Latest news with #Noblesville
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Why Noblesville guard Baron Walker picked Butler: 'Can't really see myself anywhere else'
When Baron Walker was going through the recruiting process, his parents told him 'go somewhere where you are going to be wanted.' Staying home, as it turned out, was the most appealing option. Walker, a 6-3 senior-to-be, committed to Butler on Tuesday night, just three hours after receiving an offer from the Bulldogs. Walker took a visit to campus Monday and 24 hours later became the Bulldogs' first commit in the 2026 class. 'It just feels like home,' Walker said. 'Obviously it's not too far, but it feels like it's somewhere I want to be and I feel like I can succeed there and really help out with whatever they are trying to build.' Walker averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game and earned a spot on the Junior All-Stars team last season, shooting 50% from the field, 40.2% from the 3-point line (37-for-92) and 82% from the free-throw line. But with most colleges recruiting the transfer portal first, Walker did not pick up his first offer until Indiana State in May. Several more followed: Bellarmine, Boston University, Central Michigan, IU Indy, Wright State, Ball State, Belmont, Miami (Ohio), Montana and SIU-Edwardsville offered prior to Butler. 'I was in contact with (Butler) after the FORUM Tipoff Classic in December,' Walker said. 'I talked to them a little bit throughout the season and going through that live period with the Charlie Hughes (Shootout in June), they showed a lot more interest. I went down to campus before and saw them practice… ultimately for me, I just felt like it feels like home. I know that I want to go there and can't really see myself anywhere else.' Though the offers did not come until a little later than expected, Walker said he was confident in himself. He credited his parents, along with Noblesville coach Scott McClelland and his coach Grand Park Premier, Dustin Smith. 'Obviously that portal is crazy,' he said. 'It kind of downgrades high school recruiting for a lot of kids. But I think for me just sticking my head down and grinding and just trusting the process (was important). I give a lot of credit to both my parents. They helped me and gave me all the confidence I need.' What type of player is Butler getting in Walker? His shooting numbers across the board are outstanding, particularly considering the competition Noblesville faces throughout the season. Walker is more than just an offensive standout. He is often tasked with guarding the best player on the opposing team, a trait that stood out to the Butler staff. ''Winning' was said a lot,' Walker said. 'A lot of guys are winners, but I just feel like going out there and doing my job — whatever that is, going out there and guarding the other team's best (player) or having to go out there and score — ultimately that's what I would say. Just bringing a guard to help the team succeed.' Butler coach Thad Matta has had success recruiting Central Indiana in recent seasons, getting commitment from Brebeuf Jesuit guard Evan Haywood (will be a sophomore) and incoming freshmen Azavier 'Stink' Robinson from Lawrence North and Bryson Cardinal from Guerin Catholic.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Why 2026 Indiana guard Baron Walker committed to Butler basketball
IndyStar's Kyle Neddenriep talks with Noblesville's Baron Walker on why the 2026 guard picked the Bulldogs.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
One of Indiana's top guards commits to Butler basketball hours after receiving offer
Butler basketball got a commitment from one of Central Indiana's top rising seniors on Tuesday night. Noblesville's Baron Walker announced his commitment to the Bulldogs via social media. "Had a spectacular conversation with Thad Matta," Walker posted. "I am feeling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (sure did look up how to spell that) after receiving an offer from Butler." Three hours later, the Indiana Junior All-Star committed. "Whichever school gets a commitment from the 6-3 Walker is going to be fortunate," IndyStar's Kyle Neddenriep wrote earlier this summer ranking the state's top in-state seniors. Walker, ranked ninth in those Class of 2026 player rankings, averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior, helping the Millers to a 19-6 record. Walker shot 50% from the field, including 40.2% from the 3-point line (37-for-92) and 82% from the free-throw line. His first Division I offer came in May from Indiana State, followed by offers from Bellarmine, Boston University, Central Michigan, IU Indy and Wright State. The offers continued to roll in this month with Ball State, Belmont, Miami (Ohio), Montana and SIU-Edwardsville offering this month.
