Young aims for turn at the top

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:06PM

There was a quiet confidence at Young's girls basketball practice. There was no bragging.

Young and Bolingbrook have played in the state finals five times in the last six years, the last three in the championship game.

Bolingbrook won the last two titles and the Dolphins won in 2008.

There is not much reason to think the two powerhouses will not be at the top again. The teams could be ranked Nos. 1 and 1A, but the day of the Dolphins might be coming and Young gets the nod as the Sun-Times preseason No. 1.

‘‘This is our most experienced team,'' said Young guard Chanise Jenkins, who will sign with DePaul this week.

‘‘We've played together and we all trust each other. That gives us an edge because we know what each other is capable of.''

Young also returns Kiana Johnson, signing with Michigan State, Bryesha Blair with Central Florida and Dija Disu with Texas Southern.

‘‘We're really excited because these kids have all been playing together for a long time, the majority of their basketball lives,'' Young coach Corry Irvin said. ‘‘It's nice to see these seniors finish it out. They are really good at competing and pushing each other.''

On the other side of the gym, it was the first day of practice Monday for the Young boys, a deep and talented squad.

‘‘As an institution, we want excellence across the board,'' Young boys coach Tyrone Slaughter said. ‘‘The girls started it and we've tried to model our program after theirs. The kids, boys and girls, all celebrate each other. This time of year is a new start for everyone.''

Though the Dolphins like to kid around about being vertically challenged, it was hard to watch practice and not notice 6-3 freshman Khaalia Hillsman, the daughter of Benoit Benjamin, who was the third overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He played for nine teams in his 15-year NBA career.

‘‘Rebounding was a very difficult challenge for us with [a team of guards],'' Jenkins said. ‘‘We all learned that every one of us has to box out and rebound.''

Young opens its season at Memphis, Tenn., on Nov. 26-27 against Clarksville (Tenn.) and Memphis Central. The Dolphins also play Benton Harbor (Mich.) at UIC; in the Motor City Classic at Detroit Country Day; at Racine (Wis.) Case; at the McDonald's Shootout in Willowbrook, and in the MLK Classic in St. Louis against Memphis Overton.

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