Season Preview: Top Frontcourts
The featured image is of Emma Hoover Emma Hoover 5'10" | SF Northfield | 2021 State IN of Northfield High School. With the season having started last Monday, November 2nd, I wanted to continue with the season preview content, and…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Emma Hoover Emma Hoover 5'10" | SF Northfield | 2021 State IN of Northfield High School.
With the season having started last Monday, November 2nd, I wanted to continue with the season preview content, and what better way to continue than with some of the top frontcourts in the state. Recently, it seems like Indiana has started to see a bit more height from year to year, but in a state with such quality perimeter play, these forwards and posts have developed incredible skillsets to where they can play on the block, in the mid-post, and around the perimeter equally well. Below is a look at just a few of those groups, broken down into different categories.
Deepest Frontcourt: North Central (Indianapolis)
North Central might be the most talented team in the state, guards, wings, and front-liners in total. But the draw to this group is certainly its frontline, where they can match any team statewide with size, athleticism, and skill. The top returnee this year is 6-3 Senior forward
Meg Newman
Meg
Newman
6'3" | PF
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2021
State
#84
Nation
IN
. The Arizona State University commit is so dynamic as a face-up ’4’, that she can even push the ball in transition and initiate the offense. She has good touch, strength, and athleticism, and she can be absolutely dominant when she puts her mind to it. Her long-time running mate is Senior power forward
Nakaih Hunter
Nakaih
Hunter
5'11" | PF
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2021
State
IN
. Hunter is a strong, physical, and high-motor rebounder/defender type who always produces. She has come a long way skillfully over her career, and she has made herself a much more effective mid-post scorer. She is a double-double machine each night, and she has already committed to play at IUPUI. From there, the Panthers have a number of different options and some versatility. Sophomore wing
Ava Couch
Ava
Couch
5'10" | SF
Indy North Central | 2023
State
IN
put herself on the map a season ago, and the tough-nosed, strong, high-motor youngster is always around the ball. She can handle it a little, and she’s a very nice perimeter shooter if she gets set and has any space. Junior forward
Destinee Hooks
Destinee
Hooks
5'11" | PF
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2022
State
IN
also had a solid 2019-2020 campaign, and she looks to improve upon it this year. She has a strong, physical build, she’s a nice mid-post scorer who can rebound and defend the interior, plus she has touch from around the 3-point line and is a threat out there on every catch. Senior wing
Alivia Terry
Alivia
Terry
5'8" | SF
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2021
State
IN
has a great deal of Varsity experience with the Panthers, and she is another tough-nosed, high-motor, fairly athletic shooter who does a nice job of finding the ball and doing a lot of the “little things”. Junior forward Ramiah Elliott is one of the state’s best athletes, as she’s a National talent on the track in the Spring. On the hardwood, she is a more than capable defender, but she also has touch and skill from 15-feet to the arc. And if that isn’t enough, 6-4 Senior post
Dynasty Witherspoon
Dynasty
Witherspoon
6'4" | C
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2021
State
IN
is starting to figure it out and should contribute a lot more this season. She has broad shoulders, great length, and a little bounce to her. She also has nice touch in the mid-post. It will be difficult to get this group into foul trouble in 2020-2021.
