BC Hoops Sloan Intro
Chicagoland High School Hoops
Here was one of my New Year’s Resolutions: Write more, especially about hoops. So, let’s get started. First, a quick explanation on BC Hoops Sloan. BC stands for B-Cubed. B-Cubed represents “Brick by Brick” which essentially means that to build something all you have to do is do one thing, a small amount, at a time no matter how fast or how slow, just keep laying or stacking bricks. If you keep doing that over and over, then you will build something bigger than you ever could have imagined. From a basketball perspective, you can develop into that player you are striving to become. Brick by Brick is kind of a personal mantra-coaching philosophy. “Hoops” is the main topic. NBA, WNBA, High School, College MBB and WBB, Coaching Philosophy, X’s and O’s, I follow all of it, but somehow NBA Draft/Player Development and Girls High School Hoops have climbed to the top. Lastly, “Sloan” is a nickname I got in high school from a player older than me who showed me how hard you have to work at something to be good at it, to be really good. Now that we got the introduction out of the way, let’s get into it.
On paper before the basketball season even began there were great expectations that this high school basketball season in the Chicagoland Area would be special. Epic was the word I used back in October. Five seniors in the area are committed to play college basketball in the Big Ten. That is unprecedented. Eight players in Illinois are ranked in the ESPN Top 100 for the Class of 2023 Recruiting Class (See Below) and that list somehow did not include the reigning Illinois Player of the Year, Sophie Swanson from Barrington, who led her team to the state championship game last season. Coming off a historic 2021-2022 season in its own right as two Lake County schools, Carmel (3A) and Stevenson (4A), brought home state titles, the 2022-2023 high school basketball season in the Chicagoland Area moved up the ladder on my list of basketball interests. And I follow a lot of basketball. Yes, I made the trip to Illinois State University (Normal, IL) last season to watch the games for the first time and I have already booked my hotel room for March. [I made sure to include that in this first post because I am proud of myself for thinking ahead.]
Here are the 5 players going to Big Ten schools next year from the area + 2 players that are going to Missouri + Lisa Thompson, Janae Kent, Alyssa Latham and Jasmine Brown. A ridiculously loaded class, and it does not end there as there are a number of other Division I players from the area.
Hersey – Katy Eidle (Michigan)
Libertyville – Emily Fisher (Maryland)
Carmel – Jordan Wood (Michigan State)
Barrington – Sophie Swanson (Purdue)
Benet – Lenee Beaumont (Indiana)
+ 2 players from Illinois that have committed to Missouri:
Whitney Young - Skylar Jones (Missouri)
Quincy Notre Dame - Abbey Schreacke (Missouri)
All seven of the aforementioned players, play on teams that have state championship aspirations this season which is a reason I find this season to be so fascinating. As I mentioned earlier, the NBA and Girls’ High School Basketball are tops on my list and I believe they are more relatable than people might think. The NBA is considered to be a ‘Superstar League’ — and what has historically been proven true is that you cannot win a championship without a superstar. The 2004 Detroit Pistons is the lone example. Nobody likes team basketball or preaches the importance of team basketball more than me, but great teams have great players who can elevate their games to lead their teams to higher levels. That is the top theme for what this 2022-23 Girls’ High School Basketball season is to me — getting the most out of your best players. More than two months into the season, those seven teams have given everyone to believe that state title aspirations are achievable dreams. Quincy Notre Dame is looking to repeat at the 2A level. Carmel is looking to repeat at the 3A level. Barrington knocked on the door last season but lost in the state championship game to Stevenson. And Benet lost in the semifinals last season to Stevenson in a tight one. All three of these teams that made the Final Four last season will be in the hunt again in March.
