Lake County Summer League Standouts! (6/14-6/30)

<div> <blockquote> <div>Palatine High School has been hosting a star-studded summer tournament for the past couple of weeks. This two-day-a-week tourney has showcased an enormous amount of talent. With just over 20 teams, each game has been a sight to see. There’s been an eye-catcher on every team. Below are some of the ladies who have stood out the most amongst the pack.</div></blockquote> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148135" first="Sophie" last="Swanson"] |2023 All-Around Guard| Barrington</strong></div> <div></div> <div>Aggressive, Determined, Willing. Those are the 3 words that come to my mind when Sophie steps on the court. Offensively and defensively, she’s aggressive. From the moment she touches the ball, to the time she has to guard it. There’s nowhere on the court she can’t score, and I don’t believe there’s a position she can’t guard. She’s determined to always keep her team in a good space, whether it’s cheering from the bench or coaching on the court. Most players can do it all, but not all are WILLING. Sophie is. If you need her to score, she’ll get you a bucket. If her teammates need to get in a rhythm, she’ll play decoy to get them going. She truly is an all-around player.</div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> <div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="203000" first="Ava" last="Bardic"] | 2022 2-Way Guard| Stevenson </strong></div> <div></div> <div>To give the amount of effort Ava does on defense and still be able to drop 15+ on your head.. is a problem. "Effort" might not even be the correct term to use when describing her defensive tenacity. She’s feisty and irritating, she’s just always there. I watched on multiple possessions, Ava switch through 1-4, without one single complaint. Not a murmur at her team or the coach. She wants the challenge. After giving her all on that side the ball, her offensive game is doesn’t take a hit. She’s an inside-out playmaker. She’s crafty around the rim, the mid and she can shoot from the front door as well. Her vision matched with her ball-handling skills is something that will definitely take her far.</div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> <div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Emory Klatt | 2024 Forward| Stevenson</strong></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div>Emory is a glass cleaner. She’s found her spots and she gets to them every time. Whether it’s grabbing boards or hitting the lanes with that off-foot floater, she leaves her mark on the game. With her being very active, she disrupts a lot of possessions for her opponents. She can block and defend the paint when needed. Her defense on the perimeter is very present as well. Her knack for getting high volume rebounds; offensive or defensive will always keep her team in the game and herself on the court.</div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Alexis Kerstein |2023 High Caliber/ 2-Way Guard| Deerfield </strong></div> <div>To limit or compare Alexis’s game would be disrespectful to the apparent work she puts in off the court. Her entire offensive package is must-see tv. The ball is on a string when she’s dribbling. The shots are taken with confidence. Finishing around the rim is no problem for her as well. She’s crafty, but she doesn’t try things, that she does not practice. Her defense might top her offensive skills one day, simply because the aggression is always on. She will pick you up after her own made basket from the inbound without hesitation. She is a problem for any and everyone, and she is only getting better.</div> </div> <div></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nikki Kerstein |2025 High Caliber Guard / 2-Way guard | Deerfield </strong></div> <div></div> <div>Consistency and efficiency are skills made up of hard work. These skills cant be taught and Nikki is a product of that. Her long-range game is outstanding. She shoots the ball with a concentration that doesn't fade away. Her ability to get a shot off at any time is a compliment to her handles, which will leave you behind. She's just as tenacious if not more on the defensive side of the ball as well. That might just be a Kerstein thing. With nothing but years ahead to enhance and perfect her game, Nikki will be toping rankings in no time.</div>