Most Balanced Frontcourts: South Bend Washington & Northfield
When it comes to these two groups, specifically, I wasn’t sure whether the term “balanced” or “versatile” was more appropriate, because both teams have a little of both. When it comes to the Panthers of South Bend Washington, they aren’t overly deep, but man do they have talent and versatility throughout their lineup. The Reynolds sisters lead the way for this talented group. 6-2 Junior forward
Mila Reynolds
Mila
Reynolds
6'2" | PF
South Bend Washington | 2022
State
#32
Nation
IN
is a versatile ’3/4’ who can play anywhere on the floor. She can use her size and strength to post smaller defenders on the block, she’s an absolute mismatch if she gets it in the mid-post, but she can also handle it a little and knock down the occasional perimeter jumper. She has already committed to play at the University of Maryland in two years. Sophomore wing
Amiyah Reynolds
Amiyah
Reynolds
6'0" | PG
South Bend Washington | 2023
State
#35
Nation
IN
is another top National talent, and the long and smooth point forward is an absolute playmaker. Amiyah is almost too unselfish at times, but her ability at 6-0 to handle the ball and find teammates through small windows is impressive. One of the more improved players who continues to expand her game daily is 6-4 Senior post
Francisca Galicia
Francisca
Galicia
6'5" | C
South Bend Washington | 2021
State
IN
. Having almost no experience just a couple of years ago, Galicia is starting to draw college interest because of her skillful development. She has a fairly long but strong frame, and I’d expect her productivity to increase a great deal this season. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Junior forward Lauren Gillon. At just 5-5 or 5-6, she plays much taller than she is and will get in there and rebound or make hustle plays for her team.
The Lady Norse of Northfield might be from a Class 1A program, but they will be very competitive against all classes this season due to a quartet of Senior forwards who can all play at the next level. Wing Emma Hoover Emma Hoover 5'10" | SF Northfield | 2021 State IN acts as their primary ball-handler and takes on a point forward role for this team. She has great length, wiry strength, and fluid/smooth athleticism. She is also a capable perimeter shooter. Hoover has already committed to Trine University and is an absolute steal at that level. Maybe the most under-appreciated of this group is power forward Addi Baker Addi Baker 5'11" | PF Northfield | 2021 State IN . She has an athletic frame with some strength, she’s long and somewhat bouncy, but she plays extremely hard and with a lot more physicality than she might appear. She is always productive and can play near the 3-point line or with her back to the basket. She has already committed to play softball at Southern Illinois University. Forward Kyra Kennedy Kyra Kennedy 5'8" | SF Northfield | 2021 State IN returns to the fold after missing last season due to a knee injury. She has an athletic frame, length, and wiry strength, plus she moves well in all directions and plays with a ton of energy. She is extremely bouncy, fast, and just all-around explosive. She’ll make plays defensively, she rebounds it well, plus she can get to the rim with ease. Then there is wing Kearston Stout Kearston Stout 5'9" | SF Northfield | 2021 State IN . She is another long, wiry, very fluid athlete. She is a gliding attacker from the perimeter, but she also has some touch outside. She too plays with an outstanding motor, and she’s much more physical than her wiry frame might suggest. She’s a wildcard, because if you concentrate on two or all three of the above girls, she can hurt you in a big way. Stout has also already committed to Trine University.
Top Undersized Frontcourt: Northridge
I wanted to make note of the Lady Raiders, because in an article where we’re discussing height, they are playing an incredibly tough Class 4A schedule without really anyone at or over 6-0 tall, and with three of their key contributors under 5-10. Leading the way is Senior forward
Jaci Walker
Jaci
Walker
5'9" | PF
Northridge | 2021
State
IN
. She is a really nice athlete with a great motor, an athletically strong frame, and a nice toughness to her game. At 5-9 she plays like she’s about 6-0 tall, because she backs down from no one and constantly produces. Walker has committed to continue her career at Davenport University next season. 5-8 Senior wing
Makena Knepp
Makena
Knepp
5'8" | SF
Northridge | 2021
State
IN
is another really nice, highly productive kid who plays with a quiet toughness to her game. She is more of a smoother athlete and not overly explosive, but she can handle it a little and knock down open jumpers outside. 5-8 Sophomore wing
Eva Fisher
Eva
Fisher
5'8" | SG
Northridge | 2023
State
IN
is an absolute ball of fire. She has an incredible motor, nice athleticism in all directions, and she just looks faster than most players on the floor each time out. She handles the ball a lot for Northridge and plays sort of a point forward role for them, but as she starts to understand how to change speeds and pick her spots, she could be that much more dangerous as a scorer. 5-11 Junior wing
Julia Mantyla
Julia
Mantyla
5'11" | SF
Northridge | 2022
State
IN
has come a long way physically over the last couple of seasons. She looks taller and she’s playing much stronger and more physical. She is such a smooth and fluid athlete, and she has the ability to handle the ball at times, attack the basket for scores, or knock down perimeter jumpers consistently. Senior power forward Brylee Froman, Freshman forward
Gaby Gates
Gaby
Gates
5'11" | PF
Northridge | 2024
State
IN
, and Junior post Madyson Gorball all look to help up front this season. Gorball is the lone player at 6-0 exactly.
