Ryan Curry
School: New Palestine
Grade: Senior
Height: 6-2
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Position: Guard
Stats: 20.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 spg
Résumé: Back-to-back Hancock County Boys Player of the Year. … Led county in scoring, rebounds, steals as well as 3-pointers and free throws made. … Invited to Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 60 Workout for state’s best seniors. … Netted New Palestine record for points in a game with 46 in a 96-81 win against Shelbyville, shooting a season-high 57 percent (16 of 28) from the floor. … Member of all Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team. … Finished third all-time on New Palestine’s scoring list with 1,106 points. … One of only six players in Dragons history to score 1,000-plus points. … Hit buzzer-beating 3 against HHC rival Greenfield-Central to send game to OT, where the Dragons pulled out a victory. … Scored in double digits in all but two games. Scored at least 20 points in 14 games. … Recorded five double-doubles.
The teammate: “Ryan can score the basketball. He can get his shot off quick, and he opens teammates up by being such a threat from deep.” — Kevin Riley, New Palestine senior
The opposition: “Curry just had a hell of a year. It seemed like every night out he had at least 20. Then he dropped 46, which an amazing accomplishment. … He is a great shooter, and he just found a will to score and win. He hit big shots, especially the one against us.” — Tate Hall, Greenfield-Central junior
Tate Hall
School: Greenfield-Central
Grade: Junior
Height: 6-2
Position: Guard
Stats: 15.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg
Résumé: Finished second in Hancock County in scoring and total rebounds. … Scored double-digit points in all but four games. … Second straight season on all-county first team … Drilled five 3-pointers or more in four games, including season-high six against Valparaiso. … Netted a season-high 27 points in a 69-66 win against HHC rival Shelbyville. … Member of All-Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team. … Buried 59 3s, second only to Curry. … Led Cougars to first 10-win season since 2003-04. … Notched two double-doubles. … Scored 15-plus points in 16 games.
The opposition: “Tate has really evolved into a complete player. He is not just a standstill shooter, but a scorer and a threat on the boards as well.” — Adam Barton, New Palestine head coach
The opposition: “He’s good now, but he’s got an even brighter future. He’s tall and athletic and can shoot the ball. He’s going to be pretty good.” — Ryan Curry, New Palestine senior
Michael Ertel
School: Mt. Vernon
Grade: Sophomore
Height: 6-0
Position: Guard
Stats: 15.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 spg
Résumé: Finished third in Hancock County in points, assists per game and steals. … First in county in free throw (.905) and 3-point percentages (.435); second in county in field-goal percentage (.516). … Notched career-high point total (24) in 72-69 defeat against Indianapolis Howe. … One of two underclassmen to be named member of All-Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team. … Picked up five or more assists in three games. … Scored double-digit points in all but four games. … Shot at 60 percent or better clip from floor in nine contests, including five out of six in December. … Made 41 of last 42 free-throw attempts.
The opposition: “Michael was incredibly efficient offensively. His 3-point percentage was very good. It seemed like on film and in our game, he always hit big shots when he had any opening at all.” — Adam Barton, New Palestine head coach
The opposition: “(He) has an extremely bright future. He is a college point guard easily.” — Tate Hall, Greenfield-Central junior
Erick Shepherd
School: Mt. Vernon
Grade: Sophomore
Height: 6-5
Position: Forward
Stats: 13.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.7 spg
Résumé: Finished second in Hancock County in rebounding and fifth in scoring … Shot .512 from the field (third in the county). … Second straight season with All-County Team recognition; 2013-14 Honorable Mention member. … One of two underclassmen (along with teammate Michael Ertel) to be named member of All-Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team. … Scored double digits in all but three games, including eight straight to end the season. … Notched two double-doubles. … Matched career-high with 20-point performance in 73-48 win against Covenant Christian. … Played eight games with a field-goal percentage north of 60 percent. Hit 14 of 16 free throws in game against Lawrence Central. … Got to the foul line in every game, shooting nearly 71 percent (seventh in county). … Swatted a season-high three shots against Delta.
The opposition: “Erick is so skilled in the post. He understands angles and has terrific footwork. He is going to be so difficult to contain the next two years.” — Michael Lewis, Greenfield-Central head coach
The opposition: “Shepherd’s mid-range game is very good. Every single time he shot, I knew it was going in.” — Ryan Curry, New Palestine senior
Kevin Riley
School: New Palestine
Grade: Senior
Height: 6-5
Position: Forward
Stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.8 spg
Résumé: Finished fourth in Hancock County in scoring; ninth in rebounding. … Shot .377 from beyond the arc (fourth in the county) and .718 from the foul line (fifth in the county). … Scored in double digits in all but five games. … Member of All-Hoosier Heritage Conference First Team. … Netted a career-high 26 points in a 73-57 win against Franklin Central. … Scored 20-plus points four times. … Only county to player to enjoy 10 points per game jump in scoring average (3.5 ppg junior year) from last season. … Hit at least one 3-pointer in all but three games; hit five against Greenfield-Central and Franklin Central.
The teammate: “He’s come a long way since when we were little. He really helped out in the scoring. Took pressure off me. He had some big games and helped us out all year.” — Ryan Curry, New Palestine senior.
The opposition: “Kevin competed so very hard. He had a tremendous year attacking the the rim in transition and shooting the 3.” — Michael Lewis, Greenfield-Central head coach
