Since his freshman year, Marcus Ankney has always shown promise at the offensive end of the court. But Center Grove coach Zach Hahn placed just as much trust in the senior’s defense.
Against a daunting schedule that featured an Indiana All-Star candidate just about every other night, Hahn tasked Ankney with locking down just about all of them, whether a 5-foot-9 point guard or a 6-foot-8 stretch four.
“We matched him up purposefully with the other guy, and I thought he really embraced that,” Hahn said. “And to be honest with you, I think he outplayed most of them.”
Ankney certainly outplayed everyone in Johnson County, starring in every aspect of the game while leading the Trojans to a 22-3 record. He is the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.
Becoming a more well-rounded player was a constant priority for Ankney, who came in as a lanky freshman with potential and exited as a confident 6-foot-3 wing capable of helping win games by any means necessary.
Heading into his final season, Ankney worked hard to fill out any remaining holes that he saw in his game.
“Being able just to score the ball whenever my team needs a bucket,” he said. “Being able to get down in the paint easier than I did last year. I felt like I improved my ballhandling a lot, and that allowed me to create plays for other people and just elevate my game.”
That was the same mentality that Hahn saw from Ankney throughout his career.
“He stayed the course, bought into what we preach, worked hard in the weight room, worked hard in the gym,” the coach said. “You saw that improvement every year; that’s what a basketball player should be.”
Ankney averaged 16.6 points this winter, shooting 58.1% from the floor and 46.5% from 3-point range. But it was his willingness and ability to shoulder the tough defensive assignments on top of his offensive responsibilities that helped make him one of the state’s most complete players.
“It was a challenge to me, and I felt like for most of the season I rose to that challenge and I didn’t back down,” Ankney said.
By not backing down, Ankney helped keep Center Grove ranked among the state’s top teams all season long, capable of sticking with anybody. The Trojans lost at Class 4A runner-up Kokomo by just two points and beat ranked opponents in Brownsburg, Carmel and Jennings County.
Though the season ended with a buzzer-beater loss to Bloomington North in the sectional final, Ankney moves forward with fond memories of his high school career.
“I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life,” he said. “The guys, especially my senior class that I grew up with. All seven of us, we bonded together so well, and so I’ll never forget that. … Obviously, I would have liked to win more sectionals, but you can’t go back in time.”
What you can do is push ahead — and Ankney is eager to take the next step in his basketball evolution at Indiana Wesleyan, where he’ll try to continue evolving his game the same way he has over the last four years.
Why change what’s working? That evolution was essentially what defined his time with the Trojans and got him to where he is now.
“You’ve always got to keep putting one step forward and just improving time and time again,” Ankney said of his Center Grove tenure, “and I think that’s what I did.”
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
The 2023 All-County team for boys basketball:
Marcus Ankney, Center Grove senior: Paced the Trojans with 16.6 points per game, shooting 58.1% overall from the floor and 46.5% on 3-pointers … Also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists while also routinely defending the opponent’s top player … Will continue his playing career at Indiana Wesleyan.
Max Booher, Greenwood Christian junior: Scored a team-best 15.4 points a game in leading the Cougars to a 19-win season … Made 99 of 120 free throws (83%) and hit 48 3-pointers … Reached double figures in scoring in all but two of GCA’s games and helped team close with a 13-game win streak.
Micah Davis, Franklin junior: Led the Grizzly Cubs in points (17.3), rebounds (5.1), assists (3.9) and steals (1.7) per game, earning a place in the Indiana Junior All-Stars’ core group of six players … Scored 33 points against Mooresville and 31 against Center Grove … Attracting interest from Division I colleges.
Joey Schmitz, Center Grove junior: Averaged 12 points, shooting 42.7% from 3-point range and 87.5% from the foul line despite playing the back portion of the season with a fractured wrist … Had 25 steals and 50 deflections at the defensive end for a team that ranked in the state’s top 10 all winter.
Will Spellman, Center Grove junior: Provided a rock-solid post presence for the 22-3 Trojans, averaging 9.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocked shots … Shot 66% from the field … Held Kokomo’s Flory Bidunga, one of the nation’s top juniors, to 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting in late December.
Honorable mention
Dylan Beverly, Franklin; Jalen Bundy, Center Grove; Peyton Byrd, Center Grove; Carter Campbell, Greenwood; Adam Crouch, Indian Creek; Caleb Dewey, Edinburgh; Ethan McComb, Center Grove; Wiatt McLaughlin, Whiteland; Carter Modlin, Indian Creek; Jake Mosemann, Greenwood; Wyatt Nickleson, Franklin; Connor Ramey, Edinburgh; Brayden Roy, Whiteland; Blake Shewmaker, GCA; Landon Sichting, Indian Creek; Jarrett Turner, Edinburgh; Austin Willoughby, Whiteland
