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BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: McCauley Leaves Noblesville, Penn’s Lutz Goes DI, Center Grove’s DeGraaf headed to Michigan
Noblesville and boys hoops coach Brian McCauley have parted ways after five years. McCauley’s Millers went 13-11 this season. They’ll return five players (G Brendon Fisher, F Jordan Gadis, F Alex Hunt, G Evan Wilson and C Parker Davis) for the 2020 campaign.
Back in 2014, McCauley sent shockwaves through the state’s coaching ranks when he unexpectedly left his alma mater Kokomo to accept the Noblesville job. He had just won four straight Class 4A sectional titles and took the Wildcats to an appearance in the 2011 state championship game. Noblesville has only won one sectional crown in the last two decades.
The word on the street
Mishawaka Penn senior point guard Drew Lutz signed with Incarnate Word, a small DI school in San Antonio, last week. The snazzy southpaw floor general averaged 21 points and seven assists per game on a Penn squad that claimed sectional and regional championships in 2019. Lutz was previously headed to Bethel College in Pennsylvania prior to a coaching change. When he gets down to Texas, he’ll be playing for former Purdue star and Andrean coach Dr. Carson Cunningham, who will be entering his second year on the bench for the IW Cardinals.
Moving to the Mitten
Center Grove junior forward Justin DeGraaf will finish out his prep career on the hardwood in Michigan. The 6-foot-7 DeGraaf recently enrolled at Hudsonville High School outside Grand Rapids where he moved with his family after a breakout 2019 season playing alongside Mr. Basketball Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana) in the Center Grove frontcourt. DeGraaf averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game and Center Grove advanced to semi state in Class 4A.
A buffet of offerings
Bloomington South junior guard Anthony Leal, an early frontrunner for the state’s 2020 Mr. Basketball award, finally earned an offer from Indiana, adding to his growing list of bids from the Big Ten, Big East and PAC-12.
Lawrence Central junior point guard Nijel Pack picked up DI offers from 2018 NCAA Final Four participant Loyola and Belmont.
Lawrence North junior combo guard Tony Perkins notched his first DI offer from Morehead State.
Greensburg forward Andrew Welage garnered a Vermont offer.
Avon sophomore wing Jayden Brewer bagged an offer from Miami (OH).
