Super Sophomores in Northern Illinois (Part Two)

Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to watch hundreds of players across the region compete with their respective AAU teams in both Chicago and Indianapolis. Here are a group of players in the rising Sophomore Class who have impressed me thus far: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148131" first="Skylar" last="Jones"], 5’9" Guard, Whitney Young</strong> Jones is an athletic Wing who does a terrific job attacking the lane off the dribble and finishing well at the hoop. On the defensive end she anticipates passes often, coming away with many steals and transition buckets throughout the game. Skylar uses her skill and long frame to maneuver through the defense to get clean looks at the rim. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205562" first="Alyssa" last="Latham"], 6’0” Forward, Homewood-Flossmoor</strong> A top Post Player in the Class of 2023, Latham is a strong and talented interior player who is tough for high school players to match up with. She is skilled on the block with nice touch and has the maturity to understand what moves are needed in certain situations. Defensively she uses her strength and athleticism to make things tough on opposing post players and brings down rebounds at a high rate. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148128" first="Emily" last="Fisher"], 6’0" Guard, Libertyville </strong> The #3 Ranked Player in Illinois’ Class of 2023 consistently plays at a high level in all facets of the game. Fisher is a strong off-ball Guard who can knock down shots from deep and step in the lane and score with several different moves. Defensively she can defend multiple positions due to her strength and length, as well as all around athleticism. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148132" first="Brianna" last="Hill"], 5’11” Guard, Marian Catholic </strong> Hill is an extremely talented Combo Guard who does a lot of things well on both ends of the floor. She is fast in the open court and strong with the ball, consistently showing good court vision to locate open teammates. Brianna shoots the ball well from deep and has proven to be an exceptional on-ball defender. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205564" first="Olivia" last="Vick"], 5’7" Guard, Whitney Young</strong> A do-it-all Point Guard with outstanding ball-handling skills, Vick has great poise when leading the offense. She has good decision-making abilities with the ball in her hands and enjoys getting teammates involved. Olivia can also score at a high rate with the ability to shoot the ball off the dribble and get in the lane and finish through contact. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148139" first="Ava" last="Gugliuzza"], 5’7" Guard, Lincoln-Way West</strong> One of the best three-point shooters in the state, Gugliuzza has already gained the respect of opponents, who know to not leave her open. While showcasing her impressive shooting her Freshman season, Ava continues to grow as a player while demonstrating the ability to attack the lane and finish at the rim or dish to open teammates. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148137" first="Lenee" last="Beaumont"], 5’10"  Guard, Benet Academy </strong> Beaumont is a highly skilled Combo Guard who can play on or off-ball due to her ball-handling skills and ability to score from the wing. She plays with an IQ well beyond her years, taking charge of the offense and consistently making plays. Lenee can shoot the ball from three at a high rate and uses her length well to attack the basket on offense. <strong>Gabi Burgess, 5’8" Guard, Lake Park</strong> One of the fastest players in the area, Burgess gained great experience her Freshman season with a trip down-state for the State tournament. She uses her speed to push the ball up the floor in transition and makes good decisions when driving. Gabi’s on-ball defense is among the best around, constantly locking up opposing Point Guards and forcing turnovers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148151" first="Kora" last="Kipley"], 5’7" Guard, Buffalo Grove</strong> Kipley is a tough and active Combo Guard who does what it takes to help her team win. She brings a ton of energy any time she is on the court, always going after loose balls and tracking down rebounds on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Kora has also shown that she can get to the rim with her quickness and strong ball-handling. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148138" first="Azyah" last="Newson-Cole"], 5’7” Guard, Lincoln-Way Central</strong> A speedy Point Guard who can score at all levels, Newson-Cole is yet another high-level player in this rising Sophomore class. She thrives in the transition game due to her court vision and confidence with the ball in her hands. Azyah has proven to be a strong finisher at the hoop, but she also possesses a jump shot from deep and mid-range that makes her a dynamic threat on offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148166" first="Brooklyn" last="Ficek"], 5’4" Guard, LaSalle-Peru</strong> Ficek is a high-IQ Point Guard who consistently excels on both ends of the court. She is quick and athletic on defense, always putting pressure on the opposing ball-handlers. Offensively, Brooklyn can push the ball up the floor or lead the offense in the half court. She has also proven to be a high-level shooter from deep after her Freshman season.