ST. JOHN, Ind. — Jaidon Clayton, who is entering his senior season for the Lake Central varsity basketball team, is looking to galvanize his team and produce another successful season.

The senior small forward was a key contributor for Lake Central during the 2020-21 season, which saw the Indians finish the year with a remarkable 16-8 record and claim third place in the Duneland Conference.

Clayton originally began playing for Lake Central’s varsity team during the 2019-20 season, appearing in 18 games. The Indians had a record of 14-12 that year, losing to Merrillville in the Class 4A State Tournament.

Clayton would go on to play a bigger role for his team during the 2020-21 season, appearing in every game for the Indians and shoring up some deficiencies on both the offense and defense.

The Indians began the year against Washington High School (South Bend), beating the Panthers by a score of 55-47. This game would set the tone for Lake Central, propelling them to crucial wins over plenty of conference competition.

During multiple win streaks throughout the 2020-21 season, Clayton played solid, complimentary basketball. He contributed significantly in wins over La Porte, Portage, Merrillville and East Chicago Central.

After finishing the regular season on a high note, Lake Central would ultimately suffer a postseason defeat against Gary West Side High School, a team that advanced to the Class 4A Semi-State Championship game.

As a team, the Indians averaged over 50 points of scoring per game, shooting 45% from the field and 64% from the free-throw line.

Let’s not overlook the fact that Clayton was among one of the top players for Lake Central. He finished second in scoring on the team during the 2020-21 season, averaging 7.8 points per game and finishing the season with 29 steals.

With the recent departure of star forward Kyle Ross, Clayton will have to take his game to the next level this season. However, with multiple starters from the previous year returning to Lake Central, the Indians will have strong a supporting cast that includes plenty of veteran experience.

Is Lake Central poised to make a postseason run in 2022? After finishing third in the Duneland Conference the previous year, momentum is certainly favoring the Indians varsity basketball team.

Ultimately, senior starting forward Clayton will need to establish a rhythm early on to help ignite his team to another stellar season.

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