in many aspects of our armed forces, to a large extent our military capability has been hollowed out," he wrote. "The need to enhance defence capability and at pace is stark. "There is now a race to invest and if we take last year's defence spending of £53.9 billion as our base, we are going to have to find by 2035 an extra £60 billion plus a year to invest in defence. "Where is this to come from?" The former MP said 'difficult choices' would need to be made. He argued that defence funding should not be seen as a moral compromise, but as an economic lever. "Austerity will be a price to be paid as a consequence of having to invest in our national security. "Investment in defence, though, can be a lever and transformative in itself in generating economic growth." He noted that the industry already supports 33,500 workers in Scotland and contributes £3.2 billion in gross value. "We all want a high-growth, high-wage, high-productivity Scotland—a society that drives investment in skills and innovation." The SNP has long opposed public money being spent on munitions. The Scottish National Investment Bank's ethical investment policy currently bars organisations 'primarily engaged in the manufacture of munitions or weapons' from receiving support. Ian Blackford calling on the SNP to embrace the defence sector (Image: PA) Recently, a new welding centre—backed by Rolls-Royce and intended to support Royal Navy submarine construction—was denied funding by Scottish Enterprise. The UK Government has since stepped in to fund the initiative. The SNP has faced accusations of hypocrisy, as the Scottish Government funds Ferguson Marine, which is subcontracted by BAE to work on Royal Navy frigates. Mr Blackford's intervention comes as John Swinney faces mounting internal and external pressure to reconsider his government's position. Recently, the First Minister suggested the policy could be "reconsidered" given the growing threat from Russia. Speaking on the Holyrood Sources podcast, he said: "I'm conscious we are living in a very different context today. I do think the Russian threat is very real. We have to consider these questions." He added he had no objections if a company wished to set up a munitions factory in Scotland. The First Minister added: "We do not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions but will support skills and defence companies." Speaking to Scotland on Sunday, Stewart McDonald, the SNP's former defence spokesperson at Westminster, said it was time for the party to look again at the policy. "It hasn't had a proper defence debate since 2012, when we changed the policy on NATO," he said. "All of this is moving at such pace. The entire international picture is moving at a rapid pace and if we are a party that seeks to be an independent state—and an independent state in NATO and the EU—then we should have stuff to say on this." Mr McDonald warned: "There is a risk the party falls behind in that debate." He said: "That's a debate going on in capitals across Europe. And although Edinburgh is not a state capital, the Scottish Government has a role to play as a domestic partner. "We have an industry in Scotland worth many billions of pounds, employing somewhere between 33,000 and 35,000 people, and it has a very awkward relationship with the Scottish Government—it has done so for a long time." He suggested Mr Swinney should gather major and smaller defence employers in Scotland, invite the defence procurement minister from London, and ask: "How do I marshal the resources of the government—spending, policy, legislative—to better support this?" "I understand there's a bit of political balancing to be done here, but I think that can be over-thought and over-egged," he added. "We do live in much more dangerous times and there's a risk we are just saying the same stuff we've been saying for a long time—and that just would not be credible to stand still politically as the entire world changes around you." Mr McDonald branded the Scottish Enterprise ban on munitions-related investment "a stupid policy" and criticised restrictions at the Scottish National Investment Bank. Meanwhile, in the Sunday Mail, Labour's Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, called on the SNP to reverse its opposition to nuclear weapons entirely. "Any responsible government has to make sure they put their national security and the safety of their own people first. "Scots only have to turn on their TVs and pick up their newspapers to read about the fact that there is a changing global instability. "I do think the Scottish Government should readdress it." Previously, Mr Murray described himself as a 'lifelong unilateralist' and was one of 2000 parliamentarians to have signed the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) pledge, which obliges signatories to work for their respective nations to sign up to a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons through the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). He added: "My views on nuclear weapons changed some time ago but they have been underlined and emphasised by the fact that the issue of nuclear weapons and deterrence has become a huge global stability issue. "For the Scottish Government to tell Rolls-Royce, one of the most respected British institutions, that they will not contribute to them investing in a highly skilled welding academy in Glasgow tells the public that they do not care about jobs, growth and opportunities for the future. "That is a huge part of the defence dividend we should be trying to capture. Places like Babcock and BAE Systems are hiring foreign welders from the Philippines and South Africa to do the work local people should be doing." READ MORE However, SNP defence spokesperson Dave Doogan told the paper that the party remained 'resolute' in its opposition to nuclear weapons. "We believe we're firmly in step with the vast majority of civil society in Scotland on that point. "Ian Murray, consistent with many other issues, is not in step with the majority of civil society in Scotland. "I've spoken to armed forces professionals who deal with the nuclear deterrent and nobody talks about it in the triumphant way in which Westminster politicians of the two main parties do." Any change in the Scottish Government's policy would likely be met with opposition from the Scottish Greens.
