Alright, so this week I got obsessed with figuring out how high school ballers actually make it onto those Indiana all-state basketball teams for 2025. Everybody keeps whispering about expert predictions, so I decided to dig in myself and write it all down step by step.
Starting From Scratch
First thing I did was hunt down every Indiana high school sports blogger I could find. I stayed up past midnight scrolling through Twitter, Facebook groups, and random forum threads where coaches rant about player stats. Realized most predictions aren’t just one person’s guess – they’re mashed together from a ton of local nerds who live in gyms watching JV games.
The Tape Grind
Next, I burned through two whole weekends studying game footage like it was my job. Pulled up Hudl highlights for 50+ juniors across the state. Made myself a stupid spreadsheet tracking:
- How many times each kid got to the free-throw line
- Turnover nightmares in fourth quarters
- That weird intangible “clutch gene” when down 5 points
Seriously, my eyes were crossing by Sunday night trying to compare point guards from Evansville to Fort Wayne.
Cold-Calling Coaches
Here’s where it got awkward. Started dialing up random assistant coaches pretending I was writing an article. Some hung up immediately, but a few actually spilled secrets over the phone. One dude from South Bend told me straight up: “If the kid can’t guard a trash can, he ain’t making all-state.” Wrote that down in all caps.
Putting Pieces Together
After wasting three printer cartridges worth of player stats, I finally saw patterns. The experts? They ain’t magicians. They’re just tracking:
- Pure scoring numbers against top-10 teams
- Summer AAU tournament dominance
- Whether recruiters show up to their games
Made my own mock list mixing my notes with what the big bloggers predicted. Had to redo it four times after seeing how much politics plays into selections – legacy names always get extra love.
Reality Check
Here’s the raw truth I learned: predictions are barely educated guesses until spring workouts next year. Injuries change everything, growth spurts happen, and some kids just collapse under pressure. My final prediction board’s already got three names crossed out after seeing summer league flops.
End of the day? Making all-state’s about putting up numbers when scouts are scribbling in the stands. Experts just connect dots we can all see if we stare at box scores till 3 AM like I did. Maybe I missed my calling as a basketball scout… or maybe I just need sleep.