Below are 15 Questions and Answers for Indiana's Boys for the 2020-21 season.

1. WHO IS THE FAVORITE FOR MR. BASKETBALL: KHRISTIAN LANDER (EVANSVILLE REITZ)
2. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SENIOR: KHRISTIAN LANDER (EVANSVILLE REITZ)
3. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP JUNIOR: JALEN WASHINGTON (GARY WEST)
4. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SOPHOMORE: JALEN HOOKS (INDIANAPOLIS FRANKLIN CENTRAL)
5. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP D-1 SLEEPER: PAYTON SPARKS (WINCHESTER)
6. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP MARKSMAN: KOOPER JACOBI (SELLERSBURG SILVER CREEK)
7. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SCORER: LUKE GOODE (FT. WAYNE HOMESTEAD)
8. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP REBOUNDER: BLAKE SISLEY (LINCOLN CITY HERITAGE HILLS)
9. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP BALLHANDLER: KEON THOMPSON (MERRILLVILLE)
10. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP PASSER: LUKE BROWN (HARTFORD CITY BLACKFORD)
11. WHO IS THE STATE'S MOST VERSATILE PLAYER: PIERCE THOMAS (BROWNSBURG)
12. WHO IS A NAME TO REMEMBER: KYLE ROSS (ST. JOHN LAKE CENTRAL)
13. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP TEAM REGARDLESS OF CLASS: INDIANAPOLIS LAWRENCE NORTH
14. WHAT IS THE STATE'S TOP SHOOTOUT: THE FORUM TIPOFF CLASSIC IN INDIANAPOLIS
15. WHAT IS THE STATE'S TOP TOURNAMENT: THE HALL OF FAME CLASSIC IN NEW CASTLE

NOTE: KHRISTIAN LANDER OF EVANSVILLE REITZ MIGHT RECLASSIFY TO THE CLASS OF 2020. SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, CALEB FURST OF FT. WAYNE BLACKHAWK WOULD BE THE TOP MR. BASKETBALL CANDIDATE AND TOP SENIOR.

Below are 15 Questions and Answers for Indiana's Girls for the 2020-21 season.

1. WHO IS THE FAVORITE FOR MISS BASKETBALL: JAYLA SMITH (INDIANAPOLIS LAWRENCE NORTH)
2. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SENIOR: ARIANA WIGGINS (INDIANAPOLIS HERITAGE CHRISTIAN)
3. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP JUNIOR: AYANNA PATTERSON (FT. WAYNE HOMESTEAD)
4. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SOPHOMORE: ASHLYNN SHADE (NOBLESVILLE)
5. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP D-1 SLEEPER: ALYSSA CROCKETT (WESTFIELD)
6. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SHOOTER: VANESSA SHAFFORD (LINTON LINTON-STOCKTON)
7. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SCORER: JESSICA CARROTHERS (CROWN POINT)
8. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP REBOUNDER: KATEY RICHASON (ZIONSVILLE)
9. WHO IS THE STATE'S BEST SISTER COMBINATION: ALANA & KYNIDI STRIVERSON (SELLERBURG SILVER CREEK)
10. WHO IS THE STATE'S BEST BALLHANDLER: COURTNEY BLAKELY (HAMMOND NOLL)
11. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP PASSER: LILLIANN FRASURE (NORTH JUDSON)
12. WHO IS THE STATE'S MOST VERSATILE PLAYER: ALLY BECKI (BROWNSBURG)
13. WHO IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE STATE REGARDLESS OF CLASS: CARMEL
14. WHAT IS THE STATE'S BEST EVENT: THE HALL OF FAME CLASSIC IN NEW CASTLE
15. A NAME TO REMEMBER: KAITLYN COSTNER (MISHAWAKA PENN)

Below are 15 Questions and Answers for the 2020-21 season for Kentucky's Girls.

