Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton is back in a familiar spot.
It’s tournament time for the Neuqua Valley junior and her teammates, and their sights are firmly set on a third consecutive trip to the Class AA girls basketball finals.
“When it comes to the state tournament, it’s Lindsay’s time. Her goal is to make it Downstate four years in a row,” said Wildcats coach Mike Williams, who has guided his team to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.
“She also has a goal that every one contributes to the team. But she understands for that to happen she has to step up her game and everyone has to elevate their game to her level.”
Wisdom-Hylton helped get Neuqua Valley’s 2003 state bid off to a good start on Tuesday, scoring 15 points in a 57-31 Class AA regional victory over Wheaton North. Neuqua Valley met Wheaton Warrenville South in Thursday’s regional title game. The winner advanced to next week’s Naperville Central sectional and will play either Oswego or Waubonsie Valley.
“I’m probably a little more aggressive towards the end of the season,” said the 6-foot-3-inch junior.
Wisdom-Hylton has been a critical part of Neuqua Valley’s rise to state prominence. As a freshman, she averaged 10.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as the Wildcats reached the state championship game before falling to Fenwick.
Last year, she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game as Neuqua Valley went 30-6 and beat Lake Zurich 52-45 for third place.
This year, her production is around 17 points and a dozen rebounds per game. Moreover, she has shouldered leadership responsibilities.
“This has been one of the toughest years for me,” said Wisdom, who, with junior Jess Jones, is a leading returnee. “This is a totally different group, and we had to learn to play together and focus as a team.”
In the last three seasons, the Wildcats have compiled an 84-15 overall record. This year’s group is 24-3, recently captured its third straight Upstate Eight championship and is ranked eighth in this week’s Tribune poll. Its only loss to an Illinois team was earlier this month to conference rival Lake Park.
Williams said Wisdom-Hylton is generous on the court. She’s always looking for open teammates, sometimes at the expense of her own point production.
“She’s so unselfish that kids like playing with her,” he said.
But Wisdom-Hylton’s contributions extend beyond games. She readily helps younger players in the Neuqua Valley program and those in youth basketball programs that Williams helps run.
“She’s kind of an icon in the community to the younger kids,” said Williams. “And not just because she’s a great basketball player, but because she’s also a great person. She’s a sweetheart of a kid.”
Williams compares Wisdom-Hylton with such Chicago-area impact players as Naperville Central junior Candace Parker and Fenwick’s Erin Lawless. He said her future looks very bright.
“The sky’s the limit for her,” he said. “I don’t think she’ll reach her full potential until she gets to the collegiate level.”
As with Parker, top-flight college programs have shown considerable interest in Wisdom-Hylton.
“She’s getting looks all over the place,” said Williams. “Right now, she’s not even thinking of [college]. She just wants to wait until the season is over and then move on from there.”
