Seven Players Proving Veteran Leadership Still Matters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is something to be said for veteran leadership in sports, and it is no different on the high school basketball scene. It is apparent whether it is a Top 25 girls program in the state or a team on the rebuild. Veterans help mold talented underclassmen and help them fulfill their potential to be great. Here are a few players I saw this weekend who provided leadership for their teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["879658"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca5237f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Past being a solid high school player with three years of varsity experience, I saw Taryn this week fight until the end against Leyden. She did so with a strong all around game, handling the ball, getting her team into sets, breaking the press, and scoring opportunistically. Taryn is a hard nose defender on the ball and anticipates well for steals. As the team started ahead and fell behind late, she helped hold things together to keep the score close. She also helped defend her more heralded teammate as the game got tight. Taryn's all around skill set and leadership should put her on college coaches' radar as she goes into her senior season. She plays the type of game that does not always show up in the box score but consistently shows up in winning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["874665"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca523f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A teammate of Draine, Katara has a nice all around offensive skill set. She can shoot it from deep, really deep, as she has hit two three quarter court buzzer beaters this year. She handles the ball like a guard and uses her size to slash and finish around the hoop. For a freshman, her competitive streak is already there, and she is still learning to channel it. With veteran teammates helping guide her, she is turning that energy into production and helping build the program. The ceiling is high, and she already looks comfortable in big moments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514895"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca5244c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another well known name, playing in the Chicago Public League Championship against defending state champs Kenwood is never easy. While her size, power, and versatility were on display, I was more impressed with how she helped her younger guards through a tough game, pumping them up and providing encouragement even when the score did not warrant it. She is obviously moving on and will be successful in college next year, but her leadership will be missed. She leaves behind a standard for how to compete and how to carry a program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1105031"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca5249d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Being fearless, aggressive, and athletic with good size will help you a lot in this game. She played hard all game and was Butler's best player against the defending champs. As her shooting becomes more consistent and the game slows down, her upside will surely attract more college offers as she continues to develop. She plays with confidence that lifts the level of her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1225771"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca524ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While it was not her best statistical game, she was asked to do a lot for her team, playing point guard against one of the state's best senior guards. After some early miscues, she settled down and got her team good shots. As the game went on she looked more comfortable. She will be a very good player as she continues to gain experience, and in game development will help that trajectory. These early challenges will accelerate her growth long term.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1045271"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca52539"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A do-it-all player who has done it all for her school as a scorer and competitor, leading to wins throughout her four years. Against OPRF, her nose for the ball and toughness were again apparent. Getting behind early but keeping her composure as shots started to fall and encouraging teammates was the secret sauce for the final win. Very impressed with her leadership, especially with the sophomore guard who appears to be next in line as Macleod departs. She leaves the program in stronger shape than when she found it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Natalia Sokolska ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East Leyden","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699499ca525ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A confident ball handler with underappreciated quickness and savvy. She helped Leyden take the lead for good in the second half against OPRF and consistently made the right play, whether it was an assist, hockey assist, or score. Clearly the next leader at Leyden, and it will not be surprising to see her get more recognition over the next few years. She already plays with the poise of an upperclassman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->