Young Kits Must Grow Into Bigger Cage Roles

A lack of numbers overall in the program forced Evanston girls basketball coach Brittanny Johnson to use five freshmen at the varsity level last year.

Numbers aren’t a problem any more after Johnson’s recruiting pitch to middle school hopefuls produced a turnout of 36 freshmen who tried out this year and enough players showed up for the program to resume fielding four full levels of teams --- freshmen, frosh/soph, junior varsity and varsity.

But the Wildkits will still be among the youngest teams in the north suburbs as they open their season at home Tuesday against Chicago Intrinsic. The numbers are up --- and Evanston’s fortunes for the 2024-25 season are up in the air as Johnson tries to re-set the team culture following last year’s difficult 14-16 campaign.

The Kits won’t likely be able to replace two graduated players who rank 2-3 all-time in scoring in program history --- Zuri Ransom and Kailey Starks --- but opportunity is knocking for those returning cagers who won’t have to defer to those two outstanding players anymore.

Evanston lost 11 straight games last year in the second half of the season --- 8 of them when Ball State University recruit Ransom was out with injuries --- and Johnson’s mission since last spring has been to re-establish a winning culture.

It will take time, and the veteran coach will probably start two freshmen --- Ella Martin and Charity Bryant – again this season.

“We’ve always had the highlight type players here, but this is a chance for us to re-shift and re-brand the Evanston basketball culture. Everything is equal opportunity now,” Johnson noted. “Last year everyone looked to Zuri and Kailey. Now, they have to dig deep and focus on playing together as a group.

“We had seniors who were great leaders last year and the younger girls just tried not to mess up when they were out there. It’s different for them now, and I like the direction we’re going in. It’s such a coachable group and I’ve seen growth even in just the past two weeks (in practice). That’s good, because other people (opponents) don’t care that we’re coming off a 14-16 season. We’re still Evanston and they still want to beat us. I’m just worried that we’re so young they may not understand that.”

The adjustment to bigger roles isn’t an exact science. And three of the freshmen Johnson “threw into the fire” last year won’t be contributing this year, as Camille Calixte and KyNia Hunt decided to focus on running track and Jaylah McClure-Calvin underwent knee surgery for a torn ACL and will probably be sidelined until at least February.

The other two sophs, guards Payton King and Brielle Rosemond, were forged in that fire and figure to join Martin, Bryant and junior Havana Van Wyk when the starting lineups are announced Tuesday.

King, a 5-foot-10 guard, is one of the school’s best athletes but has been slowed by a knee injury she suffered while shining for Evanston’s flag football squad. Rosemond also starred for the flag football team that reached the Elite Eight in the first year of the state tournament series for that sport.

Johnson plans to monitor King’s minutes during the early portion of the schedule, which also includes a home date on Saturday at 1 p.m. against perennial state contender Bolingbrook.

“Payton still has to work herself back into shape and she’s still limited right now,” the coach cautioned. “She was really thrown into the fire last year and she had to find her way. She learned what it takes to be a leader and get to the next level as a player. She’s still young, and she’s still learning the game, but she’s our most experienced player and she can do a lot with the basketball.

“She has to put it all together.”

Rosemond moved up to the varsity during that long losing string and the ETHS head coach describes her as a “sleeper” who is an incredible defender and contributes in areas that might not be obvious from the box score.

“Brielle was our best player on the JV level, but she couldn’t bring that confidence with her to the varsity level,” Johnson noted. “The skill and the drive have always been there for her, and I think by the end of the year she’s really going to help us a lot.”

Martin, a 5-foot-8 guard, and the 6-foot Bryant could be impact players sooner rather than later once the rawness rubs off the two rookies. And you could also classify the 5-11 Van Wyk as a “rookie” because the Australian native didn’t join the program until mid-season and had to navigate living in a new country and playing in a new program at the same time.

Help will also come from seniors Jayla Warren in the post and Maya Forman in the backcourt, along with junior guards Sandra Deeney and Kamilla Johnson.

Martin is another product of the flag football team. She started at safety on the varsity level after King was injured and excelled at that spot. She could be the answer to Johnson’s years-long search for a point guard who can deliver the ball consistently to open teammates while also providing some scoring punch.

“We’ve had some girls who weren’t really point guards but did their best there for us. But we really haven’t had a true point guard since Kayla Henning (the program’s No. 4 all-time scorer) and we’ve struggled to have someone to take command of the offense,” said Johnson. “To me it’s the most important position on the floor. Ella doesn’t act like a freshman --- she acts more like a senior --- and it’s exciting to be able to work with someone who sees the court so well.

“She has that rare trait, a facilitator who can make everyone around her that much better.”

Bryant has already drawn some college recruiting interest after growing a couple of inches just over the past summer to a full 6 feet tall. “She reminds me of (former ETHS players) Leighah Wool and Jayla Turchin as someone with size who can dribble, pass and score,” Johnson said. “She’s a really intriguing player. You can see her potential and it just needs to be refined. The college coaches are already calling me about her.”

Van Wyk might be the one individual to emerge as a team leader to give the young core of players some direction. That’s quite a challenge for someone who was still learning her way around the ETHS building before school started this year.

“She had a great summer with us and playing club,” Johnson praised. “She’s always in the gym and she’s probably the one who’s made the biggest jump (improvement) for us since last year. Now she’s pushing her teammates and encouraging them every day in practice.

“Havana is nowhere near the player she was last year. She’s adjusted very well in a very short time. She has way more confidence and she’s more comfortable here now. She’s put in the work and her work ethic is right up there with the top kids we’ve ever had here.”

That young core of players will face another demanding schedule again this winter. The Wildkits will shift from the Morton College Christmas tournament to the Libertyville Holiday Tournament and have added new foes like Intrinsic, Saint Laurence, Prospect, Waubonsie Valley, Lake Forest Academy and Chicago Mather.

Evanston has slated shootout events at Whitney Young (Nov. 30 versus Butler Prep), at Fremd (Dec. 7 versus Grayslake Central), at Kenwood (Dec. 14 versus Lyons), and at St. Ignatius (Jan. 4 versus Stevenson).

The Kits will open Central Suburban League South division play at home on December 3rd against Maine South.