When I started following the high school basketball scene in the Chicagoland area, my radius was very small in terms of schools that I saw play. Each season I have tried to keep expanding that radius. Jasmine Brown and Lisa Thompson could very well be the best 2 players in the state. Skylar Jones is climbing that ladder — she has been really impressive this season. Jordan Wood is in the discussion, too, who I believe is a legitimate WNBA prospect. In fact, as I was watching Jordan Wood play for the first time when she was a freshman someone behind me said something about how good she was going to be and I just blurted out without even thinking, “she’s a pro.” This guy was not even talking to me. I did not know who it was, but for some reason I felt compelled to let it be known that I thought she was a pro. I am laughing as I write that because I do not say much when I watch games, but evidently, I needed to say that out loud. Actually, I have a similar story of someone who I did not know that needed to turn to me and say something at a game about a player. I was at the Morton Tournament in 2021. Deerfield was playing Geneva. Aubrey Galvan from Deerfield made a move in the open floor that you would really need to go back and watch the tape to see exactly what she did. The woman next to me turned to me said, “ohhhh … she’s good.” I just nodded my head — because I already knew that. Sometimes players do things that make you say ‘wow’ or compel you to turn to the person next to you or person behind you and say something whether you know them or not.
I have only seen Lisa Thompson play in AAU. The first time I saw her play, the name that popped into my head was De’Aaron Fox because I thought their athleticism was similar. I saw a highlight clip of someone on Twitter but noticed Jasmine Brown in the clip without knowing it was her and I said to myself, “that highlight clip of that player is nice, but who is that!?!” I was quickly informed that it was Jasmine Brown. I have never seen Example Academy play, but it is on my list. Janae Kent from Oak Forest is probably the best player in the state who I have never seen play. Alyssa Latham is an absolute force down low. All four are going to big-time women’s basketball programs in the fall.
Lisa Thompson (DePaul) - #60 Ranked Recruit
Jasmine Brown (Mississippi State) - #54 Ranked Recruit
Janae Kent (LSU) - #73 Ranked Recruit
Alyssa Latham (Syracuse) - #72 Ranked Recruit
Recruiting Rankings are not the end all be all, but it is worth noting that Illinois players this season are on the national map. Big time.
Common Theme for the 2022-23 basketball season: Stars.
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare
Meaning: We are responsible for our own destiny. We create our own destiny based on how we think, perceive, and translate it into actions. In terms of basketball, it is not in the stars (in the sky), but in our stars (players) that hold that team’s destiny (if we can figure out how to get the most out of them).
A. Star players —> Emerging Stars (Sophomores turning into Juniors) —> More Emerging Stars
The theme of stars first came to me while watching the Morton Christmas Tournament. I knew there were some good teams at the Morton tournament, and I know how good these players in the area are, but I kept thinking I want more from some of these big-time players. I watched Katy Eidle score 10 points in a loss which I would assume is well below her average, but she did not score 10 points because she missed a lot of shots. In fact, it was just the opposite. I was thinking “I want her to shoot more.” I was so impressed with how well she shot the ball that I tweeted a prediction that she was going to make 200+ 3’s in her college career at Michigan. I then watched Batavia take on #1 ranked Fremd and Batavia had them on the ropes largely because Brooke Carlson was carrying the offensive load almost by herself. “This is what I am talking about,” I thought. “Star players raising their game to a whole another level when it is needed the most.”
***I know how good of a passer Katy Eidle is (one of the best passers in the state) and I want to note here for the record that I am not advocating for her to shoot more for the sake of shooting more — I saw Hersey play Whitney Young, and I liked how aggressive Eidle was as a shooter and scorer. That would be an example of what I am talking about. There is a balance to getting your teammates involved and being assertive as a scorer when you are trying to lead your team.
After these two tweets, Batavia and Hersey squared off at the Morton College Tournament. Katy Eidle led her team with 32 points and the go-ahead 3. Brooke Carlson had 27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 steals and 2 blocks in this game for her team - she did everything that she could for her team. Two ‘stars’ led their teams in a tightly contested battle.
Stevenson from last season is a great example of being led by their star player. I followed Stevenson from the beginning last year because I knew they were going to be good. Simone Sawyer turned a corner midway through the season in terms of being more assertive. She was phenomenal in the state championship game and ultimately led her team to that state title. One of the themes as teams prepare for March is peaking at the right time as a team. I am looking forward to watching stars raise their games to even higher levels for their teams, especially seniors.
