Dynamic Duos in Class 2A

As I was reviewing the top Class 2A backcourts and frontcourts, I realized there were several really nice duos in this class who don’t necessarily qualify as either a backcourt or a frontcourt. Below is a look at a handful of duos consisting of a guard and a forward or post who should be impressive this season. These duos are arranged alphabetically by what school they attend.   [caption id="attachment_13024" align="alignright" width="205"] Erin Coffel of Bremen[/caption] Bremen H.S. (Bremen, IN) When you talk about true inside-out duos, there might not be one better in Class 2A than the combination of 6-1 2019 post Karlee Feldman (16.7 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 2.4 bpg) and 2020 guard Erin Coffel (12.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.8 apg). Feldman is a back-to-the-basket post who uses her physicality and good motor to put up tremendous stats on the interior. She was unfortunately injured at the end of the high school season and missed the grassroots tour this year, but she has already given a verbal commitment to Division-II Maryville in Saint Louis. Coffel is sort of a do-anything type of guard. She can handle it and run offense for them, she can score it off the bounce, and she’s a capable shooter. She’s also a very nice athlete who is a capable defender. She actually made a verbal commitment to Kentucky for softball during the Fall of her Freshman year.   [caption id="attachment_13025" align="alignleft" width="200"] Meleah Leatherman of Central Noble[/caption] Central Noble H.S. (Albion, IN) The Cougars have their own tremendous inside-out duo, and they’re probably the most talented pair on this list. I would be referring to 2019 point guard Sydney Freeman (17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 5.0 spg, 2.1 bpg, 60 made 3s) and 6-1 2019 forward Meleah Leatherman (14.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg). But with the amount of development Leatherman has shown around the perimeter, she’s more of a mid-post forward now than a true post. Meleah is long, very bouncy, and wiry strong. She plays with a good motor, and when she plays angry, she can be a nightmare for opponents. She has already committed to NAIA Saint Francis in Fort Wayne. Freeman might be the best pure half-court point guard in the state. She runs offense as well as anyone, hits teammates on-time and on-target, but she’s also long, very athletic, and she can knock down shots with range. She’s also very instinctive and can cause problems at the defensive end. She has verbally committed to Ball State.   [caption id="attachment_13026" align="alignright" width="209"] Addy Simpson of Crawford County[/caption] Crawford County H.S. (Marengo, IN) This next duo is a pair who I am sure very few people not on their schedule are familiar with, but they are definitely going to be troublesome for opponents this season. They are 5-8 guard Adalina “Addy” Simpson (16.8 ppg, 7.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.7 spg) and 5-8 2021 forward Treasure Nickelson (8.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 spg). Simpson has played a little travel ball in the past, but she hasn’t necessarily been a regular, so she remains somewhat hidden in the South. She has good length, athleticism, and wiry strength. She’s a tough-nosed kid who rebounds her position well, plus she can shoot / score when needed, or she can slide over and play point guard at times. Nickelson had a very nice Freshman season for CCHS, and she is a versatile forward who can get tough and physical inside, but she’s also effective in the mid-post and comfortable around the perimeter if need be. Both of these players are still uncommitted. [caption id="attachment_12687" align="alignleft" width="223"] Jordyn Barga of Monroe Central[/caption] Monroe Central H.S. (Parker City, IN) Monroe Central put together and impressive 25-1 season a year ago, and the combination of 5-3 guard Hannah Bolton (14.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.9 spg, 53 made 3s) and 6-0 forward Jordyn Barga (16.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.2 spg, 26 made 3s) was a big reason why. Bolton is a smallish guard, but she has very good quickness, she can handle it some and run point, but she’s also a nice perimeter shooter who you can run off of screens for scores. She is presently uncommitted. Barga is the coach’s daughter, and she plays like it with a good basketball IQ and feel, plus a really nice motor. She is a strong and physical forward who actually possesses some ball skill and the ability to knock down open jumpers at or near the 3-point line. She earned a spot on the 2018 Indiana Junior All-Star Team, and she has already verbally committed to play at Kentucky Wesleyan next year.   [caption id="attachment_12641" align="alignright" width="218"] Maddy Schumacher of North Judson[/caption] North Judson-San Pierre H.S. (North Judson, IN) Maybe the best Class 2A duo statistically comes from Northern Indiana, by way of 5-9 2021 wing Lilliann Frasure (21.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.4 apg, 4.3 spg) and 6-0 2019 forward Madeline Schumacher (17.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg). Frasure is one of the most well-rounded Sophomores in the state, as she can do a little of everything very well. She can score it at all levels, she finishes through contact inside, and she can hit shots outside. She can play a point forward position at times and run offense, and she plays with a tremendous motor all the time. Schumacher is one of the quietest, most unassuming kids, and then she just kills you with her skill and consistency. She can post some inside, she’s great in the mid-post, and she’s an accurate perimeter shooter who can also put it on the floor a little. Frasure is still uncommitted at this time, but Schumacher has verbally committed to NAIA IU-South Bend.   [caption id="attachment_13029" align="alignleft" width="217"] Kathryn Perry of Shenandoah[/caption] Shenandoah H.S. (Middletown, IN) Shenandoah has had a recent history of success, but in 2015-2016 they were 6-16 and in 2016-2017 they were just 5-18. Then a new coach and a pair of Freshmen helped lead them to a 17-7 season a year ago. All the Freshmen duo of 5-2 2021 point guard Kathryn Perry (18.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, 5.7 spg, 44 made 3s) and 5-8 2021 forward Erikka Hill (8.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.0 spg) did last season was lead them in points, assists, steals, and rebounds. I expect an encore…a three-year encore…of more of the same. Perry is a dynamic little guard, and while she isn’t very big, she plays huge. She is quick / fast, she can create shots, and she can run offense. Hill is a strong, tough-nosed kid, who is always willing to battle much bigger players. The two of them helped lead Shenandoah to the Sectional final as just Freshmen. Neither of them is committed anywhere as of yet, but coaches will soon take notice.   [caption id="attachment_13032" align="alignright" width="214"] Emy Duggins of Whitko[/caption] Whitko H.S. (South Whitley, IN) Lady Wildcat fans had to wait until the middle of the 2017-2018 season to get a look at the pair of 5-1 2019 point guard Emalee Duggins (10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.7 spg) and 5-9 2019 forward Ellie Snep (11.3 ppg, 15.8 rpg, 2.0 spg), as Duggins was injured early on and missed several games. But with them back and healthy, they should help lead Whitko to double-digit wins in their Senior campaign. Duggins is a shorter, but tough-nosed, feisty, and athletic lead guard. She has always been a solid on-ball defender and more of a set-up person, but now she’s scoring it much better. Snep is an inside-out forward who rebounded the ball exceptionally last season, and she has the touch to hit the 18-footer consistently, but she is starting to stretch her range to the 3-point line. Both are big softball players, so they’ve not been seen on the grassroots circuit, but they are nice small college prospects in basketball as well.   Header photo of the original Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin; photo courtesy of pureoffices.co.uk. Photo of Erin Coffel courtesy of inkfreenews.com. Photo of Meleah Leatherman courtesy of journalgazette.net. Photo of Addy Simpson courtesy of Wade Bell's Twitter account. Photo of Jordyn Barga courtesy of winchesternewsgazette.com. Photo of Maddy Schumacher courtesy of the Indiana's Best Twitter account. Photo of Kathryn Perry courtesy of heraldbulletin.com. Photo of Emalee Duggins courtesy of inkfreenews.com.