Top Young Frontcourt: Columbus East
The Olympians of Columbus East have a lot more depth than just these three prospects, but the Sophomore trio of Gabrielle Dean,
Saige Stahl
Saige
Stahl
6'1" | PF
Columbus East | 2023
State
IN
, and
Leah Bachmann
Leah
Bachmann
6'0" | C
Columbus East | 2023
State
IN
started their careers strong in 2019-2020 and look to only get better these next three seasons. The 6-4 Dean is more of a traditional post, and over the last couple of years she has really improved her skillset. She is very coordinated and athletic at her size, which has contributed to her drawing a lot of high-major volleyball interest/offers. On the basketball court, though, she is now effectively scoring it around the block, she’s starting to make shots more consistently in the mid-post, plus she’s a high-level shot-blocker and a capable rebounder. With strength will come more dominance, but long-term look for her to be playing volleyball in college. The 6-0 Stahl is a long, wiry strong, and somewhat bouncy power forward. She can play facing the basket in the mid-post or around the perimeter a little, and she has nice touch plus the ability to put it on the floor 1-2 dribbles and get somewhere productively. She’s an active rebounder who will pursue more than box out, and she can defend with some versatility as well. Stahl is also a nice volleyball prospect. Bachmann also comes in around 6-0, but she is more of the stronger, more physical, true power forward. She likes contact, she plays with a nice motor, and she can finish at the basket through contact. Her mid-post game is solid too, but the farther she expands her game, the better. She’s the one of the three who isn’t as focused on volleyball and will likely look at college basketball as a possibility. Regardless, these three together should be quite a handful for Olympian opponents the next couple of seasons.
Top Sleeper Frontcourts: Brownsburg & Westfield
I made mention of this in my breakdown of some of the top teams in Class 4A, but I feel like the Bulldogs have a really nice collection of frontline prospects, and if people underestimate them, they could be in for a lot of problems. 6-0 Senior
Leah Yarbrough
Leah
Yarbrough
6'0" | PF
Brownsburg | 2021
State
IN
moved in from Illinois last season, and she instantly added an athletic element that Brownsburg badly needed. She has an athletically strong frame, but she moves well in all directions and has some bounce to her. She is still more of the rebounder/defender type, but she has enough physical talent to make a big difference in her second year with the program. She committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago earlier this Fall. I think another player who could step up big this year is Junior power forward
Novalee Glass
Novalee
Glass
5'11" | PF
Brownsburg | 2022
State
IN
. She was very strong over the Summer, and she plays with an outstanding motor. She can be physical and enforce her will inside, but she also has a solid feel and some touch in the mid-post area of the floor. I would look for her to be a potential double-double threat most nights, depending on her playing time. Sophomore Quinci Thomas is a long, wiry strong, and very athletic volleyball kid who also showed a nice amount of skill and talent on the basketball court as a rookie. As she continues to get stronger, she could be a real problem for opponents because of her athleticism and solid motor. Junior forward
Ra’Mya Milton
Ra’Mya
Milton
5'9" | PF
Brownsburg | 2022
State
IN
is a little undersized at 5-8, but she is strong/powerful, she plays with a great motor, and she has some versatility as well. She can defend some wings, all forwards, and some posts, plus she has a nose for the ball. Senior
Allison Shaffer
Allison
Shaffer
6'1" | PF
Brownsburg | 2021
State
IN
has also flashed good potential with her length and fluid athleticism. She has some face-up skill to near the 3-point line, plus she can put it on the floor and attack the basket a little.
