For the second straight season, Outside the Huddle is extending our official postseason awards to honor some of the best defenders and some of the best newcomers in the area to recognize some other talents outside of our 15 player All-Area team.
So now we introduce to your our top 5 picks for the best defensive players and best freshmen in the Northeast Indiana coverage area to honor each category from the 2024-2025 season.
OTH 2025 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Kellen Pickett, Blackhawk Christian
Pickett’s shot blocking alone is worthy of all-defensive consideration. Leading the area in blocked shots, Pickett was a force around the rim for Blackhawk Christian with 3.4 blocks per contest to go along with 1.1 steals per game. He had 12 games with four or more blocks including a season high seven against Wayne. Pickett also had 11 games this season where he had double digit defensive rebounds.
Gavin Betten, Manchester
Betten led the area in a lot of places and defensively was among the best. His presence on that end of the floor was sensational as he averaged 3.3 steals and 2.9 blocks per game, including eight defensive rebounds per contest as well. He blocked four or more shots on nine occasions including 6 blocks against both Adams Central and Tipton. Betten had a season high 12 steals in a triple double against Churubusco.
Landon Jaeger, Fremont
Jaeger had an impressive defensive season as a senior after his transfer to Fremont. While the Eagles struggled in the win/loss department, Jaeger was a constant disruption. Among his accomplishments was Fremont’s first ever 13 steal game. Next to that record, Jaeger had 77 total steals on the season for just over 3.3 swipes per game.
Ethan Hendrix, Manchester
Hendrix paced his own way defensively for the Class 2A state champions, right next to teammate Gavin Betten at 3 steals per contest. Hendrix was consistently a fire starter for Manchester’s defensive presence, he had six steals in four different games including back-to-back against Mississinewa and Rochester and again against Northwestern and Lewis Cass in a five game, 27 steal stretch at the beginning of January.
Trace Maller, Adams Central
Maller was all over the floor for the Flying Jets on the defensive end, showcasing his prowess on both sides of the court. He averaged three steals per game for the season as a lockdown on-ball defender, able to shut down opponents with his quickness and ability to anticipate moves. Off the ball, his court awareness was equally impressive, as he read the game well consistently and positioned himself to make key plays or disrupt the opposition’s offense.
Zachariah Belcher, South Side
Belcher is another guy who can put himself in the area’s rim protecting elite. Belcher has always had the length, but certainly upped his game during his junior season. Belcher averaged 2.8 blocks per game, with four or more on 7 occasions including a season best 8 blocks against North Side. He also added 4.4 defensive rebounds per contest and had a season best three steals against North Side.
OTH 2025 ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Niles Knox, Angola
Knox came out of the gate in stunning fashion for his high school career with big scoring efforts where he dominated the post. While he was still very reliable from everywhere on the floor, Knox’s ability to spread the floor became more evident and important as the season went on. The All-NECC First Team pick averaged 13.7 points while shooting 51 percent from the field. He added 6.9 rebounds per game.
Daniel Selking, Bellmont
As Bellmont started a bit of a rebuild, Selking was a fantastic add to this lineup, even scoring a career best 31 points against Bishop Luers, where he hit nine three pointers. Selking averaged 12.3 points per game during his freshman campaign, adding 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Braves.
Josh McBride, Norwell
With a last name we all know well, it was Josh McBride that set Norwell’s record for scoring by a freshman. This puts McBride in some pretty elite company after his freshman year as his 303 points surpassed the previous 9th grade mark of Norwell legend Will Geiger. McBride finished his freshman campaign averaging 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
Bryce Lacross, Blackhawk Christian
Lacross led Blackhawk Christian in three point percentage this season at 41 percent, while hitting 51 three pointers; he had just three games where he didn’t knock down a triple. All in all, Lacross averaged 7.1 points and three rebounds per game as a freshman. He had a career high 17 points in a win over Beech Grove.
Drake Sefton, Blackhawk Christian
Averaging 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, the next Sefton up had a great start to his career for Blackhawk Christian. He tied brother Bryce for the second most rebounds for the Braves, pulling down a massive career best 13 just six games into his high school career against Heritage. He was big in the postseason, scoring 12 and 10 in Blackhawk Christian’s semi finals and championship games in the Sectional round.
Parker Smith, Fairfield
Smith had a tremendous opening season for the Falcons, wowing often with his defensive pressure that kept Fairfield in the thick of the NECC conversation a lot of the season. He ended his freshman campaign averaging an impressive 9.5 points per game to go with 1.2 steals and 2.6 rebounds per contest. His spark plug play will be a big part of Fairfield into the future.
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