Scouting Montini girls basketball

Montini

Coach: Jason Nichols.

Last year: 36-1 overall, 12-0 (first) in the Suburban Christian Conference Blue; beat Hillcrest 67-45 in Class 3A state championship game.

Top players: Tianna Brown, sr., F; Nikia Edom, jr., G; Diamond Thompson, jr., C; Malayna Johnson, jr., F; Jasmine Lumpkin, so., G; Kelly Karlis, so., G; Kateri Stone, so., G; Sara Ross, so., G; Kelsey Bogdan, fr., G; Rainey Kuykendall, fr., G; Nia Flowers, fr., G.

Scouting report: To rebuild a state champion, it's nice to have youth and size. The Broncos boast both in spades. Gone off the two-time champs are four starters, all playing collegiately and three at the Division I level. Brown is the lone returning starter for a team that will play seven sophomores and freshmen. "It's testing something that I really don't have," Nichols said, "which is patience." Brown, committed to SIU-Edwardsville, is a bull inside and a four-year varsity player, and she will be backed up by 6-foot-4 juniors Thompson and Johnson. Thompson, who played big in last year's sectionals, committed to Notre Dame this week. Edom hit 35 3-pointers a year ago as Montini's sixth man. "She could be getting a coaching stipend," Nichols said, "she's that smart." Karlis, Stone, Ross and Lumpkin are all long, athletic wing players who saw some time as freshmen. Nichols expects freshmen Bogdan and Kuykendall to get major clock. Montini will be tested early against Morgan Park and Geneva and will face Whitney Young at the McDonald's Shootout. "I hope by the end of the year we are in the mix again," Nichols said. "That said, we're pretty darn good. Just not great yet."