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I've received some e-mails and a posting about some players that were not included in certain categories in my story that appeared today, ``20 Questions'' on girls basketball.
I listed four categories: top five freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Here are some notables that made the top 50 list on Sunday, but who were not listed in those four categories. These girls should be watched as the season goes on. I've taken these names from e-mails received by readers and wanted to pass them along.
**Miame Giden of Proviso East is going to Western Michigan with sister Robin and Walther's Jazzmyn Harvey. She is ranked on some national lists and should also be a senior to watch.
**Lake Park junior Samantha Arnold is getting heavy interest from Division I schools, including my alma mater--Illinois.
**Centrese McGee of Washington is a sophomore to watch as well. And she's another in a long line of strong players from the Public League.
**Quincy Notre Dame guard Chloe Barnes is a Downstate player we should watch, too.
**Marian Catholic may have lost players to graduation and moving, but they have a talented freshman in Jasmine Matthews. Homewood-Flossmoor boasts freshman Jailyn Norris.
**Bianca Jarrett of Waukegan, formerly of Zion-Benton, is a player from the northern burbs that I wasn't aware of until today.
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Hi, Tina,
I thought Monica Albano at Trinity would make you multitalented that are well known in other sports list. She is well known in the Softball community, especially in the GCAC conference, as every year since her freshman year, she's been GCAC all-conf player. Also, this fall she competed in her second year in the Golf Varsity team, medalled 5 times and made it to Sectionals.
Have a great reporting basketball season,
C. M. B.
Tina: Expansion was a huge success in volleyball. Not a single player or coach complained about their accomplishments being "watered down". So how many of those whining basketball coaches who said expansion was the end of the world asked the IHSA to move their schools up to 4A? My guess is zero. The false bravado was just a show for the press. Every single coach who goes downstate will love his/her trophy no matter what the class.
Marty: I beg to differ with your thesis. There was a ton of complaining from virtually everybody on the two-matches-in-one-night volleyball format, a direct result of class expansion. Attendance at all levels of the state tournament, including the finals, also was lower, in some cases drastically.
The whining didn't come from people who wanted to maintain the staus quo. The whining came from the people who wanted a system that worked well changed, for no compelling reason.
If the last sentence of your post is accurate, then I suggest four classes is too few. If the sole issue here is loving trophies and making as many people happy as possible, than I think six or eight classes would be better. Wouldn't it?
(And you know what? It was a watered-down tournament. There were fewer games needed to win a title, and fewer teams in each division. That's watered down, no matter what anybody says. I can sit here and say over and over that the sky is magenta with orange polka dots, but that doesn't mean it's true.)
Also, Marty: I guess you're assuming 4A is the "toughest" class? If you know your high school sports, you'd know that isn't true. Most AA boys basketball champs over the past 10-15 years have been 3A-sized schools. And you can make the case that the two best big-school volleyball teams played in the 3A title game. Are you saying Naperville Central and McAuley are automatically better than Crystal Lake Central and St. Francis? Well, we used to be able to find that out on the court, but now we can't. And that's a shame.
Tina,
You have got to follow this girl from Elk Grove Highschool who is a sophmore,her name is Ashley Capotosto. Ashley right now has a 23 point average and dominates the post like no one around.She is an all around player and so quick but it is amazing how she rebounds.Check her out but for gods sake put her in that top 50.She deserves that much.
A Concerned Irish Fan
I also want to say that Tenisha Wilson is definitely a player to watch this season. She has taken her game to another level both physically and mentally...she dominates and thinks..sometimes very rare in the league. I also think some players to watch include Navia Perkins, Brittany Cochran, and Jalisa Olive.
Hello Tina,
I know where the most underrated player in the Chicagoland area is, her name is Jeanise Randolph she plays on TF North sophmore team. she is a Beast!!! she has dominated every post she played against. she played for the ladyfire and stood out among the so-called best. she has gotten at least 20 letters and questionaires.
why no one is giving her any credit I don't know, but I know no one even porsche harris can handle her in the post. she stands 6'2 and weights 170. she is a true post!! remember her name. I know you are wondering why she isn't playing varsity. her older sister is starting at post and she is just a sophmore and her time will come
DARNISSA GRAY ST.JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE IS A PLAYER THAT IS TURNING A LOT OF HEADS AND A HANDFULL OF DIV. I COLLEGES ARE INTERSTED.
Hello Tina, I think you should check out the squad from CMA-Bronzeville who are making alot of noise in there confrence, but are not receiving any attention from the administration or the press. they have posted victorys by margins of 15points or more so far this season.
Hi Tina, Andriana Mickens a freshman post at Homewood-Flossmoor must not be overlooked. It's sad that everyone focuses on scoring and not defense and the overall contribution to a game.
Lake Park junior Samantha Arnold accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Michigan.