The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame named its men’s 2026 Silver Anniversary team, based on outstanding accomplishments as a senior basketball player 25 years ago.
The 2026 Silver Anniversary team includes nine players who were named to the 2001 Indiana All-Star team, including Mr. Basketball Chris Thomas of Pike, and nine others who were all-state selections. The Silver Anniversary team will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s Men’s Awards banquet on March 18.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere is a look at the Silver Anniversary team:
Cory Bennett, New Castle: Bennett averaged 16.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.2 steals as senior to lead New Castle to a 17-4 season. He finished his career with 804 points, 331 rebounds, 343 assists and 114 steals over four seasons. Bennett went on to play at the University of Indianapolis, where he was a two-time captain and totaled 701 points and 342 assists over four seasons and play in three NCAA Division II national tournaments. He is currently the athletic director at New Castle.
Cris Brunson, Evansville Reitz: Brunson is ninth in career scoring at Reitz with 1,094 points, along with 327 rebounds, 170 assists and 110 steals in 71 games. He averaged 25.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals as a senior. Brunson went on to play at the University of Southern Indiana, where he stands fifth in career scoring with 1,562 points and second in 3-pointers with 237. He was a part of USI teams that went 102-27 with three NCAA Division II national tournament appearances, finished as 2004 D-II national runner-up.
Levi Carmichael, Eastern Greene: Carmichael averaged 23.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists as a senior in leading Eastern Greene to a 23-2 season. The 5-11 guard holds the school’s career records with 1,063 points and 529 assists. He also set a single-game scoring record with 44 points and finished his career with 256 rebounds, 529 assists and 112 steals in 91 career games. Carmichael attended Austin Peay, where he totaled 335 points, 106 rebounds and 184 assists in 122 games over four seasons for teams that went 72-55. He currently is in his eighth year as athletic director at Clarksville.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWill Caudle, Warren Central: Caudle averaged 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in leading Warren Central to a 15-6 record as a senior for coach Scott Heady. For his career, including his freshman year at Roncalli, the 6-9 Caudle totaled 657 points. He played in college at Xavier, where he totaled 502 points and 245 rebounds. He redshirted in 2001-02, played as a freshman and sophomore for Thad Matta and as a junior and senior for Sean Miller. Caudle played professionally overseas from 2006-12.
Dennis Coutee, Jeffersonville: Coutee averaged 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds on 46.9% shooting from the 3-point line for a team that finished 17-5. Over four seasons, Coutee totaled 1,409 points (16.0) and 615 rebounds (7.0) in 88 games for teams that went 73-18. After high school, Coutee averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists for a 28-9 squad at Riverside Community College in California. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 2002-03 for a University of Southern Indiana team that went 25-7 and played in the NCAA Division II national tournament. He averaged 15.8 points in four games in 2003-04 at Azusa Pacific University but suffered a knee injury and never played competitive basketball again.
Bryant Dillon, Tech: Dillon averaged 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists as a senior in leading Tech to a 13-9 record and Indianapolis Public Schools title for coach Frank Craig. For his career, the 6-foot-6 guard totaled 767 points, 429 rebounds and 328 assists in 82 games. After high school, Dillon attended Southwestern Illinois College and Purdue. At Purdue, Dillon totaled 228 points, 130 rebounds and 120 assists in 43 games over two seasons while playing one season for Gene Keady and one for Matt Painter. Dillon led the Boilermakers in assists (84) and 3-point accuracy (41.3%) while averaging 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists as senior.
Trai Essex, Fort Wayne Harding: Essex, who went on to an eight-year NFL career, averaged 19.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals as a senior in propelling Harding to a 23-5 season and the 2001 Class 2A state championship for coach Al Gooden. For his basketball career, Essex stands fifth in Harding history with 1,135 career points in 82 games over four seasons while playing for teams that went 71-25. He went on to play football at Northwestern, where he moved to left tackle his final three seasons. Essex was a third-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers and went on to play seven years in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls. He finished his career with the Colts in 2012.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKyle Hankins, Bloomington South: Hankins averaged 19.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists in propelling Bloomington South to a 19-3 season as a senior. The 6-2 guard finished his career eighth in career scoring with 1,221 points, along with 217 rebounds, 255 assists and 106 steals in 92 games over four seasons. The 2001 Indiana All-Star went on to Morehead State, where he tallied 308 points (3.6) and 126 assists (1.5) in 85 games over four seasons while helping the Eagles to a 65-49 record. Hankins is now in his first season as head coach at Lighthouse Christian School in Bloomington.
Lawrence North's Chris Hill (#10) drives on Pike's Chris Thomas (#30) in the first half of their game Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.Chris Hill, Lawrence North: Hill averaged 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 37% from the 3-point line and 86.7% on free throws as a senior in leading Lawrence North to a 21-6 record with sectional and regional titles for coach Jack Keefer. For his career, Hill stands sixth on the Wildcats’ all-time scoring list with 1,225 points in 94 career games. The 2001 Indiana All-Star set school records for career passing yards (4,862) and career passing touchdowns (38) as a three-year starting quarterback in football. He went on to Michigan State, where he stands 17th in career scoring with 1,540 points, while also recording 363 rebounds and 452 assists in 129 games for coach Tom Izzo. From 2005-14, Hill played professional basketball in France, Turkey, Belgium and France again.
