To call Dave Yates an optimist would be an understatement.
The Fremd girls basketball coach became notorious among his staff for overrating his young players, envisioning futures nearly impossible to attain.
For 10 years, Dave Townsend served as Yates’ assistant.
“I remember he compared one of the kids to Larry Bird,” Townsend said. “I just looked at him laughing.”
In the summer of 2011, Yates again found a freshman to get excited about. This time, his hype proved prophetic.
Back then, Haley Gorecki was a slender player with above-average skills who joined Fremd for a team camp at Marquette. Four years later, Gorecki is Illinois’ Ms. Basketball.
Gorecki’s ascension from complementary player to one of the best in Fremd history wrapped up with a 61-39 loss to Benet in the Class 4A state title game March 7.
Gorecki, a 6-foot senior guard, averaged 21.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game this season to lead Fremd to a 29-5 record and the highest state finish in program history.
She was selected Ms. Basketball in a statewide vote of media and schools. The award is sponsored by the Tribune in conjunction with the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
She finished with 346 points and was named first on 49 of 115 ballots, easily outdistancing Bishop McNamara’s Khadaizha Sanders (155 points) and Benet’s Kathleen Doyle (115).
Early promise
At that Marquette camp, In her first games with her new teammates, which included Division I-bound Ashley McConnell (Illinois) and Jessi Wiedemann (Valparaiso), Gorecki reached double figures three times.
“We hadn’t even put in an offense yet and we already had some good kids on the team, but Haley played so good,” Yates said. “After that weekend, Dave said I might be right on this one.”
McConnell, now a sophomore guard at Illinois, immediately could tell Gorecki was going to be a big-time player.
“She was a very talented freshman, and her maturity level was way above her age,” McConnell said.
At least this time, Yates’ lofty predictions for a young player exceeded even his own expectations.
“He was definitely spot-on with Haley,” Townsend said. “Even then, we could tell she was playing at a different level.”
The unassuming star
Her presence on the court causes opposing coaches to gear their game plans to stop her with double teams, but Gorecki’s off-the-court quiet demeanor contradicts her big-name hoop status.
“Haley is the most humble superstar,” McConnell said.
Gorecki, who was also named the Gatorade Illinois girls basketball Player of the Year, rarely promotes herself or brings attention her way.
“I’m really a quiet person and don’t like to say my accomplishments,” Gorecki said.
After scoring a game-high 20 points in Fremd’s title-game loss to Benet, Gorecki fondly recalls jumping into the hotel pool with her teammates, not her final statistics.
“It was a tough loss to Benet, but I tried to look on the bright side and what we accomplished going downstate,” she said.
Yates watched Gorecki score 28 points during a tournament early in her freshman season, hit numerous teammates in the face with unexpected passes and lead the Vikings to three straight Mid-Suburban League titles, but he’s more amazed at her team-first attitude.
“Whenever we won, Haley never took the credit, but when we lost, she took all the blame,” Yates said. “During our award ceremony, Haley’s memories had nothing to do with what she did or her accomplishments. She is not a look-at-me person. She wrote about her great memories spending time with her teammates.”
Her game
Rankings are just an arbitrary way to judge a player’s worth. Gorecki’s unselfish ways — she averaged 15 shots per game — has her No. 55 in espnW’s 2015 HoopGurlz rankings. She injured her ankle twice during a key evaluation period last summer, and she elected not to attend the USA Basketball tryouts.
“That was a big mistake,” she said. “I look back now and wondered why I didn’t do it. At the time, I didn’t want to do it. I regret it.”
Gorecki said she molded her all-around game by playing AAU basketball for a boys teams in fifth and sixth grade, and against her older brother, Adam. Yates said college coaches often mistaken Gorecki for a left-hander because of her propensity to drive to her left. She operates at different speeds, is comfortable with both hands, and her crossover and spin move leave defenders struggling to stop her.
“I like to play pick-up games with guys,” Gorecki said. “It’s much faster and more aggressive. I’ve learned to like going to my left at a young age.”
Gorecki’s impact on the Fremd program extends beyond her record-breaking achievements. She guided the Vikings to four straight MSL West titles and twice was named MSL West Player of the Year.
The humble and soft-spoken Gorecki is moving forward to the next chapter of what’s expected to be a long basketball career, though she can’t help but look back.
“Being with my teammates is what I’ll always remember,” Gorecki said. “The memories we have will last a lifetime. It’s bittersweet that I will not be wearing the Fremd jersey anymore. I’m proud of what we accomplished as a team the last four years and all the people like coach Yates that helped me.”
