Before her freshman season, Stevenson’s Simone Sawyer started getting calls from college coaches.
That’s how long the senior guard/forward has dealt with the recruiting process.
“I’m starting to feel old,” Sawyer said, laughing. “I was super young when all this started. My recruiting really started in eighth grade, but as soon as my freshman year started, that’s when it really began after I switched AAU teams.
“It’s crazy and hard to believe it’s been going on this long. It’s been a cool and long recruiting process. It’s been fun getting to know coaches from different schools. I’m trying to enjoy it.”
Stevenson coach Ashley Graham also laughed when she recalled watching Sawyer’s development from an unknown but talented incoming freshman to one of the best players in Lake County.
Sawyer’s athleticism, quickness and driving prowess had caught the eye of several coaches at Stevenson’s summer league.
“It’s amazing to see Simone from her freshman season and her driving ability to where she is now,” Graham said. “She’s taking all this in stride. When teams see her, her game truly does the talking. She has a quiet confidence.
“It will be interesting where July takes her. Simone has a lot of options. She’s a triple threat. She can take you off bounce, hit midrange, hit threes, and is a tenacious defender.”
The 5-foot-11 Sawyer said her summer started off on a good note when she discovered she grew just over an inch. The added size and strength benefited her recruiting because of the possibility of playing numerous positions.
She recently picked up offers from Ohio and Evansville to bring her scholarship total to 12. Her father, Steven, played baseball at Creighton, which recently expressed interest.
Sawyer admitted the July AAU evaluation period is important to her future.
“It’s great to spend time with coaches from different schools and for them to be able to see me play,” she said. “I’m planning a few visits in July and August. I’m just trying to be seen and focusing on my game. I’ll make a decision in a few months.”
Kobe to college: Antioch graduate Kobe Kriese wrapped up his journey July 2 by committing to NCAA Division II Minnesota Crookston.
After growing up in St. Louis, Kriese moved to the Indianapolis area and attended Noblesville. His family relocated to Antioch late in his sophomore season, and that’s when Kriese’s recruiting hit another snag during the coronavirus pandemic.
He made the most of things this season despite the Sequoits playing just 12 games. The 6-1, 175-pound point guard averaged 23, including a 33-point eruption against Round Lake.
“At times, I was definitely worried about recruiting,” Kriese said. “I moved from a high school in Indiana with 8,000 students and somehow ended up at Antioch. But I had a plan and it all worked out.”
More Top Picks Best Toddler Beds
Kriese, who originally committed to Wisconsin Lutheran, said he’s happy about his decision to commit to Minnesota Crookston.
“I just felt like it was a place I could call home,” he said. “I felt a good trust with the coaching staff. It’s a higher level at Division II. I’ll get more scholarship money.”
Tidbits: Libertyville’s Emily Fisher received an offer July 3 from Clemson. The junior guard is one of the fastest rising recruits in the state for the 2023 class … Lake Forest’s Asa Thomas, a junior guard, added Iowa to his scholarship list on July 1 … Glencoe resident Danny Wolf, a senior forward at Northfield Mount Hermon, picked up an offer Wednesday from Penn State. Wolf attended Lake Forest Academy for two-plus years before transferring last November.
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.