Team Preview – Illinois Rockets
I had the privilege to chat with Coach Cass Rufus of the Illinois Rockets recently. We discussed and went through his talented roster. Below is a breakdown of the Illinois Rockets. Class of 2021 Ellie Wisner Ellie Wisner 5'10" |…
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Continue ReadingI had the privilege to chat with Coach Cass Rufus of the Illinois Rockets recently. We discussed and went through his talented roster. Below is a breakdown of the Illinois Rockets.
Class of 2021
Talia Pellegrini Talia Pellegrini 5'7" | CG St. Charles North | 2021 State IL . St. Charles North High School. Guard – A high energy, high motor player, Talia is always aggressive on the court. She can get to the rim and finish at a high level while also knocking down a jumper. Coach Rufus said that Talia has gotten multiple offers from NAIA and Division 3 schools.
Stephanie Dasbach Stephanie Dasbach 6'1" | PF Willowbrook | 2021 State IL . Willowbrook High School. Forward – An All Area, All Conference player last year, Stephanie is a multi sport athlete (volleyball) who has a lot of skills. She is 6’1 and a solid rim protector. Her jumper is falling in more and more consistently every day and that pairs well with her strong low post game. Stephanie averaged 14ppg and 12 rebounds last year which included a game where she dropped 38 points and 22 rebounds.
Amaya Rufus. York High School. Point Guard – A true point guard that can push the tempo, due in part to an excellent push dribble that accelerates her quickly up the floor, Amaya has everything you are looking for. She is a excellent defender who creates havoc for whomever she is guarding and is a strong rebounder for a point guard. An unselfish player, she sets up her teammates well.
Lauren Huber Lauren Huber 5'10" | SG Libertyville | 2021 State IL . Glenbard East High School. Guard – An All Area, All Conference leader that helped her team go from 8 wins as a sophomore to 18 last year, Lauren is a talented player. She can shoot the ball well, which showed when she made the IHSA 3 point contest last year. Lauren can get to the rim and finish, even with contact. A competitor, Lauren also excels on the boards and running the floor. Coach Rufus has stated that University Illinois Chicago has shown interest in Lauren.
Haley Stoklosa Haley Stoklosa 5'10" | PF Lincoln Way Central | 2021 State IL . Lincoln Way Central High School. Forward – A multi tool player, Haley brings it all to the court. She can shoot the 3 ball, get to the rim while finishing with both hands, and defend. At 5’11, Haley is athletic enough to guard all positions 1-5. A multi sport athlete that also plays volleyball and is a high jumper in Track, Haley brings the skills learned from those sports to the basketball court. She is an excellent leaper and a strong shot blocker.
Class of 2022
Emily Ysten. Conant High School. Forward – Standing at 6′ tall, Emily brings great length to the court. She can run the floor and hit shots from everywhere. A high motor player, this is Emily’s first year playing AAU.
Alina Anderson. Romeoville High School. Guard/Forward – Another 6′ player on Coach Rufus’ squad, Alina is a go getter. She excels at attacking the rim and is always aggressive when on the floor.
Kelly Knight. Providence Catholic High School. Guard – A Queen of the Hill 3pt contestant, shooting isn’t the only thing Kelly excels at. A lock down defender who can get north and south on the court incredibly fast, Kelly has a bright future ahead of her. A tireless worker, Coach Rufus has said that she has worked on her shot a lot and her game has elevated to a new level because of it.
Class of 2023
Mariann Blass. York High School. Guard – A flat out shooter, Mariann can score from anywhere. She can get to the rim, make the mid range J and finish with the best of them. A high motor player, Mariann is an asset that every team needs. She put up 14ppg last year at the JV level.
Katie Sosa. York High School. Forward – A long, 6′ player that can stretch the floor, Katie has a bright High School career ahead of her. She can handle the ball in open court and handle pressure. Being as tall as she is, most bigs guard her and that becomes a match-up problem for the opposition as she can break them down and get by them with her skill set. As she gets older and builds strength, Katie is only going to get better and better.