Indianapolis Star
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
IHSAA football isn't that far away. A look ahead to top Week 1 matchups of 2025 season
Check your calendar. It is almost July. We are just eight weeks from the first Friday night of the high school football season. Crazy, right? If you have football on the brain — or will get there soon — you might want to check this out. A little dip of the toe into the water as we count down the top 10 Central Indiana games for Week 1 of the 2025 high school football season: This is a new series on the schedule. Lafayette Jeff, a Class 5A program, was 11-0 last year going into the regional against Warsaw. The Bronchos lost that game, 44-27. But coach Pat Shanley has built a strong program that should continue to thrive. Jeff's top rushers last year were juniors Marquis Adkins (809 yards, 13 TDs) and Antwoine Richmond (699 yards, six TDs) and senior OJ Williams (64 catches, 931 yards, 16 TDs) who recently committed to Northern Illinois. Chatard is coming off a 9-3 season with an overtime loss to New Palestine in the Class 4A regional. The Dragons went on to win state and are now in 5A. Can Chatard make a run this year in 4A? The Trojans bring back Ball State commit Zion Haney on the offensive line. He will be blocking for returning starter Jack Harrington at quarterback. A new era begins for Noblesville as former Carmel coach John Hebert makes his debut. The Millers were 2-8 last year but six of those losses came by a touchdown or less against the difficult Hoosier Crossroads Conference slate. Noblesville lost to Mt. Vernon in the 2020 season opener but have won each of the past four meetings against the Marauders, including a 43-24 victory last season. Noblesville lost a lot of contributors in the senior class but brings back one of the top players in the junior class in linebacker Praise Oladipupo (107 tackles, three caused fumbles). Mt. Vernon slipped to 4-6 last season, including a pair of one-point losses. The Marauders have junior quarterback Mason Meyer (1,150 passing yards, nine TDs; 423 rushing yards, nine TDs) coming back and a lot of inexperienced elsewhere. Meyer is also a standout baseball player. This is a new game on the schedule. Whiteland slipped a bit last year, finishing 4-5 with a first-round sectional loss to eventual state champion Decatur Central. The Warriors, a Class 5A program, will bring back senior Jordan Palmer (92 tackles; 359 rushing yards, two TDs) and senior Clayton Ratliff (98 tackles) on defense. Whiteland has another new game on the schedule in Week 2 with Floyd Central visiting before getting into Mid-State Conference play in Week 3 against defending 5A state champion Decatur Central. Columbus North, which opened last season with a 26-point win over Decatur Central and finished 8-2, will have one of the best quarterbacks in the state returning in senior Asher Ratliff (1,942 passing yards, 22 TDs; 425 rushing yards, five TDs) and Indiana commit Parker Elmore at tight end. The Bull Dogs lost to Franklin Central 21-17 in the first round of the sectional last season. It felt like Pike took a big step forward last year, starting with a 31-20 win over Zionsville in Week 1. The Red Devils finished 5-5 with a competitive 34-24 loss to Ben Davis in the first round of the sectional. Coach Mike Brevard goes into his fourth season with seniors Dammy Adeoba (102 tackles, 11 tackles for loss) and Manu Newman-Nwodika (Western Michigan commit) and junior Willie Chapman returning on defense, among others. Quarterback Mychael Lewis gained some experience as a freshman last season. There is some talent around him at the skill positions. Zionsville, a 4-7 team last year, brings back top tackler Hank Phenicie (106 tackles) on defense. Senior Sam Manna rushed for 764 yards and nine TDs last season. The offense has some good pieces, including sophomore tight end Theo Schott, who just received an offer from Purdue last month. These programs have met every year in the season opener since 2016. Zionsville is 6-3 in those nine meetings. This game is not staying on the schedule as the season opener. This is the second year of a two-year blip due to some scheduling quirks. It will go back to a Week 3 game next year. Lawrence North's dream season last year ended with a gut punch of a 22-21 loss at Brownsburg in the Class 6A regional. But it was still something of a miracle to see how far the Wildcats had