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As Oregon-Davis prepares to take the floor, the question is not who Zach Richie is going to guard.
The question is, who's going to guard Richie? Or maybe the real question is, can anyone guard him?
"He's a tough shot maker,” O-D coach Matt Richie said. “Normally, he's spinning one way and jumping the other way and fading backwards and fading forwards. And there's shots that, sometimes, they look so off-balance, but he makes those shots. And he makes shots with two and three guys in his face."
The junior guard is having an incredible season. At one point, he scored at least 40 points in 11 straight games. In one of them, Richie put up 55, setting a new school record.
His average of more than 39 points a game not only leads the state of Indiana, but is one of the best in the entire nation.
"As long as I can put the ball in the hole, I guess I'll try to keep it up," Zach Richie said.
“He's just had a great will,” added his coach, “trying to will us to get victories, as much as anything."
And everyone is starting to take notice. It's one thing when Division I coaches like Valparaiso's Homer Drew coming to watch him play. But it's another, when it's the Governor.
"He made one basket when he was double teamed,” Gov. Daniels said while watching a game against Culver Academy earlier this season. “It was pretty impressive."
But as the spotlight gets brighter, his coach is convinced his kid can handle the pressure.
"I don't think he even thought about it, to be honest with you," he said.
As the points continue to pour in, opponents have adjusted their strategy. More and more, teams have double-, and sometimes triple-teamed him, at all times, making it even tougher to score.
But what Richie has in pure talent is matched only by his potential. Obviously, Homer Drew sees it. But his current coach sees it too.
"He's growing by leaps and bounds as a basketball player, and understanding the game,” Matt Richie said. “The kid has more drive than anybody I've ever met."