Daily Reporter staff reports
The early signing period for college basketball and all other sports opened Wednesday and several Hancock County student-athletes solidified their futures. During the next few editions, the Daily Reporter will publish the photos sent to our department celebrating these achievements.
Greenfield-Central forward inks with Indianapolis
Greenfield-Central’s Tate Hall is keeping his basketball talents inside his home state.
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The 6-foot-6 forward signed his national letter of intent this week with the University of Indianapolis where he will play for head coach Stan Gouard, who has led the men’s basketball program for eight seasons.
Hall joined Martinsville’s Keegan Northern as UIndy signees during the early period, which began Nov. 11.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tate and Keegan to our UIndy family,” Gouard said. “Our goal was to find first-class people who are quality student-athletes and talented basketball players. The common denominator for the two is they both come from great families and are Indiana kids.”
Throughout his prep career, Hall has distinguished himself as a leader and standout talent, earning six total varsity letters with four in basketball and two in baseball.
He has been named a two-time All-Hancock County and All-Hoosier Heritage Conference First-Team selection and was an Indiana Basketball Coaches Association All-State honorable mention.
An established scorer for the Cougars, Hall averaged 15.6 points per game last year. In his first full varsity season as a sophomore, he contributed 14.8 points per game on average. In 25 games last season, Hall reached 26 points twice, recorded two double-doubles and scored 15-plus points in 16 contests.
He averaged 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 2014-15. Off the court, he is a member of the National Honor Society and carries a 3.9 GPA.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity at University of Indianapolis. They have a great basketball tradition, an excellent coaching staff, and I’m excited that my friends and family will be able to watch me play,” Hall said.
Prior to signing with UIndy, Hall received offers from Maryville, Alabama Huntsville, Hillsdale, Rockhurst, Christian Brothers, Nova Southeastern, Army, Wisconsin Green Bay and Northern Kentucky.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Tate on his signing day. I’ve never been around a kid that has been more committed to becoming a great player,” Greenfield-Central head coach Mike Lewis said. “UIndy is not only getting a fantastic player but a special kid.”
Marauder continues hoops career at IU-Southeast
Mt. Vernon’s Ariana Sandefur became the first member of the Indiana University Southeast freshman class of 2016-17.
Sandefur, a 5-foot-9 wing on the Marauders girls basketball team, has been a four-year standout. Since joining the roster, her teams have compiled a 63-12 overall record and captured the 2012-13 Indiana High School athletic Association’s Class 3A state championship.
As a junior, she averaged 12.3 points, 1.5 steals and shot 38.2 percent from 3-point range as Mt. Vernon went 21-3 and finished the year ranked 10th in the final 4A rankings.
Sandefur hit a school-record eight 3-pointers in a win against Shelbyville last year and was honored with All-State mention this preseason by Hoosier Basketball Magazine and off the court was named to the National Honor Society.
“I am honored to accept an athletic scholarship to play basketball in the state I love, and for a very successful basketball program, where I like and respect the coaches and players,” Sandefur said. “I welcome the challenge of joining the Indiana University Southeast team and work toward future conference championships and national tournament bids.”
Sandefur will join an IU-Southeast program that is seeking its 11th consecutive winning season in 2015-16, posting a 205-102 record during the past decade. Coach Robin Farris is currently the fourth winningest active coach in NAIA Division II with 460 career wins. The Grenadiers are aiming for their 13th KIAC championship since 1995 this winter along with their eighth national tournament bid in that span.
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The Future is Set
• Listing of local student-athletes who have signed their national letters of intent.
Eastern Hancock
Darby Shaw (softball): Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
New Palestine
Brooke Butler (softball): Hanover College
Casey Lehman (softball): Huntington University
Issy Hoyt (softball): Purdue University
Jason Hall-Manley (baseball): Eastern Illinois University
Greenfield-Central
Tate Hall (basketball): University of Indianapolis
Rachel Irbe (volleyball): Eastern Michigan
Darcie Huber (softball): Ball State University
Mt. Vernon
Sydney Shelton (basketball): Butler University
Christian Noble (cross country/track): Lee University
Ariana Sandefur (basketball): Indiana University Southeast
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