Luke Brown all over again? Rising sophomore bringing excitement back to Blackford basketball

Indianapolis Star

2 days ago

FISHERS – Amarian Leggett was a youngster when the crowds flocked to Blackford High School to watch Luke Brown light up the scoreboard on his way to scoring 3,011 career points, the fourth highest total in Indiana high school boys basketball history.
'The atmosphere was really cool,' Leggett said. 'I just hope I can bring that back because seeing that as a kid inspired me.'
Leggett is still a kid himself, just finishing up his freshman year at Blackford. But the 6-4 point guard showed why Blackford basketball may quickly became a must-stop again for high school basketball fans. Leggett earned Most Valuable Player honors at the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Futures Game on Monday night at Fishers High School, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists as his North team defeated the South 123-113.
Leggett played just 19 of the 40 minutes of the game featuring the top freshmen and sophomores in the state. But he maximized his time, shooting 10-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-6 from the 3-point line.
'I came to have fun,' Leggett said. 'I know some people don't think I'm as good as what I am … coming from a (Class 2A) school, nobody really knows that type of school.'
Aaron Daniels does. Daniels coached Leggett in his first season at Blackford last year. Leggett scored 21 points in his first varsity game and went on to average 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his first varsity season.
Daniels was at Fishers on Monday to watch Leggett, along with several Blackford fans.
'He's an elite level player,' Daniels said. 'It's hard sometimes to get people to understand that at the 2A level. But a kid like that is going out and seeing elite level talent on the AAU circuit every weekend. It's slowed down for him. He's so good, so smooth and so quick. When he can shoot it at a high level, he's unguardable because he's so quick getting to the basket. We've known for a long time he was elite, then this summer against some really elite competition on the AAU circuit, he's performed that way and we knew we had something really, really special. He's a big-time player no matter where he is in the state.'
Leggett truly is a 6-4 point guard, which might make him a more desirable college prospect than the 6-2 Brown was coming out of high school. Brown started out at Ball State, then Stetson, before transferring to Indiana Wesleyan, where he averaged 18.4 points and shot 48.4% from the 3-point line last season.
Obviously, Leggett heard the comparisons to Brown as a freshman. He is a different type of player. But the crowds are coming back. Maybe not yet to pinnacle Luke Brown era, when crowds of 4,000 would pack the gym. But there is an appetite for hoops.
Blackford went 14-10 last season, losing to top-ranked Wapahani in the first round of the sectional by nine points.
'It's flattering,' Daniels said of the comparisons between Brown and Leggett. 'But it's also at the point where he knows he's capable of that. So, it's motivating that he knows the community of Blackford will rally around and support him, especially when they find out the level he's going to play at. He's going to exceed all expectations. It's almost a chip on his shoulder to get that level Luke was at his young high school career.'
Merrillville freshman Charles Hardiman scored 18 points for the North, draining 4-of-5 from the 3-point line. Fort Wayne Snider sophomore Trell Hogue added 14 points and four assists, Homestead's Mack Welker had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Pike's Isaiah Hill had 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots and McCutcheon sophomore Brody Baker had 12 points and four rebounds.
The South was missing Fishers guard Jason Gardner Jr., who was participating in the Pangos Camp in Las Vegas. Guerin Catholic's Jake Grissom led the South with 18 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line. Plainfield's Harper Baker-Lands had 16 points, four assists and three steals, Warren Central's J.J. Craig had 15 points and four assists, Fishers' Cooper Zachary went for 15 points and eight assists and Liberty Christian's Kendrick Martin and Derrick Cross Jr. each had 12 points.
In the girls game, the North defeated the South 106-92 as Fort Wayne Snider freshman Janaya Cooper was named MVP. The silky smooth 5-11 Cooper finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.
'I knew it wasn't going to be an easy game,' Cooper said. 'I knew it was going to be tough competition, so I just came into the game thinking, 'Play hard.' We haven't played with each other, so I was just trying to mesh with the team, play my game and not be selfish.'
Cooper's AAU teammate, Marion freshman Nyomi Hahn, was also a standout as she finished with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including make both 3-point attempts. McCutcheon sophomore Lillie Graves added 14 points for the South and Riley Schellhammer, who transferred from Fishers to Lawrence Central, had a strong second half to finish with 14 points.
Cooper has seen her recruiting take off after averaging 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals as a freshman at Snider. She has almost 20 offers, including from Indiana, Purdue, Louisville and Michigan State, among others.
'I don't think I was known much coming into my freshman year,' Cooper said. 'But now that I got my freshman year over with, I feel like that was a learning process and I know what to expect and I can just go out and play my game.'
Getting this many Division I offers at such an early age is unusual. But Cooper has the right demeanor to handle the spotlight.
'I just try to stay humble through the process,' she said. 'The coaches say they like my IQ and athleticism, and they believe as I get older I can be a leader and control the game with my voice.'
The South team was led by Eastern Hancock sophomore McKenzie Koch, who finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Plainfield's Hannah Menser added 13 points and five assists and Greensburg's Clarie Larrison had 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists.