Chicagoland’s overlooked athletes shine light on the court
Between both high schools and club teams, thousands of athletes are constantly fighting for a spot to be seen by colleges with the hopes of getting offers from their athletic abilities. Some are quick to make a name for themselves…
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Continue ReadingBetween both high schools and club teams, thousands of athletes are constantly fighting for a spot to be seen by colleges with the hopes of getting offers from their athletic abilities. Some are quick to make a name for themselves and then you have some that have to work harder to get their recognition, and those are the athletes I am going to introduce you too. These athletes are those who have proven their skills in practices and on the court and are most definitely going to be athlete you are going to want to watch.
Itali Jackson- Lindblom High School
Jackson is an outstanding and reliable athlete when it comes to taking care of business when she steps foot on the court. Jackson saw action and contributed tremendously to her high school’s win over Kennedy High School and Jones High School. The outside hitter has a powerful right swing and has impeccable control over the ball when it comes to setting and striking the ball for the kill. Jackson is attentive and communicates well across the floor, making it easy for her team to work off one another. Jackson has a competitive demeanor and is swift on her feet and following the movement of the ball. Jackson is an uncommitted senior and is going to be one athlete to consider watching and getting to know better as we move into the summer club season.
Naturi Parker- Kenwood Academy
Parker is an athlete you want to watch and keep tabs on as her high school and club seasons continue this year. The uncommitted libero has a very interesting set of athletic skills that can be very useful on the court. Seeing parker in action makes it impossible to keep your eyes off of her as she is a very aggressive and competitive player when it comes to the ball. She’s fast, determined and hungry for the ball whenever it enters her territory and that is the type of athlete that college coaches are looking for. She has an impressive swing on the ball that makes her a diverse player if her talents were needed to switch positions on the court. Parker is definitely an athlete whose name has been overlooked over her high school career, and now is going to be the time to change that and bring her name to light.
Mia Sanchez- Westinghouse High School
Sanchez is an up-and-coming athlete who is going to be one to watch as she still has a year left in her high school career. The right-side hitter has very good ball control and is attentive on the court as the ball moves across the floor. Sanchez manages to stay close to the net but is able to move throughout the zones as she is needed and has a very soft touch to the ball when setting the ball up for a kill. Her carrying skills are impressive and she manages well with helping in defending the ball from the opposing team. If Sanchez is not already on your watch list, I would consider having the ability to watch this athlete progress and grow into her pull potential.
JaNya Wilkes- Kenwood Academy
Wilkes is a double threat athlete as she has the ability to play two important positions on the floor for her team. Wilkes stands at 6’0” and serving as an opposite for her team, shows the athletic ability that she holds. Wilkes has very impressive blocking skills as she is quick on blocking live plays on the ball from coming to her side. In addition, Wilkes plays as a setter for her team. She not only has a soft and consistent touch with the ball, but she has a very strong serve that is consistent and allows her to gain aces for her team. Wilkes carries several characteristics that are heavily needed for being an opposite and she does not fail to let those characteristics be seen. She has the height, the court awareness and most importantly, the grit to prove her athletic ability. The uncommitted senior is going to be one you may want to consider watching this summer.
Dari’a Robinson- Hyde Park Academy
Robinson stands at 5’8” and is going to be an athlete to watch moving into her summer club season and as she is entering the midseason period for her high school period. The middle blocker isn’t your typical middle blocker as her height can be seen as a disadvantage, however, her athletic ability shows up and makes a statement for Robinson. She is fast and efficient on attacks when it comes to offensive plays and she doesn’t fail to cause confusion for the other team when it comes to setting up and executing a play. Robinson’s ability to read the floor and effectively communicate across the floor is something to keep in mind when it comes to being a successful middle for the team. Robinson is an important asset to her team and is going to continue to make a name for her during her career. Robinson is going to be an athlete to start to watch and keep watching.