Sean Kline, Huntington North: Kline totaled career school records of 1,790 points, 811 rebounds, 423 free throws and 112 blocks as well as 178 assists and 108 steals in 91 games as Huntington North compiled a 60-35 over his four seasons. The 2001 Indiana All-Star averaged 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a senior for a 16-9 sectional winner. The 6-8 forward went to Indiana, where he totaled 279 points and 174 rebounds in 90 games over four seasons for teams that went 69-54 and earned NCAA Tournament berths in 2003 and 2006. Kline averaged 7.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2003-04.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAndrew Laird, Penn: The 6-6 Laird averaged 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals as a senior for a 23-3 team. He totaled 1,150 points (fifth on career scoring list), 363 rebounds, 205 assists and 127 steals over three varsity seasons. After high school, Laird played two seasons at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, then transferred to play two seasons for coach Mike Lightfoot at Bethel College in Mishawaka. He tallied 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and was named an NAIA Academic All-American as a senior for a 19-5 squad that was NCCAA national runner-up.
North Central's David Logan (#12) swoops in a shot around Noblesville's Chad Groves and is fouled in the first half of their game Tuesday night at North Central High School.David Logan, North Central: Logan averaged 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals as a senior for a 10-12 team for coach Doug Mitchell. He had a high game of 42 points against Noblesville in March of 2001. Logan went on to the University of Indianapolis, where he totaled a school-record 2,352 points (20.5) as well as 427 rebounds, 388 assists and 187 steals in 115 games. He averaged 28.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals as a senior and was named the 2005 NCAA Division II national player of the year. After college, Logan had a 19-year professional basketball career with stops in Italy, Poland, Spain, Greece, Israel, Germany, Lithuania and France. He was inducted into the UIndy Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025.
Brandon McKnight, South Bend LaSalle: McKnight was second in the state with a 28.6 scoring average while adding 7.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in leading South Bend LaSalle to a 14-9 record as a senior for coach Mark Johnson. The 6-foot-2 guard completed his career with a school-record 1,367 points as well as 361 rebounds and 456 assists over four seasons for teams that went 46-41. McKnight, the runner-up for Mr. Basketball, went on to Purdue, where he averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists as a senior. He finished with 783 points, 251 rebounds and 271 assists in 101 games. McKnight played nine seasons professionally in Turkey, Sweden, Israel, France and Finland.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNick Otis, LaPorte: Otis averaged 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals as a senior in pacing LaPorte to a 13-8 season. The 6-4 guard totaled 924 points, 381 rebounds, 171 assists and 87 steals in 69 games over three full seasons while playing for coach Joe Otis, his father. Otis played at Belmont University, where he totaled 477 points, 175 rebounds and 110 assists in 110 games for teams that went 63-54 over four seasons. He averaged 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists and was team captain as a senior.
Lonnie Randolph, Merrillville: Randolph is seventh on Merrillville’s all-time scoring list with 1,018 points, while adding 385 assists in 96 games over four seasons for teams that went 80-20. The 6-1 guard averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals as a senior for a 21-5 conference and sectional champion. After high school, Randolph went to Drake University, totaling 1,065 points, 316 rebounds, 383 assists and 190 steals in 116 games for teams that went 49-67 over four seasons. He averaged 10.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a senior. Randolph played professional basketball from 2005-10 for the Gary Steelheads, Quad City Riverhawks, Pittsburgh Explosion and Dallas Defenders.
Pike's David Teague reacts to his team's 56-42 dismantling of Penn in the Class 4A title game, Conseco Fieldhouse. (Robert Scheer Photo), w/story, file 57180, slug class4aDavid Teague, Pike: Teague averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists as a senior in helping Pike to a 26-3 season and the 2001 Class 4A state championship. In two varsity seasons, the 6-4 guard-forward totaled 696 points and 229 rebounds in 52 contests for coach Alan Darner. The 2001 Indiana All-Star played one year at Bridgton Academy in Maine, then went to Purdue and totaled 1,378 points, 541 rebounds and 135 assists in 121 games over four seasons. Teague stands fifth on the Boilermakers’ list for career 3-pointers (239). He averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists as a senior. Teague played professional basketball from 2007-15 in Greece, France, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Ukraine, Argentina, Uruguay, Columbia and the NBA G-League.
Pike's Chris Thomas celebrates a state final win over Penn.Chris Thomas, Pike: Thomas was named Mr. Basketball in 2001 after leading Pike to two state championships. He totaled a school-record 2,156 points plus 445 rebounds, 502 assists and 311 steals in 106 varsity games over four seasons in propelling Pike to a 91-15 record. As a senior, he averaged 23.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 108 steals for coach Alan Darner. Thomas went on to Notre Dame, where he stands fourth in career scoring with 2,195 points, totaled 528 career rebounds and holds Fighting Irish records with 833 career assists and 244 career steals. Thomas went on to play professionally for seven seasons in Italy, Greece, Poland, Spain and Israel. He played for the 2007 Polish Cup champion, won the Playmaker Award in Spain in 2008.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRic Wyand, Franklin Central: Wyand averaged 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in leading Franklin Central to a 14-9 record as a senior. The 6-6 forward stands fifth in Franklin Central all-time scoring with 1,288 points. He also added 465 rebounds and 144 assists. The 2001 Indiana All-Star went on to play at Purdue-Fort Wayne in the school’s first three seasons as an NCAA Division I program. He averaged 9.6 points and 4.0 rebounds in 10 games as a junior for the Mastodons, suffering a knee injury that season and never again playing competitive basketball. He finished with 494 points and 201 rebounds in 43 games in three seasons.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame names Silver Anniversary team
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