Scouting Wheaton North girls basketball

Wheaton North

Coach: Dave Eaton.

Last year: 18-9 overall, 10-4 (third) in the DuPage Valley Conference; lost to Proviso East 54-49 in the Class 4A Glenbard West regional final.

Top players: Mandy Traversa, jr., G; Maddie Baillie, sr., G; Jaquala Hillman, sr., F; Reilly Stewart, jr., G; Libbie Casey, sr., G; Chrissy Baird, so., F; Brooke Schanowski, jr., G; Sam Kullman, sr., C; Maddy Hutchinson, so., F; HB Rowland, so., G.

Scouting report: Eaton and his wife welcomed their first child in March and he's coaching some relative babies this winter. All-Area guard Fantasia Vine is among those who have moved on, and Wheaton North could start three juniors and two sophomores Game 1. Injuries will make the lineup greener at season's start; Baillie sprained an MCL in the fall and should be back by the DVC opener, Hillman is out with a broken orbital bone, and Cassidy Graham is gone for the year with a torn ACL. Eaton does love this group's work ethic. Sweet-shooting 6-foot-1 Traversa, who hit 40 3s last year, has worked to improve her ballhandling and mid-range game and is drawing interest from many Division I schools. Stewart and Hutchinson are among the youngsters to watch. "There's a lot of talent in the DVC," Eaton said, "and our kids have a lot to learn. But they're working hard."