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Chloe Spreen wanted to be the best. Now, the BNL star is 2024 IndyStar Miss Basketball.
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- Chloe Spreen wanted to be the best. Now, the BNL star is 2024 IndyStar Miss Basketball.
BEDFORD — Chloe Spreen first started playing basketball as a second grader, but it wasn't until fourth or fifth grade that she began taking it more seriously. She even remembers the precise moment when the switch was flipped: When her team lost twice at the county tournament. The youngster was "torn apart."
"It was so much more than basketball. It changed my mentality," Spreen said. "I was like, 'Alright, I'm going to be the best one out here now.' … I just wanted to be the best one and I wanted to win."
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Spreen's recruitment and national profile grew rapidly as she rose through the middle school ranks, serving as further motivation for the Bedford North Lawrence senior, who recalls drawing influence from Jenna Allen, Dominique McBryde and Alexa Bailey as they won back-to-back state championships in 2013-14, then 2019 Miss Basketball Jorie Allen. Spreen recalled one particular game involving Jorie Allen during which the 6-0 center "kept getting beat up, but just kept going."
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2024 IndyStar Miss Basketball Chloe Spreen poses for a photo with Jenna Allen, Bedford North Lawrence coach Jeff Allen's oldest daughter, after the Stars' 2013 regional championship.
"That was so inspiring to see as a young girl," Spreen said. "And now I'm out there getting triple-teamed and beat up just like her."
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Spreen wanted to be the best, in part a byproduct of Bedford North Lawrence girls basketball program, where most BNL players' love for the game is rooted, coach Jeff Allen observed. They see the program's success and it gives them "that drive." They want to be part of it, to experience it. They want to be involved.
"That's why (winning state) last year meant so much," added Spreen, now a senior Alabama commit. "The Bedford community loves basketball and all you want to do is go on the court and play in front of them."
That tradition is well-documented inside BNL Fieldhouse with banners honoring those teams and individuals prominently displayed above Damon Bailey Court. And now Spreen — who led the Stars to 93 wins, four sectional titles and its first state championship since 2014 during her four-year tenure — will have her name immortalized alongside the players she grew up idolizing.
Chloe Spreen has been crowned 2024 IndyStar Miss Basketball, presented by the Indiana Fever .
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"It feels great. I'm just so wowed right now and so thankful to even have this opportunity to wear this jersey," said Spreen, who burst into tears as she was presented the jersey in front of the Miss Basketball display at Bedford North Lawrence High School on Friday. "I definitely couldn't have done it without my family, teammates and coaches who've supported me through everything. To wear this jersey is going to be a great feeling, but I definitely couldn't have done it without them.
2024 IndyStar Miss Basketball Chloe Spreen of Bedford North Lawrence
The 5-10 guard/forward received 117 votes from the state's coaches and media for the top senior basketball player award, out-pacing Fort Wayne Snider's Jordyn Poole (71 votes), Noblesville's Reagan Wilson (57), Jennings County's Juliann Woodard (33) and Indian Creek's Faith Wiseman (14).
Spreen is BNL's third Miss Basketball, joining Jorie Allen (2019) and Marla Inman (1992). The Stars' three Miss Basketball recipients are tied with Warsaw for the most since the award was established in 1976.
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"Chloe's like a daughter to me," Jeff Allen said of Spreen, who finished her career with 1,869 points, 633 rebounds, 259 assists, 200 steals and 62 blocks.
"She's been a pleasure to be around, a pleasure to coach and it's been a pleasure to watch her have success. I can't wait to watch her as she goes into the future."
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"Watching them win state in 2013 and 2014 and looking up to that as a little girl, it was like, I want to be there. That's why last year meant so much to me. The community loves basketball and all you want to do is go on that court and play for Bedford."
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— Chloe Spreen
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Considering the circumstances and the foul in question, it would have been understandable if Spreen were tearfully frustrated when a "tough call" brought an unceremonious end to her prolific performance at last year's Class 4A state championship game (20 points on 9-of-14 shooting; 14 points in the second half). But No. 2 experienced no nerves, no feelings of unease as she returned to the bench after scoring eight straight to give the Stars a one-point lead with 1:50 remaining. "I knew we were going to win somehow."
Bedford North Lawrence's run to Gainbridge Fieldhouse provided a platform for Spreen to demonstrate her development in year three and jump started her Miss Basketball campaign.
