2024 Indiana All-Stars prepping for summer games

2024-indiana-all-stars-prepping-for-summer-games

IndyStar Indiana Mr. Basketball Flory Bidunga will play his final games as a high school player on June 5, June 7 and June 8 as a member of the 2024 Indiana All-Star team.

The IndyStar Indiana All-Stars are presented by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. The Indianapolis Star is the title sponsor of the Indiana All-Stars. Hoosier Shooting Academy is a presenting partner of All-Star Week (June 4-8). Energy Systems Group is a presenting partner of the June 8 senior doubleheader against Kentucky.

Bidunga, his boys' All-Star teammates and the 2024 Indiana Girls All-Stars will play three games each -- an exhibition against the Indiana Junior All-Stars on Wednesday, June 5 at Kokomo High School followed by home-and-home doubleheaders against the Kentucky All-Stars on Friday, June 7 at Lexington Catholic High School and Saturday, June 8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Bidunga, who totaled 1,609 points, 1,132 rebounds, 402 blocks and 72 double-doubles  in leading Kokomo to a 69-17 record the past three seasons, is headed to Kansas University. He averaged 19.0 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4.4 blocks as a senior en route to being named a McDonald's All-American.

The native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be joined on the boys' All-Stars by Isaac Andrews of Wapahani, Jack Benter of Brownstown Central, Trey Buchanan of Wesfield, Micah Davis of Franklin Community, Aaron Fine of Noblesville, Keenan Garner of Fishers, Evan Haywood of Brebeuf Jesuit, Jack Miller of Scottsburg, Tyler Parrish of Chesterton, Karson Rogers of Kokomo, Tucker Tornatta of Evansville Memorial and K.J. Windham of Ben Davis, 

The 2024 boys' All-Stars will be coached by John Peckinpaugh of Kokomo. He will be assisted by Brandon Hoffman of Silver Creek and Josh Thompson of Barr-Reeve. 

Indiana Miss Basketball Chloe Spreen headlines the 2024 Indiana girls' All-Stars. Spreen, an Alabama signee, averaged 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in leading Bedford North Lawrence to a 20-5 record as a senior. She posted career totals of 1,869 points, 633 rebounds, 259 assists and 200 steals. 

Spreen will be joined on the '24 All-Stars by Audrey Annee of Center Grove, Emma Haan of Zionsville, Alli Harness of Carroll (Flora), Talia Harris of Fishers, Ellery Minch of Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Jordyn Poole of Fort Wayne Snider, Camryn Runner of Hamilton Heights, Lauren Walsh of Penn, Reagan Wilson of Noblesville, Rachel Wirts of Center Grove, Faith Wiseman of Indian Creek and Juliann Woodard of Jennings County.

The 2024 girls' All-Stars will be coached by Andy Maguire of Zionsville. He will be assisted by Jason Simpson of Greensburg and Lauren Votaw of Fishers.

The Indiana boys hold a 104-45 advantage in their series with Kentucky that began in 1940, one year after the first All-Star team played Indiana state champ Frankfort High School. The Indiana girls have a 53-41 lead in their series with Kentucky that started in 1976. No games were played in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the boys' All-Stars did not play in 1943 or 1944 because of World War II.

As part of the All-Star doubleheader on June 8, the All-Stars will announce the 2024 recipients of the annual Wooden/MCL Citizenship Awards. The girls' winner will be announced at halftime of the girls' game. The boys' winner will be announced at halftime of the boys' game. This is the 33rd year that the Wooden Citizenship awards have been presented, all 33 years sponsored by MCL Restaurant & Bakery.

The 2024 Indiana Junior All-Stars will play two doubleheaders this year. Those games will be June 2 in Scottsburg against the Kentucky Juniors and June 3 at Kokomo against the Indiana Seniors.

Those competing in both games for the Junior boys are Dezmon Briscoe of Indianapolis Attucks, Brady Koehler of Indianapolis Cathedral, Braylon Mullins of Greenfield-Central, Azavier Robinson of Lawrence North, Trent Sisley of Heritage Hills and Mark Zackery IV of Ben Davis. Completing the team on June 2 are Julius Gizzi of New Palestine, JonAnthony Hall of Fishers, Cedric Horton of Richmond, Shane Sims of Evansville Harrison and Michael Cooper and Tre Singleton of Jeffersonville. Completing the team on June 5 are Chase Barnes of Fort Wayne Wayne, Damien King of Anderson, Chase Konieczny of South Bend Saint Joseph, Dominique Murphy of East Chicago Central, Kellen Pickett of Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian and Jack Smiley of Valparaiso.