The Herald Scotland
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Ian Blackford calls on SNP to support defence industry
At this week's NATO summit, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer committed to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. READ MORE Mr Blackford said this was a "seismic shift" and would have "massive implications for the budgets of every government department over the next decade." "Though in these islands we have excellence in many aspects of our armed forces, to a large extent our military capability has been hollowed out," he wrote. "The need to enhance defence capability and at pace is stark. "There is now a race to invest and if we take last year's defence spending of £53.9 billion as our base, we are going to have to find by 2035 an extra £60 billion plus a year to invest in defence. "Where is this to come from?" The former MP said 'difficult choices' would need to be made. He argued that defence funding should not be seen as a moral compromise, but as an economic lever. "Austerity will be a price to be paid as a consequence of having to invest in our national security. "Investment in defence, though, can be a lever and transformative in itself in generating economic growth." He noted that the industry already supports 33,500 workers in Scotland and contributes £3.2 billion in gross value. "We all want a high-growth, high-wage, high-productivity Scotland—a society that drives investment in skills and innovation." The SNP has long opposed public money being spent on munitions. The Scottish National Investment Bank's ethical investment policy currently bars organisations 'primarily engaged in the manufacture of munitions or weapons' from receiving support. Ian Blackford calling on the SNP to embrace the defence sector (Image: PA) Recently, a new welding centre—backed by Rolls-Royce and intended to support Royal Navy submarine construction—was denied funding by Scottish Enterprise. The UK Government has since stepped in to fund the initiative. The SNP has faced accusations of hypocrisy, as the Scottish Government funds Ferguson Marine, which is subcontracted by BAE to work on Royal Navy frigates. Mr Blackford's intervention comes as John Swinney faces mounting internal and external pressure to reconsider his government's position. Recently, the First Minister suggested the policy could be "reconsidered" given the growing threat from Russia. Speaking on the Holyrood Sources podcast, he said: "I'm conscious we are living in a very different context today. I do think the Russian threat is very real. We have to consider these questions." He added he had no objections if a company wished to set up a munitions factory in Scotland. The First Minister added: "We do not use public money to support the manufacture of munitions but will support skills and defence companies." Speaking to Scotland on Sunday, Stewart McDonald, the SNP's former defence spokesperson at Westminster, said it was time for the party to look again at the policy. "It hasn't had a proper defence debate since 2012, when we changed the policy on NATO," he said. "All of this is moving at such pace. The entire international picture is moving at a rapid pace and if we are a party that seeks to be an independent state—and an independent state in NATO and the EU—then we should have stuff to say on this." Mr McDonald warned: "There is a risk the party falls behind in that debate." He said: "That's a debate going on in capitals across Europe. And although Edinburgh is not a state capital, the Scottish Government has a role to play as a domestic partner. "We have an industry in Scotland worth many billions of pounds, employing somewhere between 33,000 and 35,000 people, and it has a very awkward relationship with the Scottish Government—it has done so for a long time." He suggested Mr Swinney should gather major and smaller defence employers in Scotland, invite the defence procurement minister from London, and ask: "How do I marshal the resources of the government—spending, policy, legislative—to better support this?" "I understand there's a bit of political balancing to be done here, but I think that can be over-thought and over-egged," he added. "We do live in much more dangerous times and there's a risk we are just saying the same stuff we've been saying for a long time—and that just would not be credible to stand still politically as the entire world changes around you." Mr McDonald branded the Scottish Enterprise ban on munitions-related investment "a stupid policy" and criticised restrictions at the Scottish National Investment Bank. Meanwhile, in the Sunday Mail, Labour's Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, called on the SNP to reverse its opposition to nuclear weapons entirely. "Any responsible government has to make sure they put their national security and the safety of their own people first. "Scots only have to turn on their TVs and pick up their newspapers to read about the fact that there is a changing global instability. "I do think the Scottish Government should readdress it." Previously, Mr Murray described himself as a 'lifelong unilateralist' and was one of 2000 parliamentarians to have signed the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) pledge, which obliges signatories to work for their respective nations to sign up to a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons through the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). He added: "My views on nuclear weapons changed some time ago but they have been underlined and emphasised by the fact that the issue of nuclear weapons and deterrence has become a huge global stability issue. "For the Scottish Government to tell Rolls-Royce, one of the most respected British institutions, that they will not contribute to them investing in a highly skilled welding academy in Glasgow tells the public that they do not care about jobs, growth and opportunities for the future. "That is a huge part of the defence dividend we should be trying to capture. Places like Babcock and BAE Systems are hiring foreign welders from the Philippines and South Africa to do the work local people should be doing." READ MORE However, SNP defence spokesperson Dave Doogan told the paper that the party remained 'resolute' in its opposition to nuclear weapons. "We believe we're firmly in step with the vast majority of civil society in Scotland on that point. "Ian Murray, consistent with many other issues, is not in step with the majority of civil society in Scotland. "I've spoken to armed forces professionals who deal with the nuclear deterrent and nobody talks about it in the triumphant way in which Westminster politicians of the two main parties do." Any change in the Scottish Government's policy would likely be met with opposition from the Scottish Greens.
Indianapolis Star
03-06-2025
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Blackford freshman Amarian Leggett MVP of Futures Game
Blackford freshman Amarian Leggett goes for 24 points and nine rebounds to earn MVP of Futures Game
