Homewood-Flossmoor senior Alyssa Latham had a new experience at a recent practice.
When it ended, she was the first one to leave the gym.
“That actually did feel really weird,” Latham said, laughing. “Usually, after practice, I stay for 15 to 30 minutes to put shots up. I’m usually the last person out.
“But this time, I had to be the first one to leave because it was for a good moment.”
A special moment, to be sure.
Latham had to scurry to the school auditorium. During a well-attended public ceremony for several H-F senior athletes, she officially signed her national letter of intent for a full-ride scholarship to Syracuse.
“It’s really exciting,” Latham said. “I’m ready to keep going to the next step in my journey and fulfill my legacy.
“In the meantime, there are a lot of big things coming this season. I’m really ready to show that I’m a big-time player.”
Latham, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots last season. She could shoot from anywhere, and getting to the basket against her when she was defending it … well, it didn’t happen on a regular basis.
She led the way for the Vikings (19-9), who produced impressive Class 4A playoff victories over Thornwood and Marist before losing to host Bolingbrook 61-50 in the sectional championship game.
Latham’s game in a nutshell? Junior guard Jaeda Murphy has it covered.
“Alyssa is very good all-around,” Murphy said. “She knows how to get other people involved. She knows how to create for herself and make shots. She makes sure everybody is doing well and going hard. She just keeps the team together.”
This season, Latham has a big task ahead of her. She not only has to be the standout player on the team, she has to help a bevy of younger, inexperienced players grow up fast.
There are four freshmen on the Vikings’ varsity roster.
More Top Picks Patio Heaters
“I’ve been working on communicating and helping my teammates out,” Latham said. “Especially with the four freshman we have, I have to be able to help them get through it. I understand where they’re coming from. I’ve been there.
“I was the only freshman. Now, I’m the only senior. It’s a huge responsibility. I know I’m going to have to put the team on my back, but I’m ready for it. I’m prepared.”
Latham’s freshman season saw typical growing pains and flashes of talent. But when junior standout Grace Hall had an injury late in the season, H-F coach Tony Smith put Latham in a lead role.
During a playoff game against Marist, she hit two free throws with 12.4 seconds left to help the Vikings win 45-42.
It was her first big moment of many to come. Smith was hardly surprised.
“I saw it from day one,” Smith said. “We had some others who didn’t believe me when I said, ‘Man, she’s going to be good.’ They were like, ‘Ah, OK, she’ll be good one day.’ And I said, ‘No, she’s going to help us this year.’
“And she just grew right from the beginning. When she first walked in, she was like a sponge. She was always around, always listening and absorbing what was going on. She was going hard and willing to put in the time.”
Smith laughed as he watched Latham leave practice for the signing ceremony.
“This is the first time she beat everybody out of the gym, because she was supposed to be there at 6:30 and we got out of practice at 6:25,” Smith said. “I’m just so proud of her, the way she came in, worked and lived up to my expectations.”