1. WHO IS THE MISS BASKETBALL FAVORITE: BROOKLYNN MILES (FRANKFORT FRANKLIN CO.)
2. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SENIOR: BROOKLYNN MILES (FRANKFORT FRANKLIN CO.)
3. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP JUNIOR: KENNEDY LEE (LOUISVILLE MANUAL)
4. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SOPHOMORE: BRIANNA BYARS (WINCHESTER GEORGE ROGERS CLARK)
5. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP FRESHMAN: AUDREY BIGGS (ASHLAND BOYD CO.)
6. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP 8TH GRADER: HALLE COLLINS (LONDON NORTH LAUREL)
7. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP D-1 SLEEPER: GRACIE MERKLE (MT. WASHINGTON BULLITT EAST)
8. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SHOOTER: BRIE CRITTENDON (UNION RYLE)
9. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SCORER: MACEY BLEVINS (MONTICELLO WAYNE CO.)
10. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP REBOUNDER: MARISSA GASSAWAY (LOUISVILLE EASTERN)
11. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP BALLHANDLER: JAYA MCCLURE (LOUISVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY)
12. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP PASSER: MACIE FELDMAN (COVINGTON NOTRE DAME)
13. WHO IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE SWEET 16: BARDSTOWN BETHLEHEM
14. WHAT IS THE STATE'S BEST TOURNAMENT: QUEEN OF THE COMMONWEALTH IN MT. WASHINGTON
15. WHAT IS THE STATE'S BEST SHOOTOUT: RAATZ FENCE/O'SHEA'S CLASSIC IN LOUISVILLE

Below are 15 Questions with Answers for the 2020-21 season for Kentucky Boys.

1. WHO IS THE LEADING CANDIDATE FOR MR. BASKETBALL: ZION HARMON (BENTON MARSHALL CO.)
2. WHO IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE "SWEET 16": FERN CREEK
3. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SHOOTER: SAM VINCENT (FT. THOMAS HIGHLANDS)
4. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SCORER: BEN JOHNSON (LEXINGTON CATHOLIC)
5. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SENIOR: ZION HARMON (BENTON MARSHALL CO.)
6. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP JUNIOR: MAKER BAR (LOUISVILLE BALLARD)
7. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP SOPH: KALEB GLENN (LOUISVILLE MALE)
8. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP FROSH: TRAVIS PERRY (EDDYVILLE LYON CO.)
9. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP REBOUNDER: DARRIUS WASHINGTON (FERN CREEK)
10. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP BALLHANDLER: JAQUIAS FRANKLIN (ELIZABETHTOWN)
11.  WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP PASSER: JAXON SMITH (STANFORD LINCOLN CO.)
12. WHO IS THE STATE'S TOP D-1 SLEEPER: CEARIUS WARREN (FERN CREEK)
13. WHO IS THE STATE'S MOST VERSATILE PLAYER: ZEK MONTGOMERY (FERN CREEK)
14. WHAT IS THE STATE'S TOP TOURNAMENT: THE KING OF THE BLUEGRASS IN FAIRDALE
15. WHAT IS THE STATE'S TOP SHOOTOUT: THE MARSHALL COUNTY HOOPFEST IN BENTON

Below are the my Top 20 High School Girls Coaches that I have witnessed over the years. Coaches are listed alphabetically with * denoting no longer coaching and + indicating now in the college ranks. The school is where the coaches presently are or where they ended their high school career. The criteria was based on coaches getting the most out of their players, player development, ability to coach and overall winning percentage.

• *HOWARD BETH (BENTON MARSHALL CO., KY)
• *ROY BOWLING (LONDON NORTH LAUREL, KY)
• *DONNA CHEATHAM (SCOTTSBURG, IN)
• JEFF HAILE (HENDERSON HENDERSON CO., KY)
• +CHAD HIBDON (MURFREESBORO BLACKMAN, TN & TREVECCA NAZARENE COLLEGE)
• KEISHA HUNT (CHATTANOOGA HAMILTON HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN, TN)
• *CHARLES JUST (LOUISVILLE MERCY ACADEMY, KY & SPALDING UNIVERSITY)
• KATHIE LAYDEN (KOKOMO NORTHWESTERN, IN)
• SHANNON LEWIS (HUNTINGTON ST. JOSEPH, WV)
• PAT MCGEE (COLUMBUS NORTH, IN)
• +TRENT MILBY (LEBANON MARION CO., KY & BEREA COLLEGE)
• DONNA MOIR (LOUISVILLE SACRED HEART, KY)
• *RANDY NAPIER (HAZARD PERRY CO. CENTRAL, KY)
• JASON NICHOLS (LOMBARD MONTINI CATHOLIC, IL)
• RICK RISINGER (INDIANAPOLIS HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, IN)
• LAMAR ROGERS (CLARKRANGE, TN)
• DAN ROLFES (ST. LOUIS INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY, MO)
• +GREG TODD (LEXINGTON CATHOLIC, KY & MOREHEAD STATE)
• MISSY VOYLES (RAMSAY NORTH HARRISON, IN BUT RECENTLY TOOK GIRLS JOB AT JEFFERSONVILLE, IN)
• ED ZINK (BEAVERCREEK, OH)

Since I have been a scout since 1973, I have observed a lot of outstanding coaches. Below are my Top 20 Boys Coaches that I have personally seen in action based on getting the most mileage out of their players,  player development, coaching ability and wins. Coaches are listed alphabetically. *Denotes no longer coaching and the school for each coach is listed where he is presently at today or retired from.

