Glenn Robinson III talked to Tyler Wideman a couple of years ago about playing for the Indiana Junior All-Star basketball team. It turned out to be some very good news.
“He said he really had a good time,” Wideman said. “He said it was a lot of fun and a good experience.”
Wideman found out Wednesday that he made this year's Junior All-Star team as a member of the North squad. The 6-foot-7 power forward will play in two games in June.
“I felt pretty good about it,” Wideman said.
Wideman averaged 15 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 blocks for Lake Central this season. He also shot 63 percent from the field. He had a season-high 27 points and 15 rebounds against Merrillville in December.
L.C. coach Dave Milausnic said Wideman's high school and AAU play surely opened eyes around the state. But also high school coaches knowing what colleges are recruiting him helped, too.
Wideman got letters from Xavier, Tennessee, Indiana State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Marquette, Michigan and Michigan State in the past week.
“I think all three of those things matter,” Milausnic said. “This is great for Tyler because he's a team-first kid. It's nice to see him get the recognition by the coaches in the state.”
There were 18 players selected for the Junior All-Star team, which will play in games this summer against the Indiana All-Stars and the Kentucky Junior All-Stars.
The Core 6 team is Greensburg's Bryant McIntosh, Park Tudor's Trevon Bluiett, Fort Wayne Luers' James Blackmon, Evansville Bosse's JaQuan Lyle, Indianapolis Tech's Trey Lyles and Plymouth's Mack Mercer.
The North Juniors are Wideman, Mt. Vernon's C.J. Coleman, Wapahani's Grant Evans, Frankton's Aaron Korn, Fort Wayne Concordia's D.J. McCall and Kokomo's Tayler Persons.
The South Juniors are Guerin Catholic's Aaron Brennan, Evansville Harrison's Ernie Duncan, Mooresville's Jacob Johnson, Carmel's Zach McRoberts, Greensburg's Sean Sellers and Indianapolis Brebeuf's P.J. Thompson.
The head coach will be Columbus East's Brent Chitty. He will be assisted by Plymouth's Ryan Bales and Tipton's Brad Dickey.
The Junior All-Stars will play Kentucky on June 7 and 8. The Juniors will play the Indiana All-Stars on June 10 and 12. The sites have yet to be determined.
“I want to play well, play my game,” Wideman said. “And I'd like to get a 'W', too.”
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