PGHByron’s Top 250: First Team All-Expo (Illinois)

Photo: Prep Network

Byron Xerxes Livsey October 4, 2021 @ 07:18 PM

<h6 style="text-align: center;">My first Top 250 Expo experience was nothing short of incredible. The 5-hour event was electric from start to finish. Each court was filled with talent from all over the state. Stocks were raised and names were made. Each girl & team gave more than their all, but there’s always a select few that stick out. Below are my selections for my “First Team All Expo”</h6>   [player_tooltip player_id="335720" first="Nikki" last="Kerstein"] | 2025 Guard | Deerfield <img class="size-medium wp-image-334607 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/31-Nikki-Kerstein.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Even with a star-studded team, Kerstein continued to keep all eyes on her. Not having to be the primary scorer on her team, she was able to show the full flexibility of her game by controlling the pace and getting multiple assists to each player on her team. Her creativity is always on full display. Nikki is a special talent. Deerfield this year will be the place to be.     [player_tooltip player_id="335739" first="Destiny" last="Jackson"] | 2025 Guard | Whitney Young <img class="size-medium wp-image-334597 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/20-Destiny-Jackson.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Hard to keep track of all the buckets she gave out, but Destiny can and will do whatever it is to keep her team ahead. In all games, she showed what a high-caliber scoring guard looks like. Free throw line floaters, up and under double-teamed layups, and efficient shooting from the mid to the arc. Her offensive package has 0 flaws.     [player_tooltip player_id="148137" first="Lenee" last="Beaumont"] | 2023 Guard | Benet <img class="size-medium wp-image-334691 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/163-Lenee-Beaumont-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" />From game 1 to game 6 Lenee showed why she is one of the state’s top guards. With averaging around 20 ppg throughout the expo, she consistently separated herself from those around her. Lenee is an ELITE player, her stock rises by the day. The clear-cut MVP of the entire expo.       [player_tooltip player_id="203016" first="Ryann" last="Wendt"] | 2022 Guard/Forward | Downers Grove North <img class="size-medium wp-image-334689 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/161-Ryann-Wendt.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />With each minute and second she was on the court, Ryann displayed what true relentlessness looks like. From chasing the rebound off her own 3 point attempts (rare misses) to tip-backs and multiple high offensive rebound games... she gave nothing but true effort, passion, and energy on both sides of the court with no give up.       [player_tooltip player_id="265962" first="Ariana" last="Williams"] - Bullock | 2024 Forward | Kenwood <img class="size-medium wp-image-336146" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/IMG_FD210F8698E7-1-139x300.jpeg" alt="" width="139" height="300" /> Pump fakes just don’t work. Ari is beyond disciplined on the defensive side of the ball. There’s nothing she can’t block. Chase down, face-up, or second jump. Definitely one of the top Defensive players of the Expo. When she wasn’t sending shots to the other courts, her pick and roll game was shown to perfection. Bullock is a match for any point guard who takes the court with her. She can set then roll, slip and fade with grace. Her offensive skills and overall toughness were a problem for every opponent.