13. Carmel

Carmel High School players celebrate post-game, Carmel vs. Ben Davis in the Class 4A Boys Basketball State Final, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Saturday, March 23, 2019. Carmel won 60-55. (Photo: Robert Scheer/IndyStar)

Location: Carmel, Ind.
17-18 Record: 26-1
Final Super 25 Rank: 16

Why them: Carmel won the championship last season, making up for its defeat in the title game the year prior. Next year, they’ll look to make it back to the game for the third year in a row.

It’s going to be an uphill battle with six seniors graduating, including Karsten Windlan and three-star Butler commit John Michael Mulloy. But the team was about much more than simple star power. Mulloy averaged 14.3 points and eight rebounds, according to YouAreCurrent, which are solid numbers but by no means dominant. The team played the court well, was unselfish, and didn’t lose a single game after Jan. 19.

Next year, can current-juniors Jackson Jannsen and Bobby Fry II step into leadership roles to take the place of Mulloy and Windlan? If so, Carmel could find themselves in the thick of another playoff battle.