I have watched Libertyville a few times this season and when they beat Loyola, Emily Fisher controlled the game, but did not take a lot of shots. The other night, however, against Stevenson after Emory Klatt went on a personal 10-0 run to give Stevenson a 4-pt lead with 2:00 left in the game Emily Fisher answered with her own 6-0 run and the game-winner at the buzzer to give Libertyville a 40-38 victory. In that example, both stars raised their games in terms of scoring - in crunch time. Against Loyola, Fisher raised her game in terms of facilitating, elevating the play of her teammates and picking her spots.
Emerging Stars - Sophomores turning into Juniors during the season
Destiny Jackson (Whitney Young), Aubrey Galvan (Deerfield), Nikki Kerstein (Deerfield), Avery Cooper (Lake Zurich), Coco Urlacher (Fremd), Gina Davorija (Glenbrook South), Kiyoko Proctor (Alton)
More Emerging Stars
Meegan Fahy (Maine South), Reagan Sipla (St. Charles North), Emory Klatt (Stevenson), Elise Ward (Marist), Natasha Barnes (Kenwood), Lexi Kerstein (Deerfield), Brooke Carlson (Batavia), Meghan Mrowicki (Hersey), Rachel Kaus (Lake Forest), Zuri Ransom (Evanston), Ella Todd (Fremd), Olivia Austin (Nazareth), Kate Rule (Libertyville), Bella Ranallo (Lake Forest), Alyssa Hughes (St. Charles North)
B. Star in Your Role —> Discover your Superpower
Stars need to be stars, but everyone needs to star in their role. Stevenson did not win the state title last season solely because of Simone Sawyer. They were also a perfect example of a team that had all the complementary pieces: Senior Leadership (Ava Bardic and Simone Sawyer), Shooting (Ava Bardic and Simone Sawyer), Rebounding (Emory Klatt), a defensive juggernaut and primary/secondary ballhandler (Kendell Williams) and Shot Blocking (Kate Arne). Barrington last season also checked the boxes of having players that fit together — they had the right pieces. The term ‘pieces’ is an NBA/WNBA term that is used to describe championship roster construction. So, this post about Stars is not just about one player or the importance of individual play. When Barrington lost to Stevenson, 53-51, at the Komaromy Class (Dundee-Crown), I immediately thought to myself that this might be a foreshadowing of a playoff meeting. Little did I know at the time, that if they met in the playoffs it would have to be in the state championship game. It happened anyway.
To know exactly what your role is you need to discover your superpower …
Superpower is just a more fun way to describe playing within your strengths. If you think about it, it is not rocket science. Do what you do well and do it more. Rui Hachimura’s superpower is raising up and shooting mid-range shots or fadeaways from like 12-16 feet which goes against the way the NBA thinks these days. But this is his superpower, and he needs to tap into that. Sometimes your superpower is obvious, but not always because sometimes it can be a very small thing that you need to discover. For example, a player may not realize how much better they operate from one area of the floor to another. Or a coach might discover that two players have a really good connection that they did not see before because one of the players is a bench player. The discovery of superpowers enables coaches to define roles for players so that they can “star in their roles.”
C. Shooting Stars
Last, but not least, on the theme of Stars and correlating that theme to basketball, let’s talk about shooting stars. There are number of shooters in the area. I saw Benet and Marist play at Benet and Emilia Sularski had 8 3’s. Shooting was the separator in that game.
“Catch and Shoot 3’s” were huge for Stevenson in last season’s state championship game. Grace Carstensen’s (Nazareth) shooting against Carmel last season is something that is etched in my brain. Kate Rule put on a shooting exhibition earlier this season against Deerfield. Ava Blagojevich (Maine South), Danielle Brooks (Kenwood), Ellie Thompson (Fremd), Sidney Rogers (Glenbrook South), the list goes on … [I will keep expanding my radius to learn about more players.] I expect Shooting Stars to be a theme again in the 2nd half of the season and into the playoffs. More to come later on Shooting …
Until next time, I will be in the bleachers somewhere tracking all of these stars in the area [and if someone stands out, I might just blurt something out to the person next to me … you won’t be judged if you do either].