As her senior season wore on, Harvest Christian guard Alyssa Iverson tried not to think of all the things she had accomplished.
She ended up scoring a program-record 1,901 points, helped lead the Lions to their only trip to the state finals as a junior and was a two-time first team all-state selection by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
“Definitely not during the season,” said Iverson, the 2017-18 Courier-News Girls Basketball Player of the Year. “You don’t really think about records. When you look back, I got to learn a lot. I’m happy to have those accomplishments.
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“Good luck to anybody in the future (who tries to break them). I hope someone tries to do that. I’m guessing whoever does that will love the sport as well. Basketball has taught me so much.”
Jeff Boldog knew all about Iverson, watching her play as an assistant for the boys basketball team. He was named the girls basketball head coach in September, just weeks before the season.
He had the chance to see up close the Iverson who transcended numbers.
“She’s probably one of the most humble players with that kind of skill set that I’ve seen in a while,” Boldog said. “She takes everything in stride and always gives credit to her teammates. She’s a special player who you don’t always get the chance to coach.
“Sometimes, you get someone who is offensively special, but she understands the whole game. She can shoot threes, get to the basket. You don’t see many come around that are that well-rounded. She’s a once in a lifetime player.”
When asked to look back on her time at Harvest, Iverson’s answer gives a glimpse into the type of player —and person — she is.
“One thing that stood out to me was going from a point in my basketball career where I was learning from my friends to being able to be the one who taught my team and led my team,” Iverson said. “I went from the student to the teacher.
“It’s a big responsibility. They look up to me. That taught me a lot. I’m grateful for that opportunity.”
Boldog said that Iverson’s ability to stay cool under pressure in games is playing into her college search. Despite the accolades, Iverson is still uncommitted, betting that a big senior year will help her find the best fit at the next level.
“That’s the kind of person she is,” Boldog said. “She doesn’t get rattled by that pressure. It didn’t affect her game. You saw that as every game got bigger and more intense, she thrived.”
Iverson is sorting through several Division I offers. She hopes to make a decision soon.
“I’m definitely getting close,” Iverson said. “Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I’ll know exactly what I’m doing.
“The whole recruiting process can be exciting and frustrating. It has its ups and downs. You do take a chance the longer you wait. Right now, though, I think it would be best to wait it out a little bit longer, so that’s where I’m at.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.