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Off The Cover presents...
Off the Cover News Sports covers all of Northwest Indiana Region from High School to College.
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6"0 jUNIOR FORWARD, playing for Hammond's Morton Senior High School
The Rise Of "KP"
contributed by Anthony Hudson Off the Cover News Inc.
Patterson’s dominance lives up to ‘KP’ nickname Kylah “KP”
Patterson has emerged as one of Indiana’s most dominant all-around high school basketball players, building a reputation defined by versatility, strength and production.
The nickname “KP” dates back to her early years in the game.“My old AAU coach from I Hustle gave me that nickname when I was about eight years old,” Patterson said. “He just started calling me ‘KP’ during a game, and after that, everybody picked it up. It just stuck and spread from there.”Now, for scouts searching for the next rising star in girls’ basketball, Patterson has become difficult to overlook.A 6-foot junior forward at Hammond Morton Senior High School, Patterson’s versatility allows her to impact every position on the floor, whether handling the ball on the perimeter or battling inside.She models her game after NBA standout Anthony Edwards, and her style reflects that influence — aggressive, explosive and confident.Patterson averaged this season just under 26 points, 15.3 rebounds and 4.1 steals per game. Her presence on the glass has placed her among the top 59 nationally in one statistical category, while also ranking No. 1 in Indiana and Class 4A in multiple statistical categories.
Grit, Growth, and Glory !
Ben Novak’s Road to the Hoosiers: Grit, Growth, and Glory
Andrean’s offensive tackle turned Indiana University recruit credits dedication, sacrifice, and a love for the process.
Ben Novak is an offensive tackle for the Andrean 59ers and an Indiana University commit; respected not just for what he does on the field, but for the work he puts in beyond it.
The journey did not begin on the football field or even at Andrean. While attending St. John High School in Valparaiso, his primary sport was cross-country, a sport he was introduced to early by his father, a certified running coach.
It was not until a championship meet at Andrean that Novak drew the attention of the 59er coaches, marking a turning point in his athletic career.
“And at that time, they had football practice going on,” Novak said.
“I finished in the top ten of that race, and there were probably over 100 kids, and the coaches were like, okay, we need him, and we have to find his parents,” he added.
He further explained that the school showed respect to him and his family, particularly by earning his mother's trust; which ultimately played a key role in his decision to attend Andrean.
Once everything was in place, Novak officially became an Andrean 59er and set a course for a challenging yet developmental journey. During his first two seasons, he was surrounded by elite talent, such as Notre Dame starting linebacker Drayk Bowen. Bowen gave Novak a wake-up call during his sophomore year, when the two had a one-on-one.
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This isn’t an athlete playing quarterback; this is a quarterback playing athlete.
contributed by: Anthony Hudson
Full Article
Track NameAnthony Hudson
00:00 / 01:04
Michael Hill Jr., the quarterback for the Merrillville High School Pirates, stepped into the spotlight last season and shows no signs of stepping back, emerging as one of Indiana’s top quarterbacks.In terms of playing style, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior displays flashes of Jayden Daniels—fast, elusive, and driven by sharp quarterback instincts that make him difficult for defenders to contain.
Last year, he broke the Merrillville single-season passing yards record with 3,220 yds. At the top of that, he touched the endzone 28 times, helping three receivers average more than 60 receiving yards per game, was named the Times of Northwest Indiana Offensive Player of the Year, 2025 Chicago Post-Tribune Football Player of the Year, and took his team to state for the first time since 1976.
However, to Hill, the main thing is to be something his team and family can be proud of. And that is why, for Hill, he embodies fortitude, with his family and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as his rock. "In my eighth-grade year, when I tore my ACL, I relied on God to get me through everything,” Hill said. Hill is a young buck who can light up a room with his swagger, confidence, and presence. His personality naturally makes him the main character, yet he remains grounded and humble in the spotlight. "I just fell in love with the game and the process of playing it,” Hill said. “As I got older, the process got harder, and then I just started to love the competition, and it helped me in my other sports.”When he is not playing football, the triathlete competes as a guard in basketball and runs the 100 meters and the 4x100-meter relay in track and field. Hill credits his passion for sports to the influence of his parents, both of whom were track and field athletes at Indiana University, along with his cousin Aveyawn Madry, who played defensive back at Merrillville and is now a cornerback at Purdue University.His father wanted him to maximize his athletic potential. As a result, rather than staying at a school in his hometown of Merrillville, they visited established football programs across the greater Chicago area, including Andrean, Brother Rice, and St. Rita, before ultimately finding the right fit at Mount Carmel.“The off-season was tough, I would have to get up around 4 a.m. to go to morning workouts, Hill said. “I would take a shower, eat breakfast, go to school from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., practice from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then one-on-one work with the coach from 6 to eight p.m.”
Hill’s work ethic has caught the attention of Merrillville High School football head coach Brad Seiss since seventh-grade spring football. Hill transferred to Merrillville as a sophomore last year, but with Mount Carmel blocking his transfer, he was unable to play varsity and spent the season on the junior varsity team. “He was kind of like the Johnny Football of JV; running around, throwing the ball, and making plays in all sorts of ways,” Seiss said. “Going into the summer, we knew he had a real opportunity to compete for the quarterback position, and throughout summer practices, it became pretty evident that he was going to be a special player.”​Now the star of the show, Hill enters his final season with a single goal: to build on his growth and lead Merrillville back to the state stage, with recruiting opportunities and camp visits still ahead.​“I have one goal: to win the state championship,” Hill said. “We’ve been there before. Now it’s time to finish the job and bring it back to the community.”
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