Bedford North Lawrence Star Chloe Spreen (2) shoots aa free throw Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, during the 4A semistate game at Southport High School in Indianapolis. Bedford North Lawrence defeated Center Grove, 50-43, advancing to semistate finals.
Spreen was very good as a freshman and sophomore (back-to-back regional runner-up finishes). She was great as a junior, averaging 19 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals, and — with help from her cousin, Bedford North Lawrence assistant coach Chase Spreen — made massive gains as a 3-point shooter, converting a career-best 32-of-85 attempts (38%).
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That sort of jump is typical of players between their second and third seasons, Allen said at the time , and Spreen was at her best in mid-to-late February, totaling 84 points and shooting 45% from regionals through the state final. Her best performance came in the 4A semifinals vs. Lawrence North: 26 points (8-of-17 FG), five rebounds, three assists and a steal.
"Chloe was so good. She just took over," Allen said. When the Wildcats assigned a forward to Spreen, she attacked from the perimeter; when they switched to a guard, she posted up inside. "She did whatever we needed her to and showed us she was the best player in the state."
Ask her coaches and they'll tell you Spreen's maturation, her composure within those pressure packed moments, was perhaps most impressive. A long-time point of emphasis between her and Chase, she recognized how her reactions could influence the team and focused on maintaining a level-head.
To wit, Allen and Chase recall Spreen standing for the final 90 seconds of last year's state final. She was fully engaged, cheering on her teammates and exuding confidence from the bench.
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Said Chase: "That's the maturation process she underwent and I think that's pretty special."
Bedford North Lawrence Stars yell in excitement after defeating the Fishers Tigers for the IHSAA Class 4A girls basketball state finals championship Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Chloe was in tears. The youngster was working through a five-spot shooting drill with Chase, but was struggling to hit from the fifth spot. She was ready to give up, but Chase wouldn't let her. You can finish it, he stubbornly repeated as Chloe continued sobbing.
"It might have taken an hour, but I ended up finishing it," Chloe laughed. "He's been there for me throughout high school and has grown my game a lot."
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Bedford North Lawrence Chloe Spreen (2) looks for an open base ling as Bedford North Lawrence takes on Center Grove High School in the Girls Class 4A IHSAA Region 7 basketball championship, Feb 10, 2024; Bedford, IN, USA; at Bedford North Lawrence High School.
Chase recalled a conversation with Chloe at the Bedford Middle School gym when she was an eighth grader. She was already beginning to receive Division I interest and would soon crack ESPN's rankings among the nation's top incoming freshmen. It all served as further motivation for the rising star, but Chase cautioned her that high school would be significantly harder than she expected, preparing her for the pressure that comes with such lofty expectations.
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There were moments early in Chloe's career when those pressures seemed to gnaw at her, Chase said, but as she matured, she proved capable of handling things better than anyone could have imagined.
"A lot of people expected her to conquer the world in four years and in essence, she has," Chase continued. "She's won a state championship, scored close to 2,000 points and was part of some great teams. … It's been pretty special to watch."
This season presented a unique set of challenges with Spreen as one of only two returners with significant varsity experience. She admits she found herself subjected to more junk defenses than expected and yet, it did little to slow her production. In fact, it was a career-year for Spreen, who reset her career-highs in scoring (20.4 points per game) and rebounding (6.9), while maintaining an average of 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Spreen is a team-first kid, Allen said, calling her the hardest working player he's ever been around and praising her dedication to becoming a better passer in 2023-24. To his point, the senior registered eight assists in a rout of Columbus East and notched seven in a two-point loss to Castle. "She made us better," Allen said.
2024 IndyStar Miss Basketball Chloe Spreen of Bedford North Lawrence
Chase recalls Chloe huddling her teammates together on the floor and calming them down at various points throughout the season, and her composure lifted the Stars to a number of close victories. She scored 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting to beat Floyd Central by four, and went for 23 points in a dramatic 51-50 win over Class A power North Knox.
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She was equally influential at practice, setting the example through hard work, while also "bringing light" to the day's proceedings with her sense of humor and infectious personality.
After posing for a couple photos with Allen on Friday, Spreen shared a moment with her parents before being swarmed by her teammates, joyfully embracing them as they celebrated in the mezzanine.
"I'm just super blessed and grateful to have grown up around here," Spreen said. "Making history here, especially with the best coaching staff ever — I wouldn't trade it for anything. … We're all one big family and I think that's what makes it so special. We all care about each other. To be a part of this program for four years has been really special."
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2024 Indiana Miss Basketball winner is BNL star Chloe Spreen
