Libertyville Lily Fisher isn’t planning to follow in her older sister’s footsteps.
Maybe that’s because the 6-foot-1 freshman guard already wears shoes that are one size larger than those worn by Emily Fisher, a 2023 Libertyville graduate who broke several program records and plays at Maryland.
“Plus I’m taller, so she’s a little jealous,” Lily Fisher said. “I brag a bit about it with her.”
The Fisher sisters’ father, Jeramy, said Emily was 5 feet, 11 inches tall as a freshman, leading him to joke that Lily is already ahead in one respect.
“Lily is long, as well, with long arms and legs,” Jeramy Fisher said. “I think she will grow a bit taller still.”
Lily Fisher, who is averaging 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists for the Wildcats (6-3) while shooting 39% from inside the arc and 42% on 3-point attempts, did say that starting her Libertyville career right after Emily graduated does present some challenges.
“It’s a little hard sometimes to always be compared,” Lily Fisher said. “It’s a good challenge. She’s a nice person to look up to. But I’m really excited just to get my own footsteps and not worry about anybody else. That’s really motivating me.”
Jeramy Fisher, who also coaches Lily Fisher in AAU basketball, said his two daughters have vastly different games and on-the-court personalities.
“Emily was definitely more emotional, always in foul trouble,” he said. “Lily is never in foul trouble and is a steady, even-keeled player. All the college coaches talking to her now love the way she’s steady every single play and accountable. Emily was aggressive, physical and emotional.”
Emily Fisher, who is averaging 2.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in nine games as a reserve for Maryland (6-3), said she advised Lily to build on her strengths.
“I told her that she will need to go into this year with confidence and to be able to block out all the people,” Emily Fisher said. “I don’t want her to think she has to be like me because she is her own player and does things better than I did. We both have our strengths.
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“I’ve been able to see her develop not only on offense, as an extremely good pullup shooter, but on defense. She is a great facilitator and makes the game look effortless.”
Lily Fisher scored a team-high 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the Wildcats’ 67-29 win against Buffalo Grove on Nov. 21. It was the fourth game of her career.
“Lily can beat anybody to the rim, and her shot is mature,” Jeramy Fisher said. “Emily learned how to shoot after her freshman year. (Lily) never needed to.”
Lily Fisher, like Emily, was a standout soccer player for several years until she decided to put all her efforts into basketball. For the Wildcats, who have several key contributors back this season, she has displayed a diverse game.
“We learned over the summer that the more we encourage Lily to take an aggressive role, the more success we as a team can attain,” Libertyville coach Greg Pedersen said. “I don’t want to put any labels on Lily yet, being that she’s so young and her high school career is just beginning.
“It’s not a stretch to say that Emily’s game was about driving and banging and using physicality. Emily worked to develop her outside shooting game to get it where it is now. Lily comes to us with some established shooting and ballhandling skills, and it’s her attack game that we are encouraging her to push and develop.”
Lily Fisher said playing numerous one-on-one games against Emily helped her get ready for this.
“It’s really fun and a new environment with new people and experiences,” Lily Fisher said.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.