come to be ranked No. 1 in the state and carrying an 11-0 record into that game considering where the program was a few years ago. Coach Pat Mallory's team loses a lot of speed and talent from that group, but sophomore quarterback Darian Prather is a talented player who will have one of the best receiving targets in the Midwest in 6-5 junior Monshun Sales (34 catches, 568 yards, seven TDs) and a great junior running back in Izayveon Moore (1,369 yards, 22 TDs). Western Michigan commit Breck Mallory (128 tackles, 25 tackles for loss) leads a defense that graduated a lot. Lawrence Central lost quarterback Terry Walker III, who transferred to Hamilton Southeastern. But the Bears bring back Purdue commit James 'Bam' Williams on the offensive line, along with running backs Caron Parks (710 rushing yards) and Albert Gooden III (445 yards, two TDs) and linebacker Sean Fox (80 tackles) and defensive back R.J. Eldridge (43 tackles) are among the returners on defense. The Bears, coming off a 4-6 season, have been between four and five wins the past four seasons. Lawrence North has won four in a row in this series. Class 6A defending champion Brownsburg opens its refurbished football stadium against one of the top teams in the country. Spalding was 12-0 last season and ranked No. 18 in the country by High School Football America. Defensive back Sean Johnson is committed to Florida State and lineman Kyle Lucas is committed to Navy. Junior receiver Myles McAfee (54 catches, 651 yards, 10 TDs) is a four-star prospect with offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Auburn, Indiana and many others. Sophomore receiver Keith Miller has offers from Florida State, Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, Syracuse and others. Brownsburg will miss its senior class, especially on the defensive side, but there is a lot of talent returning, including junior quarterback Oscar Frye (2,445 passing yards, 23 TDs) and receivers Branden Sharpe (66 catches, 1,165 yards, seven TDs) and Avin Robinson (41 catches, 933 yards, 12 TDs). Top rushers Shakovon Sumpterbey (801 yards, seven TDs) and Brady Lewis (714 yards, six TDs) also return. Brownsburg will host Cathedral in Week 2. Decatur Central, coming off a Class 5A state championship, makes the jump to 6A this season and into a sectional with Lawrence Central, Lawrence North and North Central. This will be a good first test for the Hawks, who bring back a lot of talent, including Toledo commit Bo Polston at quarterback (2,069 passing yards, 21 TDs), Indiana commit Kasmir Hicks at receiver (54 catches, 877 yards, 13 TDs; 479 rushing yards, five TDs) and Eastern Michigan commit Fa'rel Carter (750 rushing yards, nine TDs; 36 catches, 465 yards). Five of the top six tacklers return on defense, including Mykul Campbell (27 tackles for loss, 14 sacks). Decatur Central hosts defending Class 4A state champion New Palestine in Week 2. Avon was 3-7 last season but were a better team than that record shows. Senior quarterback Jace Cameron (584 passing yards, three TDs) was limited to four games due to an injury. Cameron returns with leading rusher Ashton Carter (769 rushing yards, four TDs) and leading receiver Shawn Curry (25 catches, 371 yards, three TDs). The defense also has plenty returning, including leading tackler Makyi Hines (94 tackles, 12 tackles for loss). The Orioles could post their first winning season since 2019 if it all comes together. The second Kevin Wright era officially begins at Carmel as these programs meet in the regular season for the first time and first time overall since Carmel's win in the 2016 sectional championship. Hard to believe the Greyhounds have not won a sectional title in five seasons. Carmel was a better team that last year's 3-7 record shows with five losses coming by a combined 11 points. Senior quarterback Anthony Coellner (1,896 passing yards, 17 TDs) returns with top receiver Jake Bellin (47 catches, 596 yards, five TDs) and several key players return on defense, including Charlotte commit Kaiden Bower and Isaac Nelson (53 tackles). Carmel hosts Westfield in Week 2. Fishers, a 7-5 team last year with a sectional title, has two new nonconference games on the schedule with this one and then at Lawrence North in Week 2. The Tigers have a standout at quarterback in senior Gage Sturgill (1,156 passing yards, 13 TDs in five games before knee injury). Senior running back Ryan Thembulembu (727 rushing