Where there’s a Will ...
Hayven Smith, who practices with former Bull Will Perdue, posts double-double as Lincoln-Way East beats Sandburg in OT
Lincoln-Way East sophomore Hayven Smith is getting tougher and tougher as a 6-foot-5 force in the middle.
It’s no wonder, considering whom she occasionally scrimmages against.
How about Will Perdue, the former Chicago Bulls player and current NBC Sports Chicago analyst?
“My dad has been friends with him since college at Vanderbilt,” Smith said. “They’re really close. Will was at my dad’s wedding and they’ve always been friends.
“He was here when we played Lincoln-Way West. He’s been to a couple of my games. It’s just helpful for me that he ends up to be this former Bulls player.” The matchups?
“Oh, it’s scary,” Smith said, laughing. “But it helps for sure. What are the chances that a high school girl can practice against a 7-foot NBA player? I’m very fortunate to have these opportunities.”
She had one of the best games of her career Thursday night as the Griffins rallied for a 56-52 overtime victory against Sandburg in Frankfort.
Smith finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Lincoln-Way East (10-5, 1-0) in the SouthWest Suburban Blue opener. Sanai Tyler also had a monster game with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Charlotte Trunk scored 16 points for Sandburg (13-4, 0-1). Josie Canellis added 12 points and Lauren Coghlan contributed 11.
Another hero for the Griffins was junior Morgan Montaque.
The 5-9 guard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into OT. It came after Canellis nailed a 3-pointer for Sandburg with 15.2 seconds remaining.
The 3-pointer was Montaque’s third of the season.
“The play wasn’t for me,”
Montaque said. “It was supposed to be either Lana Kerley or Hailee Marek. But coach told me that if it came to that, I had to pop out and take the shot.
“My game is just more attacking the basket and getting my free throws. But I have to stay ready for anything. I wasn’t even sure if I was behind the 3-point line. But when I got it, I said to have faith in my shot and knock it down.”
It was knockout night for Smith, who’s averaging eight points and eight rebounds. She also plays in the front row for the Griffins in volleyball.
The college offers for basketball, however, are already coming in. Hence, her focus on that sport.
“Volleyball helped for sure with my coordination,” Smith said. “I’m growing into my body. I’m lifting and doing the extra stuff to get myself ahead.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Jim Nair brought her up to the varsity for the spring basketball season. The process has been a slow but
steady one.
“She really works hard,” Nair said of Smith. “She’s gotten a lot stronger. She has a great touch around the free-throw area. And she’s one of our highest percentage free-throw shooters.
“She really has a knack to go get the ball rebounding and she’s running the floor better this season on our secondary break.”
With plenty of time to improve.
“I have my goals, and when at certain times I feel like I’m not reaching them, it frustrates me,” Smith said. “I have my standards I know I want to reach and places I want to go.
“Sometimes, mentally it has been a bit of a struggle. But I know physically I’m getting there. I just have to push through the mental part.”
When she’s on the court, Smith often directs traffic. When she’s not, she’s offering very vocal support from the bench.
“I am very loud,” Smith said. “But I definitely try to be a team-over-self type of person. I’m not focused on, ‘I have to get the bucket.’ As long as we get the bucket and we finish, I’m satisfied.”