Playing in both games for the Junior girls are Addison Baxter of Columbia City, Jaylah Lampley of Lawrence Central, Maya Makalusky of Hamilton Southeastern, Monique Mitchell of South Bend Washington, Meredith Tippner of Noblesville and Brooke Winchester of Warsaw. Completing the team on June 2 are Lilly Bischoff of Center Grove, Lily Graves of Franklin Central, Ellie Richardson of Scottsburg, Aniah Smith of Avon, Gabby Spink of Gibson Southern and Leah West of Greensburg. Completing the team on June 5 are Laila Abdurraqib of Lawrence Central, Addie Bowsman of Twin Lakes, Kenzie Garner of Sheridan, Avery Gordon of Brownsburg, Kira Reynolds of South Bend Washington and Vanessa Wimberly of Lake Central. Also, Hadley Crosier of Lanesville was named to the girls' Junior All-Stars, but she is injured and will not play.

Matt Luce of Wapahani is head coach of the Junior Boys. He is assisted by Tom Wells of Michigan City. Kaley May of Danville is head coach of the Junior Girls. She is assisted by Angie Hinton of Lanesville.

The Senior boys and the Senior girls coincidentally both lead their respective Junior rivals 41-11 in games that began in 1996. The Indiana Juniors lead in games the Kentucky Juniors, the boys ahead 7-5 and the girls ahead 11-1.

The All-Star "Futures Games" are in their second year in 2024 and will be played June 3 at Hamilton Southeastern. This is a doubleheader that features Indiana-only teams of sophomores and freshmen in a North-South format.

The North boys include Camden Bell of Wapahani, Justin Curry II of Noblesville, Terrence Hayes Jr. of Gary 21st Century, Reginald Hinton of Gary West, Elijah King of South Bend Saint Joseph, Ethan Roseman of Bishop Chatard, Dikembe Shaw of Crown Point, Jarvis Tolbert of South Bend Adams, Jason Gardner Jr. and Cooper Zachary of Fishers and Brennan Miller and Kai McGrew of Lawrence North. Coaches are Trent Whitaker of New Palestine and Travis Hannah of John Glenn.

The South boys include J.J. Craig of Warren Central, Kasen Daeger of Silver Creek, Caleb Ferguson of Columbus North, DeZhon Hall of Pike, Evan Harrell of Carmel, Edward Hazelett III of Franklin Central, James Kalala of Southport, Jaylan Mitchell of Evansville Reitz, Treigh Schelsky of Parke Heritage, Eli Sego of Triton Central and Luke Ertel and Julien Smith of Mt. Vernon (Fortville). Coaches are Brent Dalrymple of North Daviess and Paul Ferguson of Columbus North.

The North girls include Lillian Barnes of Valparaiso, Kenedi Bradley of Chesterton, Joslyn Bricker of Warsaw, Laniah Davis of Marquette Catholic, Gracyn Gilliard of Munster, Lillie Graves of McCutcheon, Vanessa Rosswurm of Norwell, Miley Wareing of Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Khala Williams-Thomas of Fort Wayne Northrop, Laniah Wills of Lapel and Myah Epps and Gabby Helsom of Homestead. Coaches are Lisa Finn of Cathedral and Amy Shearer of Columbia City.

The South girls include Mollie Ernstes of Jennings County, Denell Jacobs of Warren Central, Kenzie Koch of Eastern Hancock, Hannah Menser of Plainfield, C.C. Quigley of Noblesville, Brooklynn Renn of Silver Creek, Paige Schnaus of Gibson Southern, Maddy Shirley of Evansville Central, Kennedy Holman and Kayla Stidham of Hamilton Southeastern and Lola Lampley and Aniyah McKenzie of Lawrence Central. Coaches are Kyle Brasher of Gibson Southern and Tyler Choate of Evansville North.

Admission is $10 per person for the Indiana Juniors vs. Kentucky Juniors doubleheader on June 2 at Scottsburg. Tickets are available at the door. The girls start at 2 p.m., and the boys follow about 4 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person for the Indiana All-Star "Futures Games" on June 3 at Hamilton Southeastern. Tickets are available at the door. The girls start at 6 p.m. and the boys follow about 8 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person for the Junior-Senior doubleheader on June 5 at Kokomo. Tickets are available at the door. The girls start at 6 p.m., and the boys follow about 8 p.m. 

Tickets are $15 each for the All-Stars against Kentucky on June 7 at Lexington Catholic High School. The girls start at 5:30 p.m., and the boys follow about 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at kentuckybasketballcoaches.org.

Tickets are priced from $100 to $10 for June 8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The All-Star doubleheader has the girls at 5 p.m. and the boys about 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Gainbridge Fiedlhouse box office and through ticketmaster.com.

Fans should note that the Indiana All-Stars will have a week-long event program available in 2024. The program -- priced at $10 each -- will have information about the Indiana-hosted doubleheaders on June 2, June 3, June 5 and June 8. If someone is attending multiple dates, purchase a program the first day you attend, then bring it back with you on other days.