• NEIL ALEXANDER (LINCOLN, IL)
• KEVIN BOYLE (MONTVERDE ACADEMY, FL)
• *LANDON COX (CHICAGO MARTIN LUTHER KING, IL)
• CARL KREMER (CINCINNATI MOELLER, OH)
• *JACK CURRAN (QUEENS ARCHBISHOP MOLLOY, NY)
• *STAN HARDIN (FAIRDALE, KY)
• *BILLY HICKS (GEORGETOWN SCOTT COUNTY, KY)
• J.R. HOLMES (BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, IN)
• JACK KEEFER (INDIANAPOLIS LAWRENCE NORTH, IN)
• *BOBBY KEITH (MANCHESTER CLAY COUNTY, KY)
• *ED KERSHNER (OVIEDO, FL)
• *DALE MABREY (LOUISVILLE PLEASURE RIDGE PARK, KY)
• GARY MCKNIGHT (SANTA ANA MATER DEI, CA)
• *JOE PETROCELLI (KETTERING ALTER, OH)
• *GENE PINGATORE (WESTCHESTER ST. JOSEPH, IL)
• STEVE SMITH (MOUTH OF WILSON OAK HILL ACADEMY, VA)
• *TERRY TIPPETT (CORDOVA EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN, TN)
• *WALTER VAN HUSS (KINGSPORT DOBYNS-BENNETT, TN)
• *DICK VAN SYOC (PEORIA MANUAL, IL)
• *MORGAN WOOTTEN (HYATTSVILLE DEMATHA, MD)

Although I got into the scouting profession in 1973, there were three others way before me. Let's take a brief look at each one.

DAVE BONES

Bones was the first person to start a scouting service which was named Cage Scope. He started it in 1957 and had at one point over 200 colleges nationwide who subscribed to his newsletters. Bones was a member of the McDonald's All-American Selection Committe as well as the Naismith High School Board of Selectors. He was also involved with me in the Blue-Chip Basketball Camp. He also wrote for Basketball Times. In 2005 Bones, who resided in Toledo, OH, retired from basketball. He passed away a few years ago at the age of 77.

BILL CRONAUER

Cronauer who was nicknamed "Crow" started the B/C Scouting Service in the early 1970's and had practically every D-1 college subscribing to his newsletters. He was a member of the McDonald's All-American Selection Committee. In the late 1970's, Cronauer started the B/C Camps which had sites in Georgia, Indiana, Texas and the metro Washington D.C. area. Over 24,000 campers attended his high profile exposure camps throughout the 16 year history of the camps. He is currently still alive but retired from the scouting and camp professions. He lives in the metro area of St. Petersburg, FL.

HOWARD GARFINKEL

Garf as he was often called, started his High School Basketball Illustrated in 1965 and ran his Five Star Basketball Camps from 1966 to 2008 when he retired. He was a member of the McDonald's All-American Selection Committee and was selected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. His camps were held in the Poconos, Virginia and Pittsburgh. He lived his entire life in New York City where he passed away in 2016 at the age of 86.

TIBITS

All three scouts observed around 200 games a season. Ironically, Cronauer and Garfinkel couldn't drive an automobile, and had to rely either on public transportation, taxi cabs, airplanes or coaches/friends to transport them to games.

There are a lot of scouts nationwide who observe high school basketball players today. Scouts are the lifeline for college recruiters. Below are America's top five national scouts for both boys and girls in my opinion. Listed alphabetically.

BOYS

• PAUL BIANCARDI (ESPN)
• ERIC BOSSI (RIVALS)
• ERIC DANIELS (247 SPORTS)
• CLARK FRANCIS (THE HOOP SCOOP)
• BOB GIBBONS (ALL-STAR REPORT)

GIRLS

• BRANDON CLAY (BRANDON CLAY SCOUTING)
• MIKE FLYNN (BLUE STAR BASKETBALL)
• CHRIS HANSEN (PROSPECTS NATION)
• BRET MCCORMICK (ALL STAR GIRLS REPORT)
• DAN OLSON (ESPN HOOPGURLZ)