Huntley's Andrews chooses Illinois; Castro to Harvest Christian
Ali Andrews wanted to select a college basketball program where she felt she could make an immediate impact.
She believes the University of Illinois will be that program.
Andrews, a 6-foot-2 junior forward who has helped Huntley to a 53-12 record the past two seasons, gave Illini coach Matt Bollant her verbal commitment late Thursday night.
“I really liked the coaching staff and the players who are there now that I'll be playing with,” said Andrews, who with her now graduated sister Sam was the honorary co-captain of the 2013-14 Daily Herald Fox Valley All-Area team. Ali also was an Associated Press Class 4A honorable mention all-stater.
“He's a really nice guy and he cares about his players on and off the court. He cares about the classroom as much as basketball. He's recruiting really good players and he wants a good team on and off the court.”
Andrews, who becomes the first Division I girls basketball player in the history of the Huntley program, averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.5 blocks per game last season, leading the Red Raiders to a 27-4 season a year after Huntley finished fourth in Class 4A. She shot 53 percent from the field, making 34 3-pointers as well, and 75 percent from the free-throw line. She scored in double figures in 28 of 31 games and enters her junior year the third leading scorer in program history with 1,111 career points.
“I am very happy for Ali and her decision to attend the University of Illinois and play basketball in the Big Ten,” said 17th-year Huntley coach Steve Raethz. “It's a great opportunity for Ali and she has worked extremely hard to put herself in this position. Ali has garnered a lot of attention from Division I schools over the last year and I think she selected a school that is going to be a great fit for her both academically and athletically.
“Coach Bollant and his staff have done a great job with the program as they enter their third season and with Ali they are getting a great person both on and off the floor.”
Andrews, who carries a 3.5 GPA and who said she will study business at Illinois, also had offers from Southern Illinois, DePaul and Marquette.
“It's really relieving,” she said of making the commitment. “Now I can focus on my high school season. I'm really excited for it.”
At Illinois, she will join a program that has struggled over the years in the Big Ten. The Illini's only Big Ten title came in 1996-97 and they have gone 38-80 in conference play since 2007-08. Illinois was 9-21 last year and 2-14 in the Big Ten. In Bollant's first season the Illini went 19-14 and made an appearance in the WNIT.
Andrews' sister, Sam, is now a freshman playing basketball at Division II Truman State.
Castro to Harvest: Harvest Christian's girls basketball program may not have been heard of around the state in Class 1A circles but that could all change this season.
Paulina Castro, one of the top players off the bench last season for Class 3A state champion Montini, has transferred to Harvest and has been ruled eligible to play immediately by the IHSA, Harvest AD Dave Lockwood said Friday.
“There's a family illness situation that prevents the family from transporting her to Montini and it falls under the IHSA (transfer) guidelines as an extenuating circumstance,” Lockwood said. “It's all documented and we did it to a T. Montini also wrote letters in support of allowing her to play immediately and we have the letter of eligibility from the IHSA. We're fortunate that she chose to come here.”
The Lions return all but one starter from a 15-11 team including senior guard Kylee Knox, who went over the 1,000-point mark for her career last year and made 55 3-pointers.
Castro, a 5-6 junior who lives west of Elgin in the Burlington Central school district, averaged 2.6 points per game for Montini's state champs last season and made 20 3-pointers. She was projected to be a starter for the Broncos this season.
She is the second player to leave Montini since school started this fall. Claire Jakaitis, a 6-2 center, transferred to St. Charles North after being a top reserve for Montini last year.
Harvest Christian also has a new coach this season as Rich DeTamble has taken over for Kelly Friestad. DeTamble, whose senior daughter Aly is a top returning player for Class 3A Final Four qualifier Burlington Central, was Friestad's assistant last year.
Lockwood said the Lions will play a beefed up schedule this season that includes a game against Champaign Central in the ChiTown Showdown at Whitney Young, as well as a contest against Class 3A Elite Eight qualifier Carmel. Harvest will also host its first Thanksgiving tournament with Freeport, Rockford East, Harlan, Rich East, Orr, Chicago Christian and Westminster Christian also competing.
Cork to lead Lions' boys: Scott Cork, an assistant coach at Elgin Community College the past several years, will take over the Harvest Christian boys basketball program, replacing Jeff Boldog.
“He is a great teacher of the game and we are looking forward to continued growth and taking the next step forward with our program under his guidance,” said Lockwood of Cork.