August 2008 Archives

Two players who are having good high school careers are getting interest from several colleges. I heard through the girls basketball grapevine that T.F. North's Centrese McGee is getting interest from Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Missouri, Marquette and DePaul.
And Von Steuben's LaTerria Taylor is getting interest from St. Louis, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Missouri and Minnesota.

Last season I wrote a column about U-High's point guard, Alexis Jenkins. One of the more prolific scorers in the Chicago area who didn't get much notice, Jenkins showed last season that she is the real deal.
That was confirmed over the weekend when Jenkins, a senior, made a verbal committment to Illinois State. She picked the Redbirds over Wofford College, Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois. Jenkins also was recruited by Princeton, Miami of Ohio and Loyola.
Jenkins will join another scoring machine in ISU senior Kristi Cirone, formerly of Resurrection, who is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Montini junior Michala Johnson had a scare in late July. Johnson was playing with her AAU team at a tournament when she went up for a breakaway layup, missed it and an opposing player clipped her left knee. Johnson went down with what everyone thought was a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
But Montini coach Jason Nichols said Johnson's knee just has a stretched ACL, it's not torn, and she won't need surgery. All Johnson needs is some rest and six weeks of rehabilitation. She should be ready for the season in November.
"I was in the pool when I got the call," Nichols said. "I fell off my raft and right into the pool."

Bolingbrook senior guard Satavia Taylor gave Loyola an oral committment Monday, according to coach Tony Smith. The 5-11 Taylor, who was on the 2008 Class 4A state runner up and the 2007 Class AA runner up, whittled her choices down from Murray State, Binghamton (N.Y.) and Wichita State. This coming season Taylor will begin her third year starting for Smith.

Geneva guard Taylor Whitley made an oral committment to Indiana State on Friday.
Whitley, a senior, earned All-Area honorable mention honors. Her younger sister, Kelly, is a member of the Class 3A defending state cross-country champions.
Earlier this summer, a former local product, Kristen Judson (DeKalb) of Normal U-High committed to Miami of Ohio.

On Saturday, Trinity guard Monica Albano gave an oral committment to Loyola. The four-year Blazers starter led Trinity in scoring last season as a junior with a 19 points per game average. The 5-8 Albano was also considering Southern Mississippi, Wisconsin, UIC, DePaul and Lehigh.