Buckets and Beyond: Going 1-on-1 with Lily McCracken

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame Prep</strong> senior and<strong> Creighton</strong> commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='663049' first='Lily' last='McCracken']</strong> is ready for her next chapter—but there's a lot more to her story than basketball. Kicking off a new monthly series spotlighting some of <strong>Arizona's</strong> top seniors, McCracken opens up about growing up in the game, what she wants to accomplish in her final high school season, and what excites her most about the next level. Before she closes out her senior year and takes her game to <strong>Creighton</strong>, get to know the person behind the player in this month's Senior Spotlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Why was Creighton the right fit for you?</strong><br>Creighton felt like the right fit for me because it checked every box I was looking for. From the first time I visited, I felt comfortable with the coaches, the players, and the culture. I really connected with the coaching staff and could tell they genuinely cared about me as a person. It is competitive, unselfish, fast paced, and built around players who can make decisions and play together. I wanted to find a place where I could grow as a player, student, and person, and Creighton felt like home.&nbsp;<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>What did you learn about yourself during the recruiting process?</strong><br>The recruiting process taught me a lot about who I am and what I value. It was exciting to have opportunities to talk and visit many different schools, but it also helped me realize that choosing a college is about much more than basketball. I learned that I need to trust myself and make decisions based on what feels right for me, rather than what other people think I should do. I also learned that I really value relationships, culture, and being surrounded by people who believe in me and push me to become better. The process made me more confident and helped me understand what I want in the next chapter of my life.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3.</strong> <strong>Where have you improved the most over the past year?</strong><br>I think I have improved the most in my overall decision-making and consistency. I have worked hard on becoming a more complete player who can impact the game in different ways instead of relying on just one part of my game. I have gotten better at reading defenses, making plays for my teammates, attacking with confidence. I have also grown mentally. I am learning how to stay composed, respond to adversity, and bring the same energy and focus every time I step on the court.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4.</strong> <strong>What does Creighton's staff like most about your game, and how do they see you fitting into their system?</strong><br>I think Creighton likes that I can do a lot of different things on the court and that I play with a high motor. They like my ability to score, create for others, defend, and make plays without needing the ball in my hands all the time. They believe in my ability to make the right plays and my overall game. I want to continue developing around a coaching staff that believes in me as much as they do.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5.</strong> <strong>What parts of your game are you focused on improving before Creighton?</strong><br>There are a lot of areas I want to continue improving. College is going to be faster, stronger, and more physical. I want to become an even more consistent shooter, improve my ball handling while getting stronger and quicker defensively. My goal is to arrive at Creighton as prepared as possible and ready to compete from day one.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6.</strong> <strong>What are your goals this season at Notre Dame Prep?</strong><br>My biggest goal is to help Notre Dame Prep compete for a 5A championship. I want to help bring out the best in the players around me and set the standard with my work ethic and attitude. I want us to play together, compete every game, and make a deep run.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7.</strong> <strong>What do you want your legacy at Notre Dame Prep to be?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> I want my legacy at Notre Dame Prep to be about more than points, awards, or statistics. I want to be remembered as someone who worked extremely hard, competed every time she stepped on the court, and made the people around her better. I want to leave Notre Dame Prep knowing I represented my school the right way and helped build something that will continue after I am gone. If people remember me as a player who cared, competed, led, and gave everything she had to her teammates and school, that will mean the most to me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->