Highland Park junior point guard Kourtnie Halperin is a basketball player at heart.
But Halperin also has deep roots in tennis, which is a much different sport.
“Tennis is quiet, and it’s just you, the ball and the person you are playing,” she said.
The 5-foot-1 Halperin, who advanced to the Class 2A state meet with doubles partner Mira Schmidt in October, intends to help the Highland Park girls basketball team make more noise this season. She is one of three returning starters for the defending Central Suburban North champion Giants (5-2, 2-0), who will put a three-game winning streak on the line against league rival Vernon Hills on Friday.
“How I look at it is that as long as my team is succeeding, I’m succeeding,” Halperin said. “This season has gone great for me.”
Highland Park coach Jolie Bechtel said Halperin is definitely doing more in her third year as a starter. Halperin was an all-conference selection last season, when the Giants won 20 games.
“She was one of our better shooters last year, but her defense has gotten a lot better,” Bechtel said. “Her game is more complete. She is an impact player. This year her passing has been outstanding, and she’s become a bigger contributor on both ends of the floor.
“Her experience is really valuable. She loves basketball and is very intense and has a passion for the game.”
Teammates notice Halperin’s love for the sport too.
“Kourtnie does things that a lot of people can’t do while being the shortest player on the floor,” Highland Park senior forward Reese Crosby said. “She has a lot of passion for the game, and you can see it when she plays.”
Crosby, a fourth-year varsity player who also earned all-conference honors last season, said Halperin’s shooting remains important for the Giants’ offense.
“Kourtnie brings the ability to stretch the floor,” Crosby said. “Opposing teams have to keep an eye on her at all times when she’s behind the 3-point line, which makes it easier for players like me to drive to the basket. Overall, Kourtnie is a key asset for our team.”
Highland Park junior center Esmae You said Halperin is a savvy player too.
“Kourtnie is such a talented basketball player on the court because of her basketball IQ,” You said. “She doesn’t let anything stop her from driving to the basket or from passing a dime down the court.
“She seems to be able to see the whole court and has a deep understanding of how the game works. This makes her a great communicator and support for our team. Without Kourtnie, our team would not function.”
To that end, Halperin has also taken on a leadership role for the Giants this season.
“Being a point guard, you have to be a leader,” she said. “I’m one of the older players in the program, so just being someone the underclassmen can go to is huge. Being an upperclassman to me comes with a lot of responsibilities.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
