Two of the Texas Panhandle’s most decorated high school basketball players make a homecoming of sorts when Lubbock Christian takes the court for a doubleheader Lone Star Conference showdown at West Texas A&M starting 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Canadian graduate Cameron Copley and Nazareth grad Allie Schulte have transitioned their stellar high school careers to the college level, as both are now lynchpins for their respective teams success.
Copley engineers Chaps offense
Canadian graduate and Lubbock Christian guard Cameron Copley fires a 3-pointer during a game earlier this season. [Photo by LCU athletics]
Since playing for his father, Andy, at Canadian, Copley has always taken on a pivotal role. Copley was asked to handle the ball, be a shut down defender, and was given free reign to be the Wildcats leading scorer.
Though he stands at only 5-foot-9, Copley’s hustle, and gritty style helped Canadian to the boys basketball program’s first two state basketball championships in school history in 2014-2015.
Copley has been able to transition his game to the college level, becoming LCU’s floor general for ninth-year head coach Todd Duncan.
“Cameron is usually a play ahead of everyone else,” Duncan said. “He’s good at looking off the defense, and he loves to create. It’s rare, so many guys want to shoot. He’s extremely unselfish and wants to win. That’s the only selfish part about him.”
The redshirt sophomore knew at the college level scoring wasn’t going to be his forte. It was going for loose balls, taking charges, or being that true point guard that could get him on the floor.
Thanks to those intangibles, Copley has become the main distributor as the starting point guard for the Chaparrals.
Through 14 games this season, Copley‘s ability to see the floor has him dishing out 5.7 assists per game, which ranks second among the LSC.
“I never had the experience of playing these type of guys in high school,” Copley said. “I understood what playing college basketball was going to be like, and what it was going to take to be successful. We have some excellent scorers, and getting those guys the ball helps our team.”
He’s also seen his playing time increase this year. Copley is averaging 32 minutes a game, which does give him the option of shooting more when the opportunity arises.
Copley has taken advantage of his scoring chance, averaging 10 points a contest.
“We trust him and believe in him,” Duncan said. “He’s tough and has grit. You always get his best effort. We believe in his decision making and taking the right shots.”
Schulte’s game has taken a scoring step
Nazareth graduate and LCU guard Allie Schulte goes up for a shot over a Texas Woman’s defender during a game earlier this season. [Photo by LCU athletics]
Allie Schulte was destined to be a winner.
Schulte’s lineage proves it with her mother, Ramona (Heiman) Schulte, who helped lead Nazareth to two state championships from 1983-1986.
Schulte followed in her legendary mothers footsteps, winning three state titles at Nazareth in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Schulte was also named a two-time state tournament MVP during that run in 2015 and 2017.
Schulte’s only gotten better over the past three years playing for an LCU program that’s won two NCAA Division II national championships since 2015.
From rarely seeing the floor as a freshman, the unselfish guard became a key cog during the Lady Chaps run to their second national title last season.
Schulte went from barely playing off the bench, to starting and averaging 10.6 points a game during LCU’s title run.
Now a junior, she’s one of the team leaders on a roster full of Texas Panhandle talent.
“I think i’ve improved a lot,” Schulte said. “Especially with my confidence. Everyone is good at this level. Everyone on our team is really good. So practicing with that everyday makes you that much better.”
Schulte’s character in high school was to get everyone involved in the offense. However, she’s now looked upon as a scorer, and asked to make more of an impact when she gets an open look.
Nazareth coach Eric Schilling, a mentor to Schulte, has noticed that change to her game.
“She’s not afraid to shoot the ball,” Schilling said. “She knew in high school how to make others better she needed to share the ball. I feel now she has those type players around her, she’s able to take take really good shots. That’s her biggest changes.”
Through 15 games this season, Schulte has shined scoring the basketball. The 5-foot-10 versatile Schulte is second on the team, averaging 12.6 ppg, while knocking down 47 percent of her shots.
“Since I’ve been at LCU taking more shots has been a common theme,” Schulte said. “I didn’t really look to do that In high school. But In college It’s been asked of me. I’ve adjusted to it, and knowing I needed to shoot to help my team has helped me get better at it.”