Top Frontcourts in Class 3A

During the 2018-2019 season, Class 3A should provide us with the opportunity to watch several really nice frontcourts, and they happen to be spread throughout different parts of the state. We have focused the selection of the Top-5 frontcourts on their two best forwards / posts, then considered their depth, plus 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_14494" align="alignright" width="212"] Meredith Raley of Gibson Southern[/caption] Gibson Southern H.S. (Fort Branch, IN) I realize Gibson Southern was 19-5 last season, but I still think they will sneak up on people and be one of the top teams in the state over the next couple of seasons, and a lot of that revolves around their frontcourt. 5-10 2019 forward Tabby Klem is the ring-leader of this group. She’s a tough-nosed forward with good skill, and a nice jump-shot with range to the 3-point line. 5-10 2020 power forward Meredith Raley is a high-motor forward who has really improved her strength and physicality. She has good face-up skill in the mid-post, but she can finish in the low-post as well. 5-9 2021 forward Kami Miller is another versatile forward who can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter. She has really good length, she’s a fairly fluid athlete, and she plays with a good motor. The wildcard is 6-1 2022 power forward Taylor Singer. She has size, power, and physicality, she is a great athlete in all directions, and she’s starting to show signs of both a face-up game and finishing moves around the basket. She could work her way into major minutes early on. 5-8 2020 forward Brooke Goedde also returns with a lot of experience and versatility, and she’ll provide quality depth for the Titans.   [caption id="attachment_14495" align="alignleft" width="282"] Ra'Shaya Kyle of Marion[/caption] Marion H.S. (Marion, IN) Marion’s success this season will revolve around a pair of nice frontline prospects. 6-6 2020 post Ra’Shaya Kyle (15.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.4 bpg) is the big draw as far as college programs are concerned. She has good size, great length, and wiry strength. She’s obviously comfortable around the block, but she also has some face-up skill in the mid-post. And she’s a very good athlete for a post player. Her partner up front is 6-0 2019 forward Jazmyn Turner (15.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg), a long and very athletic forward who plays all over the floor. She can run and jump with the best of them, she’s a good pursuing rebounder, and she’s a versatile defender. 5-7 2019 post Ayanna Harvey (3.1 ppg) has multiple years of Varsity experience, and she can provide another physical presence. 5-8 2019 forward Leilanu Jackson (2.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and 5-8 2021 forward Ashanti Cardine should provide additional frontcourt depth for the Giants.   [caption id="attachment_14498" align="alignright" width="198"] Stephanie Burns of Northwestern[/caption] Northwestern H.S. (Kokomo, IN) Northwestern has three talented front-liners who create many different types of mismatches on a given night, and they are what will make Northwestern the heavy favorite to repeat as Class 3A State Champions. 6-1 2020 wing Madison Layden (18.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 4.1 spg, 70 made 3s) is a unique blend of size, skill, and savvy. She handles the ball a lot for them, she can hit the perimeter jumper, she’s good in the mid-post, and she can take smaller defenders to the block. She committed earlier this week to Purdue. 6-1 2020 post Kendall Bostic (15.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.0 spg, 2.2 bpg) is a strong, physical kid, who causes mismatches because she has a tremendous motor and outworks everyone on the floor. Now she’s starting to stretch defenses with an improved jump-shot. She has multiple Big Ten offers. 6-0 2019 power forward Stephanie Burns (5.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg) is kind of the unsung hero. She is long, bouncy, and athletic, and she also plays with a good motor. She’s a capable back-to-the-basket player, but she’s better in the mid-post facing the rim. Beyond those three, there are a couple of other nice players who have good Varsity experience. 5-6 2019 forward Novalei Loer, 5-7 2020 forward Sarah Heaver, and 5-8 2019 forward Allison Miller should provide solid depth.   [caption id="attachment_14499" align="alignleft" width="207"] Taylor Browning of Rushville[/caption] Rushville Consolidated H.S. (Rushville, IN) I would expect to see Rushville get back to their winning ways this time around, and a lot of that will have to do with the play of their frontline. 5-11 2019 power forward Taylor Browning (13.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) is an active player who has very good strength and the ability to finish with either hand around the basket. But, she’s also capable of scoring it in the mid-post as well. 5-8 2020 forward Tori Campbell (11.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 spg, 46 made 3s) stepped up last year and became a nice scoring threat. She has good length, wiry strength, and she can play in the mid-post or knock down shots consistently around the perimeter. 5-8 2019 forward Allie Smith (9.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.7 apg) is very unique, because she has the strength to play physically in the mid-post or even around the block, but she also has ball skill and can run offense, plus she’s capable of knocking down open jumpers. 5-7 2020 power forward Isabella Runnebohm (6.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is very similar to Browning, just in a shorter package. She prefers to operate around the block and out-hustle people, but she can play in the mid-post as well. The wildcard for the Lions will be the continued development of 6-2 2020 post Kourtney Ash. With her size and length, she could provide them with another option, a mismatch against most opponents, and make their frontcourt complete.   [caption id="attachment_11531" align="alignright" width="200"] Alison Hein of Vincennes Lincoln[/caption] Vincennes Lincoln H.S. (Vincennes, IN) Sporting one of the most unique nicknames, the Alices should be very competitive in Class 3A this season, and they’ll likely do so because of their frontline. The headliner here is 6-0 2019 power forward Alison Hein (13.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 bpg). Alison has good length, she’s a solid athlete in all directions, but she’s also a skillful kid who can post smaller defenders and abuse them on the block, or she can step out and knock down the 18-footer consistently. She’s very intelligent and plays with a good motor as well. 6-0 2021 power forward Maycee Lange (10.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg) had a very nice introductory season on Varsity last year as a Freshman. She’s another high-energy forward with good strength, and she has a lot of versatility as well. She’s a very good athlete and can score in the mid-post or around the block, but she uses her bounciness a little more than her power right now. From there it gets a little thin, as the Alices played a total of seven Seniors last season. I’d anticipate 5-10 2019 power forward Victoria Jackson and 5-8 forward Sierra Helderman to provide initial depth up front, then they’ll turn to some quality younger players entering their first year of Varsity action.   Also Heavily Considered Were: Batesville Greencastle Indian Creek Mishawaka Marian Mississinewa South Bend Washington   Header photo of Madison Layden (#33) and Kendall Bostic (#44) of Northwestern H.S.; photo courtesy of kokomotribune.com. Photo of Meredith Raley courtesy of Gibson Southern's Hudl account. Photo of Ra'Shaya Kyle courtesy of grantcountysportsnetwork.com. Photo of Stephanie Burns courtesy of kokomotribune.com. Photo of Taylor Browning courtesy of tribtown.com. Photo of Alison Hein courtesy of Jeff Hein's Twitter account.