Rosters named for first IndyStar boys’ All-Star ‘Futures Game’
Two players each from Ben Davis and Lawrence North plus one player from 20 other schools have been named to the rosters for the inaugural IndyStar boys’ All-Star “Futures Game,” games director Mike Broughton announced Tuesday (March 21).
The Futures Games, one each for boys and girls, are a new aspect of the Indiana All-Star basketball program. The Futures Games will pair teams of current Indiana freshmen, sophomores and juniors in a North-South format. The first Futures Games will be played Saturday, June 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The girls’ game is set for noon, and the boys’ game will follow about 2:00 p.m. The IndyStar Indiana All-Stars will host the Kentucky senior All-Stars later the same day in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Junior K.J. Windham and sophomore Mark Zachery IV of Ben Davis as well as sophomore Azavier Robinson and freshman Brennan Miller of Lawrence North each has been selected to the South team for the inaugural boys’ Futures Game.
Those four players will be joined by Brownstown Central junior Jack Benter, Indianapolis Attucks sophomore Dezmon Briscoe, Franklin Community junior Micah Davis, Evansville Christian junior Josiah Dunham, Evansville Bosse Taray Howell, GreenfieldCentral sophomore Braylon Mullins, Bloomfield freshman Blake Neill and Heritage Hills sophomore Trent Sisley to complete the South team.
The North team features one player from 12 schools. The North lineup includes Wapahani junior Isaac Andrews, Kokomo junior Flory Bidunga, Westfield junior Trey Buchanan, University junior Sabien Cain, Tipton sophomore Grady Carpenter, Brownsburg junior Kanon Catchings, Fishers junior Jalen Haralson, Fort Wayne North junior Brauntae Johnson, South Bend St. Joseph sophomore Chase Konieczny, East Chicago Central sophomore Dominique Murphy, Chesterton junior Justin Sims and Fort Wayne Concordia junior Ajani Washington.
Kirk Manns of Seymour is the head coach and Jackson Williams of Greenwood Christian is the assistant coach for the South team. Clint Swan of Crown Point is the head coach and Cliff Hawkins is the assistant coach for the North team. Manns is 171-135 in 14 seasons as a varsity head coach, including 43-47 in four seasons at Seymour. Williams is 36-17 in two seasons at Greenwood Christian. Swan is 376-224 in 26 seasons overall, including 238-152 in 17 years at Crown Point. Hawkins is 561-392 in 42 seasons overall, including 64-33 in four years at Tipton.
Rosters for the inaugural IndyStar girls’ AllStar “Futures Game” were announced on Feb. 16.
Players and coaches for the All-Star Futures Games are picked by a Futures Games committee chaired by Broughton. Players who are juniors also are eligible for selection to the 2023 Indiana Junior All-Stars that will be selected later by an Indiana Basketball Coaches Association committee chaired by Brandon Bradley of Kankakee Valley.
The Indiana All-Stars program was founded in 1939 when the Indiana boys’ AllStars played the state champion Frankfort Hot Dogs. The All-Star series with Kentucky began in 1940, and the girls’ portion of the All-Stars was added in 1976. The Junior All-Stars, boys and girls, were added in 1996.
The Indiana portion of the All-Star Games is organized and produced by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. The Indianapolis Star, with its IndyStar brand, is the title sponsor.
2023 IndyStar Indiana AllStar key dates
Sunday, June 4 – Indiana Juniors vs. Kentucky Juniors at Jeffersonville (2315 Allison Ln. Jeffersonville, IN 47130) – girls, 2:00 p.m.; boys, to follow; admission, $10 per person at the door (adults, schoolaged students; pre-school children are free).
Wednesday, June 7 – Junior-Senior All-Star game at TBA – girls, 6:00 p.m.; boys, to follow; admission, $10 per person at the door (adults, school-aged students; preschool children are free).
Friday, June 9 – Indiana at Owensboro Sportscenter (1215 Hickman Ave., Owensboro, KY 42301) – girls, 5:30 p.m. CDT (6:30 p.m. EDT); boys, to follow, about 7:30 p.m. CDT (8:30 p.m. EDT). Ticket information, TBA.
Saturday, June 10 – Futures Games and Indiana vs. Kentucky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204) – Futures Games, girls, noon; boys, 2:00 p.m.; Senior girls, 5:00 p.m.; Senior boys, to follow (about 7:30 p.m.). Tickets go on sale on April 15.