yards, nine TDs; 21 catches, 223 yards, six TDs) also returns. The defense brings back senior Carsen Eloms, a Wisconsin commit, in the secondary, along with seniors Emmanuel Cowherd (86 tackles) and Tyler Maynard (69 tackles, seven tackles for loss). The Tigers won a sectional title last year for the first time since 2017. I had this game in the No. 1 spot last year, but the game did not live up to the billing. Cathedral rolled to a 24-6 win at Ben Davis, creating some immediate question marks about the Class 6A defending champions. Ben Davis rebounded at the end of the season and led Brownsburg by four touchdowns in the sectional championship before letting it get away in the section half of a 38-35 loss to the 6A state champs. The Giants finished 5-6. Last year's starting quarterback, Joe Goss, has transferred to Warren Central. Sophomore Kenneth Doss and freshman Gabe Kennett are the possibilities there. Running back Jazz Coleman transferred over from Speedway. The defense lost a lot, but senior linebacker Caleb Scott (Army) and senior defensive back Robert Reddick (Kansas) are talented players. Cathedral went 6-4 last season with a 24-7 loss to Lawrence North in the sectional championship. The Irish moved back down to 5A this year and into a sectional with New Palestine and Plainfield. Cathedral brings back senior quarterback Cameron Koers (1,528 passing yards, 11 TDs) and junior running back Xavier Dangerfield (1,087 yards, 16 TDs) with senior Kyle Harden (65 tackles) and Ball State commit Gannon Knowles (57 tackles, 14 ½ tackles for loss) leaders on defense. I love that this game is back on the schedule in the season opening spot like it was from 2013 to 2022 (it is the start of a four-year deal through 2028). I see these helmets on the field together, it feels like a huge game. Though Center Grove and Warren Central did not meet in the regular season in 2023 and '24, the programs still met in the Class 6A south regional both years — the Trojans winning both times. Center Grove is coming off an 8-5 season but was right there in the final minute of a 31-27 home loss to Brownsburg in the semistate, throwing the ball into the end zone with a chance to win. Heralded sophomore Oscar Sloan is poised to make his starting debut at quarterback in this one. The 6-4, 190-pound Sloan already has several offers, including from Cincinnati, Maryland and Purdue. He has a talented group around him that includes Wake Forest commit Dominick Barry at tight end (31 catches, 237 yards, five TDs), Indiana commit C.J. Scifres on the offensive line and junior Drake McClurg, an Indiana baseball commit, at receiver (67 catches, 1,004 yards, six TDs). Five of the team's top 10 tacklers are back on defense, in addition to the return of senior defensive end Kobe Cherry, a Purdue recruit who missed last year with a knee injury. Warren Central blanked its first four opponents last year — and six overall — on the way to a 10-2 season that ended with a 23-15 home loss to Center Grove in the regional. Quite a bit has changed from that season, including the coach. Mike Kirschner stepped down from his roles as coach and athletic director and J.T. Whitaker stepped in after coordinating the Brownsburg offense. There is talent here, starting with senior Alabama recruit Jerimy Finch Jr. at defensive end and junior Kaleb Elkins in the secondary. There is inexperience in several areas, including receiver. Junior Anthony Dennison and sophomore Jack Quillen will battle it out at quarterback. Junior running back Keyon Thomas has a slew of offers already, including Arizona State, Indiana, Kentucky, Purdue and Vanderbilt. These teams will probably meet again in the regional. Center Grove has won eight in a row in this series. ∎ Fort Wayne Carroll at Hamilton Southeastern: After Carroll beat HSE in the 2022 semistate, the Royals have rebounded to beat the Chargers in each of the past two season openers. Last year, HSE rolled to a 45-21 victory. The Royals will be interesting with Duke commit Terry Walker III coming over from Lawrence Central to lead an offense that includes junior running back Carter Reed (724 yards, 12 TDs) and receiver Kendrick Pennybaker (19 catches, 381 yards, six TDs). HSE was 7-4 last year with a 44-41 loss to Fishers in the sectional championship. Carroll was 9-3 with a 38-21 loss to Crown Point in the regional. ∎ Monrovia at Cascade: Cascade is coming off a 10-1 season with a