Dynamic Duos in Class 2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 SG [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'] &amp; 2026 PF [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] (Kuemper Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kuemper was upset in the substate final last season by Union, but they are once again loaded with talent, headlined by this tandem of inside-out weapons. Badding is one of the state's elite shooters, a dynamic shooter who shoots it at a high level off the dribble and the catch. Clair is a dominant interior player on both ends of the floor, averaging 15 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 66% shooting. He finishes really well around the rim, can occasionally step out and space the floor, and is a good weapon in the two-man game with Badding, [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'], [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'], or [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 SF [player_tooltip player_id='2287857' first='Brayden' last='Hoben'] &amp; 2026 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2413533' first='Jameson' last='Scharnberg'] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This tandem combined to average 32.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2.2 blocks (all Hoben) last season, and that was as the second and third scorers for the team. They'll be the two go-to options this season, and their games complement each other well. Hoben is a long, bouncy 6-5/6-6 wing who can score inside and out, protect the rim, and control the glass. With his size, he's also a skilled playmaker who can see over the defense, dishing out 4.6 assists a game. Scharnberg is a talented shooter who buried just under 39% of his 3-point attempts, and he's adept shooting it off the dribble and the catch. He's a shifty guard with great handles and vision. He and Hoben are going to give opposing teams headaches all year long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 SF [player_tooltip player_id='2865349' first='Bryer' last='Putman'] &amp; 2027 SG [player_tooltip player_id='2419764' first='Oaklan' last='Jirak'] (Wilton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the highest scoring tandems in the state, Putman and Jirak combined to average 41.6 points, 19.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.9 steals, and 4.3 blocks per game last season, both stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis for the Beavers. Putman is one of the top two-way players in the class, a high-level athlete with strength, physicality, and finesse, while Jirak is a talented shooter and three-level scorer who posted 48-37-73 shooting splits last season. They are going to put up huge numbers again, and if Wilton can improve as a team defensively, they could be formidable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] &amp; 2026 PF [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'] (Treynor)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lovely is one of the most dynamic playmakers in 2A, a skilled guard with tight handles, great footwork, and the ability to shoot it at a high level off the dribble. He sees the floor really well and is an active defender with great lateral movement and quick hands. He has a pair of talented classmates alongside him, but for purposes of this article, Thien is his running mate with the complementary game in ball-screen actions. A big man with soft hands, good touch, and the ability to play in a two-man game with Lovely, this tandem will be a nightmare for opposing teams in 2A this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2413578' first='Dylan' last='Bosma'] &amp; 2026 CG [player_tooltip player_id='2413600' first='Austin' last='Wieringa'] (Unity Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights are going to be one of the best teams in the class this season, led by Bosma and the return of Wieringa, who missed last season with a knee injury. This tandem was fantastic as sophomores, leading the Knights to the 2A semifinals, and with Wieringa back in the backcourt alongside Bosma, they'll have a real chance at winning it all this season. Both are tough, athletic guards who can create shots for themselves and their teammates off the dribble, shoot it from the 3-point line, and both are great on-ball defenders. This is really a dynamic quartet with [player_tooltip player_id='2419800' first='Tyce' last='Van Donge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2407223' first='Keagen' last='Winterfeld'], an inside-out tandem of juniors, but it'll be Bosma and Wieringa who are the catalysts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->