I also think as the Westfield Shamrocks continue to get healthy, they have the potential to be a dominant frontline group. Junior forward Alyssa Crockett Alyssa Crockett 6'3" | SF Westfield | 2022 State #62 Nation IN is the big talent here, and her ability to play a point forward role or dominate the mid-post is more than welcomed. She has a nice frame, good all-around athleticism, and she’s just so skilled as both a ball-handler and a shooter, that she’s a real handful at 6-2. I really look for 6-1 Junior forward Madison Kerrigan to step up this season. She has always shown nice potential, and this Summer she was very good and consistent. She has a wiry strong frame, good all-around athleticism, plus she possesses nice skill to play at all three levels effectively. 6-0 Senior post Gigi Eldredge Gigi Eldredge 6'0" | C Westfield | 2021 State IN returns to the lineup this year after missing her Junior season due to an injury. She is a strong, hard-working, physical kid who can play in the low-post or around the elbows equally well. She is a solid athlete, she seals and holds her spot in terms of posting up and rebounding, plus she’ll pursue rebounds outside of her area. Junior forward Hailey Remaks is a little undersized at about 5-7, but she is a hard-working, versatile player who can play some in the mid-post and a little around the perimeter as more of a wing. She brings a lot of value to the lineup with her hustle and quiet toughness. An exciting young prospect for the Shamrocks is Freshman power forward Kiarra Loveless. She is a long, wiry strong, and fairly athletic kid who works her tail off inside. She is more of a rebounder/defender type right now, but she has the athleticism to become a capable scorer with more skill work.
Under-Appreciated Frontcourt: Zionsville Community
To me, there is a difference between being a sleeper and being under-appreciated. Following a disappointing 6-17 season in 2019-2020, I think a number of people have sort of forgotten about the Eagles. However, last season they saw several younger players earn quality minutes, plus one of their best players returns to the lineup healthy. 6-0 Senior forward
Katey Richason
Katey
Richason
6'0" | PF
Zionsville Community | 2021
State
IN
missed much of her Junior season due to injuries, but she is back and ready to make quite the imprint on the 2020-2021 season. She is a strong, physical, high-motor power forward, but she has really nice touch outside, and she can handle it a little around the perimeter. She has committed to play at Miami University in Ohio. 6-1 Sophomore forward
Laila Hull
Laila
Hull
6'1" | PF
Zionsville | 2023
State
#49
Nation
IN
stepped up last year as a key scoring threat for Zionsville, and after a great Summer, she looks to be even more of an offensive presence this Winter. Hull is a talented athlete who can run and jump with anyone in the 2023 class. She has a wiry strong frame, and she has really worked to develop her face-up game from the perimeter, plus she can defend some wings as well. Fellow Sophomore, 6-0 power forward
Mallory Heerdt
Mallory
Heerdt
6'0" | PF
Zionsville | 2023
State
IN
, also saw significant opportunity last season. She is a strong, but skillful kid, who can play with her back to the basket, score it in the mid-post, and even occasionally step outside and knock down the 3-pointer. She plays with a good motor and nice physicality. Junior forward Mya Childress looks for a more expanded role this season, and she certainly has the talent to contribute. She is long, very bouncy, and somewhat fast. Her value right now is more as a defender and a rebounder, but her offensive game is coming along. Then there are twin 6-1 Freshmen Isabelle Poehlein and Sophia Poehlein. Both are long and wiry, both are fluidly athletic, but each contributes in a little different way. Isabelle is more physical and likes to play around the block and in the mid-post. She is a more traditional power forward. Sophia is a bit more fluid, and she has good touch to the 3-point line. She likes to play facing the basket in the mid-post or around the arc, plus she’ll attack off the bounce. I would anticipate the Eagles soaring above the .500 mark again this season.