heartbreaking 37-35 loss to Tri-West in a Class 3A sectional semifinal game. Monrovia was 9-3 last season with a loss to Lutheran in the sectional title game. Cascade brings back a lot of talent at the skill positions. This game might be over in an hour considering how much both teams like to run the ball. ∎ Danville at Gibson Southern: This was a good game last year as Gibson Southern walked away with a 21-14 comeback win. Danville junior Carter Ward passed for 1,063 yards and 16 TDs last year, though the Warriors' top two receiving targets graduated. Danville was an 8-2 team last year with that crazy 50-49 overtime loss to Brebeuf Jesuit ending the season. Gibson Southern went 7-3 with a loss to 3A champion Heritage Hills in the sectional. ∎ Tri-West at Western Boone: This game moves to Week 1 as these teams are no longer in the same conference. Western Boone is playing its first season in the Monon Conference and Tri-West is now part of the Hoosier Legends. Still, this should be a good one. The Stars won last year's game 21-17. It will be interesting to see what Tri-West quarterback Jackson Sorgi (1,729 passing yards, 19 TDs) does as a junior. ∎ Homestead at Westfield: Westfield has this home opener followed by a visit to Carmel in Week 2. Can the Shamrocks keep it going after last year's 12-2 season and Class 6A runner-up finish? Deacon King (1,440 rushing yards, 18 TDs) is one of the top players in the area. Homestead was 5-5 last year and played HSE to a 20-14 loss in the sectional.
Indianapolis Star
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
LOST GYMS: After 100 years, Sharpsville gym 'still a place to get together with the neighborhood'
This is the second of a 10-part series featuring some of Indiana high school basketball 's "Lost Gyms." SHARPSVILLE, Ind. – Leon Baird's introduction to following high school basketball came at the perfect time. In 1955 and '56, a player named Oscar Robertson was capturing the imagination of basketball fans, setting a standard that has arguably never been reached again. 'At my house, it was church and work,' Baird said. 'But I got interested in basketball and some of the history and started following in 1955 and '56 when Crispus Attucks won the state.' That is when basketball started nudging its way into the conversation with church and work for Baird, who was always more interested in playing the game than watching. Growing up in the Tipton County community of Sharpsville, there were plenty of fans — including the cheer block known as the Bulldog Barkers — ready to root on their high school team. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. 'The years I played, in my mind, the gym was always full,' said Baird, who graduated in 1963. The Sharpsville gym, celebrating its 100 th anniversary this year, remains a beautiful reminder to the high school teams that once played here and remains a vibrant part of the community of 550 residents, hosting reunions, youth sports and community celebrations. The community park directly east of the gym sits on the grounds of the old Sharpsville school, which was torn down in 1987. Prior to the construction of the gymnasium that was named O.H. Hughes Memorial Gymnasium after the school's first superintendent, Sharpsville played home basketball games above the J.G. Romack hardware store. One of the Sharpsville teams to play in the new gym, in 1926-27, won the first sectional championship in the school's history and proceeded to upset Noblesville and Tech to win the Anderson Regional in front of 5,000 fans, most of them cheering for the underdogs. 'When the news of Sharpsville's victory in the afternoon (over Noblesville) reached Tipton County, the little town of 700 inhabitants closed up shop and moved to Anderson,' the Anderson Herald reported. With the win over Tech, Sharpsville advanced to the 1927 state finals, which was then a 16-team tournament played at the Exposition Center at the state fairgrounds. The Bulldogs battled, but lost to powerful Muncie Central, which went on to fall to John Wooden and Martinsville in the championship. The following year, in February of 1928, Sharpsville nearly lost its $15,000 gymnasium. A fire that started in the basement of the school destroyed the structure built in 1908. The Tipton Daily Tribune reported firemen from Tipton, Kokomo, Sharpsville and Kempton saved the gym 'after a stubborn battle.' The night before the fire, Sharpsville defeated visiting Frankton, 37-33. Sharpsville won the sectional again in 1928, then waited 20 years before winning another. Jerry Fernung grew up in Kokomo in the 1950s, attending games at the massive Memorial Gymnasium built in 1949. But he also tagged along with his father, Andrew Fernung, the principal at Sharpsville to school. 