AN EVEN KEIL Highland guard/forward and track standout has been a consistent contributor in different roles
Change has been a constant for Aaliyah Keil throughout her Highland career.
But the 5-foot-7 guard/forward has contributed consistently for the Trojans no matter where she has played in her four seasons.
“She’s had to play different roles throughout all three years that I’ve coached her, and she’s done well transitioning every year,” Highland coach Darian Straughter said.
Keil was the first player off the bench on the wing as a freshman. She reprised that position as a sophomore but earned a starting spot. She played more in the post as a forward during her junior year. And this season she’s primarily bringing up the ball as a point guard, splitting that responsibility with sophomore guard Jordan Steele, but is also seeing time at shooting guard.
Keil, a star hurdler in track, said she was a point guard in middle school, although she quipped she was “not a good one.” Her biggest point of emphasis in the offseason was her dribbling skills, even without being aware of the spot she’d wind up playing.
“It’s a good thing I did that because I didn’t know I was going to become the point for a lot of it,”
Keil said. “I know my ballhandling wasn’t the best in the past. Usually when I was a point guard, I could just sprint the ball up the court and I’d be fine. No one could get me because I was fast. Now girls can get me. So definitely ballhandling.
“This year, I’m bringing the ball up most of the time. It’s definitely different, but I’m handling it well.”
Keil has struck a balance for the Trojans (7-6). She’s second on the team behind Steele in scoring, averaging 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.7 steals.
“I’ve been a scorer this year,” Keil said. “I’m not used to being in that scoring position so much. I was scoring last year, but now it’s more important that I do score, and I’ve realized that. Usually I find the open shooter, but now I have to take some of the shots myself.”
Keil averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-high 2.6 steals last season, when Highland won its first sectional title since 2007 before losing in a regional to eventual Class 3A state champion Fairfield. Keil and Steele were the only two returning starters this season after seven players graduated.
“She scores. She rebounds. She always has the hardest defensive job every game,” Straughter said of
WEST LAFAYETTE — If his team was going to lose, coach Brad Underwood wanted to make sure it was someone other than Zach Edey who beat Illinois on Friday night.
So that’s exactly what Trey Kaufman-Renn did.
The redshirt sophomore scored a season-high 23 points, Lance Jones added 17 and No. 1 Purdue fended off a frantic late charge from the ninth-ranked Fighting Illini for an 83-78 victory.
“Trey Kaufman-Renn, man, I just told him out there in the hall he kicked our butt,” Underwood said. “I think when you play Zach, you can’t play normal. You have to try to make other players beat you and I think there’s some risk with that and we saw that tonight.”
Kaufman-Renn made eight of 12 shots, including a rare 3-pointer to briefly blunt Illinois as it was trying to erase a 21-point deficit in the final 13 minutes. The Boilermakers (14-1, 3-1 Big Ten) got their seventh straight win, this one in the first top-10 matchup at Mackey Arena since Jan. 1, 2010.
“I thought he was fabulous,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “He’s probably the difference for us tonight.”
Edey, the reigning national player of the year, spent the last eight minutes of each half in foul trouble. But as much as Illinois tried to deny him, Edey still wound up with 10 points and 15 rebounds while becoming the second Purdue player with 1,000 career boards. Only Joe Barry Carroll has more than Edey’s 1,006.
Keil. “That doesn’t change. She loves the challenge. I’m proud of who she’s become over the three years.
“It’s always tough when it’s a senior’s last year, and losing a player like her obviously is going to be hard. She’s still one of our hardest workers. She’s still one of our top producers.”
Straughter hopes that continues for the rest of the season. Highland was scheduled to play Hobart on Friday night, having not had a game since a Dec. 21 win at Lowell after not participating in a holiday tournament.
“We’re going into the second half of the season, and we’re going to be expecting a lot from her,” Straughter said of Keil. “The rest we had is good for her body because she plays the entire game. She doesn’t get to sit out unless she gets in foul trouble. She takes it well, though.”
Steele appreciates what Keil does for the Trojans.
“She brings a lot of energy to the team,” Steele said. “She makes everyone laugh at practice. She keeps everyone up. She motivates me to do better, which is really good. I love playing with her.
“She’s very good at putting the ball in the hoop on an and-one. She had so many and-ones last year, and she’s had a lot this year already. She’s really good at making threes on the fast break and just driving and getting a shot up.”
Keil was a state qualifier in the 300-meter hurdles last spring. She’s also part of the cross country team.
Keil said she intends to study pre-dentistry in college. She is sorting out her athletic options, having opportunities to compete in basketball and/or track. She is also considering neither, given her potentially rigorous course load.
“I’m proud to see her ceiling,” Straughter said. “She’s definitely one who can go play in college. I’m hoping to see that.”