Scouting Naperville North girls basketball

Naperville North

Coach: Jacquie Discipio

Last year: 13-15 overall, 8-6 (fourth) in the DuPage Valley Conference; lost to Benet 64-58 in the Class 4A Naperville North regional semifinal.

Top players: Shannon Bushman, sr., G; Kathleen Hahne, sr., F; Brittany Weizorick, sr., G; Kayla Sharples, fr., G; Annie Painter.

Scouting report: If there was any debate who was the leader of the Huskies pack before, there isn’t now. Bushman is back for her third varsity season after averaging 18 points a game as a junior. Naperville North knew it had to replace nine graduated seniors. It found out weeks ago that Bushman’s running mate, Zoe Swift, also a soccer star, wasn’t coming out for the team. “It’s a huge blow,” Discipio said, “but I’m over it. Shannon will be leading the pack with some puppies beside her.” Bushman, a fierce competitor who’s been around the block, is a good foundation to build on. Discipio raves about 5-foot-10 rising star Sharples. Hahne transitioned from the JV to the varsity toward the end of last year and brings a “lovely” outside shot with rebounding. Weizorick, who ran on the third-place cross country team in the state, is a solid defender. “We will press, and we’re going to be fast,” Discipio said. “I don’t know what we will look like because we are so young, but they are eager kids ready to work.”