'Anytime I had a break from school, I would come out with him,' Fernung said. 'When they were in class, I was in here shooting baskets.' Fernung ended up coming to Sharpsville for high school. He joked it made him nervous at first to go to school with 'hick farmers.' 'The first day of school when I walked into school, they were so friendly and so nice,' he said. 'The just took me under their wing. I felt like I belonged. … I grew up coming out here to ballgames, so it was kind of like a homecoming. The student body just brought me in like I was one of them.' The brick gym featured eight rows of wood bleachers on both sides of the floor and a stage on the south end. Long vertical windows on the north end allowed the sun to shine on to the wood floor during afternoon pickup games. 'When you took the floor before a game, a lot of times people were just standing around (the court),' Fernung said. 'They put chairs up on the stage. It was a full house with a lot of excitement.' Gerald Manahan was the coach at Sharpsville starting in 1956. He stayed for eight years, compiling a record of 113-54, and doing it with a level of discipline Baird came to appreciate later in life. In his first season, when one of the Sharpsville standout players refused to run 100 laps for breaking a team rule, Manahan removed him from the team. 'He said when you run the laps, you can play,' Baird said. 'He never did. Manahan set the tone. You have to go with the rules, which is a good lesson.' Baird and Fernung played on one of Sharpsville's best teams as seniors in 1962-63. After graduating standout Dave Moon from the previous season, the team went 19-1 in the regular season in their final year as the Sharpsville Bulldogs. Fernung and Baird were two of the three leading scorers, along with Jim Pyke. 'The class in front of us only had two seniors who played and the class ahead of that only had one,' Baird said. 'So, you gotta be ready to play.' Consolidation was soon coming for Sharpsville, as it was for many smaller schools after the School Reorganization Act of 1959. After the 1963 school year, Sharpsville and neighboring Prairie Heights combined to become the Sharpsville-Prairie Spartans. In 1970, the schools at Sharpsville-Prairie and Windfall closed and a new school, Tri-Central, opened as a consolidation of the three. Each of the three communities continued to have its own elementary school until Tri-Central Elementary was built in 1983. A few years later, the school in Sharpsville was torn down. But through money raised by the Sharpsville Park Committee and a grant from the Tipton County Foundation, a community park was put in its place. And the gym continues to serve a purpose. 'I think it's wonderful,' said Fernung, who went on to coach at Tri-Central. 'I think it was a good thing they kept it.' In Fernung's playing days, Tipton was the big school that the smaller county schools wanted to defeat. Prairie Heights and Windfall, the schools that later joined with Sharpsville, were rivals. But when Fernung was coaching at Tri-Central, he saw those different groups come together. 'Everybody likes their identity,' he said. 'If you asked kids in the hallway, they'd say, 'I'm from Windfall,' or 'I'm from Sharpsville,' or 'I'm from Prairie.' But it wasn't long before you would ask them that question later and they would say, 'I live in Windfall,' or 'I live in Prairie,' or 'I live in Sharpsville.' They are from Tri-Central. It took a couple years to get that done.' It takes people like Lester Rood to put time and love and work into keeping the gym a source of pride 100 years after it was built. Rood, 78, graduated from high school here and is the resident handyman when the gym needs work done. A brick addition to the front of the gym houses team photos and other community mementos. 'I'm really proud of Lester and the other people here in town,' Baird said. 'It took someone with loyalty to the town to keep (the gym). … it pleases me. They have a nice park here and it's still a place to get together with the neighborhood.' Here is to the next 100 years for the Sharpsville gym.
