Top Frontcourts In Class 1A

You don’t often find a lot of size in Indiana in Class 1A, but we were able to dig up a few really nice frontcourts who should impose their will on opponents this season. Once again, we focused the selection of these Top-5 frontcourts on their two best forwards / posts, but we’ve listed as many of their front-liners as we are aware of. The teams who made the cut are arranged alphabetically by school name.   [caption id="attachment_12425" align="alignright" width="195"] Tayler Brewer of Crothersville[/caption] Crothersville H.S. (Crothersville, IN) Crothersville returns nearly everyone to their lineup this year, led by their frontcourt. The most influential of that group is 5-11 2019 post Tayler Brewer (19.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 53% FGs). Tayler moved in from Columbus East a year ago and was dominant at times. She’s strong, physical, and can move people on the interior. Joining her is do-everything forward Maddie Riley (10.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.9 spg). Maddie is a 5-10 Senior who has good length and athleticism, and she can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter, causing matchup problems for opponents. 5-10 2020 post Rebekah Cook (2.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) gave the Tigers good minutes a year ago, and she adds another physical presence inside. If they can find just one more contributor on the interior who can play off the bench, they should be one of the best frontcourts in the South in Class 1A, without question.   [caption id="attachment_12426" align="alignleft" width="194"] Sophia Nolan of Marquette[/caption] Marquette Catholic H.S. (Michigan City, IN) Marquette Catholic typically plays a 3-guard lineup, and even their “bigs” work around the perimeter a lot. They don’t have a great deal of depth in their frontcourt, but let’s be honest…when you’re at a Class 1A school, and your starting forwards are both 6-1 and both recently committed to a Big East school (Saint John’s), you’re likely going to have an advantage against nearly everyone on your schedule, regardless of school size. In this case, they just happen to be Senior twins Emma (20.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.0 spg, 59% FGs, 28 made 3s, 82% FTs) and Sophia Nolan (18.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 54% FGs, 36 made 3s). From a style-of-play standpoint, they mesh well together like Bird & McHale did back in the 1980s. They can post or shoot from outside, and they play with a great deal of understanding. There is a little depth, and 5-8 2020 forward Ally McConnell (3.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg) can help at times. 5-7 2019 forward Ukari Payne (1.1 ppg) also has some Varsity experience, and she’s a solid athlete as well.   [caption id="attachment_12342" align="alignright" width="220"] Stevie McNew of Springs Valley[/caption] Springs Valley H.S. (French Lick, IN) The alma mater of “Larry Legend”, Springs Valley returns their top two players from a year ago, both double-figure scorers, and both members of their frontcourt. 6-0 2020 front-liner Jewel McCormick (14.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 55% FGs) could be a real diamond in the rough for a college program, because she has a wiry strong frame, she’s a solid athlete, and she seems to always be productive in and around the lane. 5-8 2019 forward Stevie McNew (10.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is a really nice compliment to McCormick, because she is most effective in the mid-post, and they can play a nice high-low game together. Stevie can hit an open 3, and she’s strong enough to post some as well. Sophomore Shakira Harford (1.6 ppg) and Senior Abby Kendall (0.2 ppg) played sparingly a year ago, so they’ll need one or both of them to step up this season to provide depth.   [caption id="attachment_12427" align="alignleft" width="225"] Jenna Blakley of University[/caption] University H.S. (Carmel, IN) While the backcourt for University is strong, the frontcourt might be even better. It all starts with 6-2 2020 forward Lindsey Syrek (18.5 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 4.0 bpg, 51% FGs). Lindsey is a tall, very long, fluid, and bouncy prospect who plays with a great deal of versatility. She can post some and has gotten much stronger and more physical inside, but she’s actually better facing the basket in the mid-post. While she’s not really a “newcomer”, 5-8 2019 forward Jhordan McGuire (5.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 64% FGs) only played in five games a year ago because she was recovering from a July 2017 injury. She is powerfully strong, physical, and an enforcer inside. Add to that 5-9 2019 forward Jenna Blakley (6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 17 made 3s), who is also strong and can battle inside, but she has the unique ability to stretch defenses with her perimeter shooting. She played for the Indianapolis Homeschool Trailblazers last season. 5-7 2019 forward Lucy Snyder (5.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 5-10 2020 forward Lilly Fair (2.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), and 5-8 2019 forward Hallie Harrison (1.0 ppg) return with good Varsity experience.   [caption id="attachment_11787" align="alignright" width="196"] Grace Waggoner of Rivet[/caption] Vincennes Rivet H.S. (Vincennes, IN) Rivet has a great opportunity to return to Banker’s Life Fieldhouse again this season, and if they do, it will likely be due in major part to their frontcourt. 5-11 do-everything Senior Grace Waggoner (20.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg) will be the heart and soul of this team once again. She is long, fluid, and athletic, she can handle the ball and run offense, hit shots outside, attack the basket, play in the mid-post, post inside, and she’s versatile defensively and plays with a great motor. She will need help though, and who better than 5-9 2020 forward Tia Tolbert (14.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.1 apg). Tolbert has some strength, but she’s more of a perimeter forward who can put it on the floor and attack, or she can hit shots from the perimeter. She’s a really heady ballplayer. 5-10 2019 forward Molly Niehaus (6.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg) also started for the Patriots a year ago, and she gives them a blue-collared presence who can post a little or play in the mid-post. I’m also anxious to see how far 6-2 2021 front-liner Lauren Carie (3.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg) has come since last season. She’s a tall, long, and fluid kid who can make plays athletically at times. 5-10 2020 wing Caroline Herman (4.6 ppg, 2.5 apg) and 6-0 2019 post Caitlin Creech (1.4 ppg) add to the frontcourt depth.   Also Heavily Considered Were: Cannelton Deaf School of Indiana Jac-Cen-Del Lanesville Trinity Lutheran West Washington   Header photo of Madeline Riley of Crothersville; photo courtesy of tribtown.com. Photo of Tayler Brewer courtesy of her ncsasports.org page. Photo of Sophia Nolan courtesy of heraldargus.com. Photo of Stevie McNew courtesy of gcdailyworld.com. Photo of Jenna Blakley courtesy of indyblazers.net. Photo of Grace Waggoner courtesy of courierpress.com.