Indiana’s top Class of 2022 boys basketball players to watch for this season
INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) — The high school basketball season is upon us, and the 2021-22 campaign promises to be a good one. As usual, the state of Indiana features plenty of talent this year, particularly on the boys side.
Many teams should be in contention by the time the IHSAA state tournament rolls around in March, and that could be thanks to some of the key senior leaders that are among the state’s best. With that, let’s take a look at some of the top Class of 2022 players in Indiana to watch out for this season.
Tayshawn Comer, Cathedral
Comer returns for an Indianapolis Cathedral team that finished 18-3 and fourth in the final Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) poll last February. The guard averaged 15 points and six assists last season, displaying tremendous shooting as he hit over 40% of his shots from beyond the arc and over 80% of his free throws. Comer will play his senior season with his recruiting process wrapped up, as the three-star recruit recently committed to Eastern Kentucky University.
It's official!!@Tayshawn_Comer is a Colonel‼️
Tayshawn is a 3-star recruit
He's the 41st ranked PG in the country by @espn
He's ranked as the 38th best combo guard in the country by @247Sports pic.twitter.com/MNGzcZjt3n
— EKUHoops (@EKUHoops) November 10, 2021
Ryan Conwell, Pike
Conwell is another guy who recently committed, choosing to play his college ball at the University of South Florida. The 6-foot-3 lefty averaged over 16 points and four rebounds for Pike last season. The guard also is a strong presence on the defensive side of the ball, as last year he averaged 1.7 steals per contest.
Tae Davis, Warren Central
Davis is a top-150 player nationally according to 247sports, and will likely continue to show why in his senior season. After playing his first two years at Lawrence Central, Davis transferred to Warren Central last season and did a little bit of everything, averaging 12.6 points per game and leading his team to a 19-7 record and sectional appearance. After his high school career, Davis will play for the Louisville Cardinals, officially signing his letter of intent last week.
✍️: @DAnteDavis__ is 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 a Louisville Cardinal!#GoCards pic.twitter.com/o5mg214Oef
— Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 10, 2021
Jaxon Edwards, Cathedral
With Edwards alongside Comer, Cathedral is a legitimate threat to win a state championship this season. Like his teammate, Edwards broke out in a big way last season, particularly on the defensive end where the 6-foot-6 standout averaged 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. A couple of months ago, Edwards committed to Murray State and will officially become a Racer next fall.
Connor Essegian, Central Noble
Of this list so far, Essegian has to be seen as the top scorer. The 6-foot-4 Central Noble standout already holds the school record for career points scored, and should reach the 2,000-point mark this season. Last year, Essegian helped Central Noble to an impressive 24-2 record while averaging 24 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Like many of the others in this class, Essegian had an important summer, as the three-star recruit committed to Wisconsin, choosing the Badgers over other Big Ten schools like Minnesota and in-state power, Purdue.
Badger Nation let’s get to work!🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/jBRzxuoxWX
— Connor Essegian (@CEssegian) September 16, 2021
C.J. Gunn, Lawrence North
Gunn is another three-star prospect on this list who will do battle against Essegian in the Big Ten in the future when he suits up for the Indiana Hoosiers. Gunn is not only a solid defender, but his terrific shooting last year — leading to an average of nearly 14 points per game — helped Lawrence North to a 28-3 record. However, Gunn will be out for revenge this winter as his team fell in overtime to Carmel in last season’s Class 4A state championship game.
Will Lovings-Watts, Jeffersonville
Lovings-Watts is another player who had a true junior year breakout, averaging over 16 points and six rebounds last season. The 6-foot-5 senior will look to crack the top 200 in 247sports’ composite rankings this season. However, he has already made his commitment, and while he could have chosen to play alongside fellow Indiana native Edwards at Murray State, Lovings-Watt will suit up for the Drake Bulldogs, a team that made the NCAA Tournament last season.
Fletcher Loyer, Homestead
Most probably already know Loyer’s older brother, Foster — a former Michigan State Spartan and current Davidson Wildcat — but it is time to get to know Fletcher, who has already made plenty of waves on the court. Other than Jalen Washington — a four-star UNC commit from Gary West Side who will sit out this year due to injury — Fletcher is probably the top player who will suit up in the Hoosier state this year. Playing alongside Illinois freshman Luke Goode last season, the guard averaged 24.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists after transferring from Clarkson, Michigan. Like his brother, Fletcher is a lethal shooter, making nearly 45% of his threes last season as well as over 90% of his free throws. A top-100 recruit, Fletcher committed to Matt Painter and the Purdue Boilermakers a year ago, and officially put pen to paper last week.
Welcome to the family.
✅: @FletcherLoyer
📍: Fort Wayne, Indiana
📈: 24.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.9 RPG, 44.9 3P %, 90.3 FT % as junior at Homestead HS.
🏆: 2nd-team All-Peach Jam (AAU).#NationalSigningDay pic.twitter.com/kf0U8Q5vFN— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) November 10, 2021
Braden Smith, Westfield
Speaking of Purdue, Smith will join Fletcher as another in-state player heading to West Lafayette next fall. The three-star recruit is another stud shooter who hopes to follow in line with the likes of Dakota Mathias, Ryan Cline and Sasha Stefanovic at Purdue, shooting over 45% from deep last year. Smith has already scored over 1,200 points in his Westfield career, but the 6-foot guard is also a terrific all-around player, as he averaged not only 22 points per game last season, but also 6.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals.
Pete Suder, Carmel
Suder has been an absolute winner in his high school career thus far, winning a state title as a freshman and another one with Carmel last season at the Class 4A level. Averaging 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, Suder unfortunately suffered a broken tibia over the summer, but will look to bounce back and win a third state title this winter. Suder is the only member of this list who is still uncommitted, but currently holds offers from the likes of Ball State, Toledo, Western Michigan and Wright State.
