Before we get to the 2026 Outside the Huddle All-Area Team and our end-of-year awards, Bounce wanted to take some time and take a last glance at area conferences and hand out some league-specific metaphorical hardware.
Today, we tackle the NE8.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Landon Richmond, Columbia City
Landon Richmond put together a highly productive and well-respected senior campaign for Columbia City. The forward averaged 19.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Richmond’s offensive game was particularly difficult to contain, as he could score inside with physicality while also handling the ball and creating for others, a versatility that made him a matchup problem throughout the season.
Beyond the numbers, Richmond’s leadership and consistency were central to Columbia City’s success, as he routinely filled the stat sheet and delivered in key moments. He proved capable of taking over games when needed but also elevated teammates as well. His impact extended into the postseason as well, contributing on both ends of the floor during tournament play and helping anchor the Eagles’ interior presence.
HONORABLE MENTION: Tarvar Baskerville (New Haven), Titus Schultz (Huntington North), Dalton Husband (Huntington North), Josh McBride (Norwell), Carson Waltke (East Noble), Daniel Selking (Bellmont)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Tarvar Baskerville, New Haven
If you know Bounce’s awards and OTH history, you know MVP means something different than Player of the Year. MVP to us is someone who is legit the most valuable to their team and overall success of that program.
Tarvar Baskerville put together a big season for New Haven, emerging as the Bulldogs’ primary offensive engine and one of the top guards in Class 3A. The junior averaged 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting better than 47 percent from the floor, showing efficiency to go along with his production. Baskerville’s ability to create his own shot and make plays for others made him a constant focal point for opposing defenses, and he consistently delivered as New Haven’s leading scorer throughout the season.
Baskerville saved some of his best for the biggest stage, capping his season with a standout performance in the Class 3A state finals. In New Haven’s historic appearance, he led the Bulldogs with 20 points, rising to the moment against a talented Indianapolis Cathedral squad and helping keep his team competitive deep into the game. His postseason run also included clutch moments, highlighted by a game-winning bucket in the semi-state to send New Haven to its first-ever state championship game.
HONORABLE MENTION: Jadrien Ezell (New Haven), Lavell Ledbetter (New Haven), Landon Richmond (Columbia City), Owen Marshall (Columbia City), Brady Vince (DeKalb), Zeke Penrod (DeKalb), Dalton Husband (Huntington North), Nick McBride (Norwell), Alex Scott (East Noble), Daniel Selking (Bellmont)
BREAKOUT/MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Daniel Selking, Bellmont
This is a bit of a tough one because Bounce feels that we need to lean into the precursor fact that Daniel Selking was a really good basketball player as a freshman at Bellmont. But during his sophomore 2025-2026 season, he was on an entirely different level so mentioning him as the best breakout player still feels totally justified.
The sophomore guard averaged 22.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, leading the Braves in scoring by a wide margin and ranking among the top scorers in Class 3A. Selking’s ability to score at all three levels made him a constant challenge for opposing defenses, as he could knock down perimeter shots, attack off the dribble and finish through contact.
Beyond the numbers, Selking showed a knack for taking over games and delivering standout performances. He erupted for 40 points in a win over Adams Central and had multiple high-scoring outings throughout the season including 36 against New Haven, highlighting his role as one of the area’s most dynamic young scorers. By the end of the season, Selking had firmly established himself as one of the top rising talents in all of Indiana.
HONORABLE MENTION: Shane Rogers-Smith (New Haven), Daylen Jackson (New Haven), Ian St. John (Columbia City), Brayden Freiburger (Huntington North), Cooper Bunn (Norwell), Jonah Lagrange (Leo), Carson Waltke (East Noble), Daniel Selking (Bellmont), Cameron Summers (Bellmont)
COACH OF THE YEAR: Brandon Appleton, New Haven
New Haven’s season will go down as the most successful in program history, highlighted by a remarkable postseason run to the IHSAA Class 3A state championship game. The Bulldogs caught fire in March, stringing together tournament wins over teams like Mississinewa, Bellmont, Marion, West Lafayette and Columbia City to reach the state finals. Along the way, New Haven showcased its depth and resilience, winning games in multiple ways and proving it could handle both high-scoring matchups and defensive battles against strong competition.
Their season ultimately ended with a 71-61 loss to Indianapolis Cathedral at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but the run itself cemented the 2025-2026 team as a historic group for the program. Finishing with a 22-7 record and a first-ever appearance in the state finals, New Haven’s season was a standard-setting performance for the program moving forward, all showcasing just how impactful that Appleton has been in just two seasons leading the way.
HONORABLE MENTION: Matt Schauss (Columbia City), Austin Ervin (DeKalb)
EARLY 2026-27 CONFERENCE CHAMP PICK: New Haven Bulldogs
After back-to-back years at the top of the conference, don’t expect New Haven to back track anytime soon. They do lose five seniors to graduation, including regular key performers Jadrien Ezell, Daylen Jackson and DaMarcus Wright.
But behind them, there is so much back for New Haven to be excited about, especially seeing how quickly coach Brandon Appleton and his staff have helped to elevate this program in a short two years together.
Next season’s senior class is strong, headlined by the returns of Tarvar Baskerville, Shane Rogers-Smith, Lavell Ledbetter and Marquaylon Johnson for their senior campaigns. Also, expect a big sophomore season out of 6-foot-4 forward Jayon Thomas who looked good as a freshman, playing in 25 games and shooting almost 55 percent from the field.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
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