Top Frontcourts in Class 2A

You don’t often find a lot of size in Indiana in Class 2A either, 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_12886" align="alignright" width="207"] Tori Combs of Cloverdale[/caption] Cloverdale H.S. (Cloverdale, IN) Cloverdale has one of the best frontline duos in 2019 post Tori Combs (14.0 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 3.4 spg, 2.7 bpg) and 2020 forward Samantha Shrum (12.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.9 spg). Combs can dominate the block at times, she’s a good interior passer, and she’s an aggressive rebounder. But, she also has the flexibility and versatility to play some in the mid-post. She is just so active that she affects the game in so many different ways. Shrum is more of a mid-post to perimeter forward. She is a solidly built athlete who can put it on the floor and attack, she can hit the occasional perimeter jumper, and she always plays with a great motor. 2020 power forward Lakkain Price (3.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg) just adds another solid interior player who is willing to play physical, rebound, and defend either posts or forwards. 2020 forward Madison Shoemaker (1.9 ppg) and 2019 post Kaylyn Couch (0.3 ppg) add depth and experience to an already strong frontcourt.   [caption id="attachment_12887" align="alignleft" width="211"] Kaela Robey of Oak Hill[/caption] Oak Hill H.S. (Converse, IN) Oak Hill isn’t overly deep up front, but their starting frontcourt is outstanding. 6-1 2020 post Taylor Westgate (13.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg) can take over games at times and be dominant, but she doesn’t have to on such a balanced team. She is strong, powerful, but she’s also skilled to about 15-feet. She has already drawn a lot of Division-I and Division-II interest to this point. 6-0 2019 forward Adrianna Trexler (7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) is one of the more versatile, intriguing prospects in the 2019 class. She has tremendous length, fluid athleticism, and she can do whatever is needed. She’ll handle the ball and initiate offense, she can hit open jumpers to the 3-point line, and she can play inside. She has already committed to Indiana Wesleyan. 2019 forward Kaela Robey (9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) might be a little undersized for how she plays, but she has a tremendous motor and is one of those “glue” kids who just helps you win games. She’s a solid athlete, a good rebounder, and a feisty, versatile defender. Any and all depth comes from a set of 2019 twins. Forward Andrea Wilk and post Marissa Wilk both bring good size at 6-0, and as Seniors they should add quality experience off the bench.   [caption id="attachment_12890" align="alignright" width="221"] Jacqlyn Rice of Paoli[/caption] Paoli H.S. (Paoli, IN) Paoli is another team with very little depth but really nice talent in the starting lineup. 2019 forward Jacqlyn Rice (13.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) is a plug-and-play kid because she does so many different things for this team. First, she is strong, physical, and tough. She can play inside around the block and move smaller defenders. Second, she is also skilled. She can play facing the basket to near the 3-point line, but she’s better in the mid-post. She is a willing passer and a pursuing rebounder as well. Her partner up front is 2019 forward Keaton Chastain (14.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Keaton has wiry strength herself, but she’s more of a long, fluid, slashing style of forward. A lot of the time she starts around the perimeter, but she’s looking to drive it or hit the mid-range jumper. She is probably a better pure scorer, especially in the mid-post. The two of them together can absolutely frustrate opponents. 2019 forward Isabella Brewster is the top reserve for them. She is another nice mid-post forward who can play physically inside some or hit the mid-range jumper. Any depth will likely come from 2020 forwards Audrey Blankenbaker and Sierra Manship.   [caption id="attachment_12891" align="alignleft" width="300"] Rylie Stephens (#32) of Triton Central[/caption] Triton Central H.S. (Fairland, IN) While the backcourt for Triton Central is good, the starting frontcourt can become dominant. 2021 forward Tenleigh Phelps (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) had a nice welcoming last season, as she led the Tigers in scoring as a Freshman. She is a strong, rugged, and tough forward who possesses a solid handle and a soft lefty touch. She is great in the mid-post, but she’s also effective on the block or around the perimeter…a true inside-out forward. 6-1 2021 post Bailey Stamper (3.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg) also saw some action as a Freshman last year. She is a true back-to-the-basket post who has gotten stronger and more comfortable around the block. As she continues to become more instinctive on the catch, look for her to approach double figures a lot more often. The wildcard, and probably the most talented player in their frontcourt, is 2020 small forward Rylie Stephens (3.5 ppg). Rylie transferred in from Shelbyville last year, and because of limited eligibility, she didn’t play until the state tournament. By that point, she only played in a limited capacity to not disrupt their rotation. But look for her to start and likely score in the teens this season, as she’s a long, athletic, and skilled wing who can post smaller defenders, drive to the rim and finish, or knock down open jumpers at all levels. She has drawn some Division-I interest since the Summer. Depth would likely come from 2020 forward Jaime Pyle (2.3 ppg) or 2019 front-liner Ryleigh McAllister (1.2 ppg).   [caption id="attachment_10342" align="alignright" width="212"] Kira Robinson of Winchester[/caption] Winchester Community H.S. (Winchester, IN) And then there’s Winchester. Their frontline is constructed so much differently than anyone else in Class 2A, that now it just comes down to the status of two injured players. 6-0 2020 forward Madeline Lawrence (19.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 6.8 apg, 4.2 spg, 1.6 bpg) was one of the more dominant players in Class 2A last season, but she injured her knee during the State Finals. It’s not the first time she’s injured that knee, and while she might play at some point this season, her start time is still up in the air. When healthy, she can take over games because she’s skilled with the ball, she can attack off the dribble, create for others, but she’s also strong enough to post smaller defenders. 6-0 2019 forward Shelby Miller (12.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.8 bpg) had a good season going, then she injured her knee during the Regional round. She came back to play on a torn ACL in the State Finals and performed admirably, but she was noticeably hurt. From what I understand, her timeline is shorter, and she should be on the floor early this season. She is a long, fluid, smooth athlete who is great in the mid-post, but she can also knock down the occasional 3-pointer. Oh, did I mention, they still have 6-3 2019 post Kira Robinson (10.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.6 bpg) and 6-3 2020 post Ara Cowper? Robinson is such a presence defensively, and she probably alters twice as many shots as she blocks. She is incredibly long, she runs North / South fairly well, and she’s starting to score it a lot better around the block. Cowper is a bench player, and while she’s still a little raw offensively, she does create a presence inside as well and alters shots.   Also Heavily Considered Were: Evansville Mater Dei Perry Central Wabash Wapahani   Header photo of Madeline Lawrence of Winchester; photo courtesy of pressroompass.com. Photo of Tori Combs courtesy of bannergraphic.com. Photo of Kaela Robey courtesy of grantcountysportsnetwork.com. Photo of Jacqlyn Rice courtesy of tmnews.com. Photo of Rylie Stephens courtesy of shelbynews.com. Photo of Kira Robinson courtesy of tmnews.com.