Varsity basketball is slowing down considerably for Homewood-Flossmoor’s Aunyai Deere.
That couldn’t come at a better time for sophomore guard, especially with the state playoffs just around the corner for the Vikings.
But it’s probably bad news for opponents, who will now have to deal with yet another young shooter and defender who’s only improving.
“My freshman year, the tempo was a little fast,” Deere said. “I couldn’t really adjust. I used to rush my shots, and I used to be nervous.
“Now that I’m in my sophomore year, I’m getting a little more comfortable. The game is starting to get easier for me because I’m more relaxed.”
Deere scored 18 points Tuesday night as the Vikings put together a 16-0 run in the third quarter en route to a 56-47 SouthWest Suburban Blue victory over Lincoln-Way East.
The thing that will raise some eyebrows is how Deere picked up her third foul for H-F (16-6, 4-1) in the first quarter.
That didn’t matter to her at all — she still scored 14 points in the final three quarters. That doesn’t mean it was easy, though.
“It was extremely hard because I had to figure out a strategy for me to not to get a foul,” she said. “I just kept moving my hands and my feet.”
The Griffins (20-4, 2-3) got a big effort from senior forward Hayven Smith, the Illinois recruit who posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Lilly Dockemeyer added 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
In the relative scheme of things, the 5-foot-8 Deere got involved later in basketball than her peers, beginning at age 10 with the Lady Reign program. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have her eyes on a prized varsity spot even back then.
She credits Syracuse standout Alyssa Latham, the former H-F star, for inspiring her along with senior guard Jaeda Murphy, Deere’s teammate,
“Alyssa was a big part of the reason I came here,” Deere said. “I liked the way she played and also the way that Jaeda was playing, too, because I saw what she could do as a guard and how she got better over time.”
The feeling is mutual, according to Murphy.
“Aunyai is a really tough player,” she said. “She has a great shot. She’s an all-around player. She has great energy and brings it on defense. She can guard the four or the five.
“It doesn’t matter who you put on her, she’s going to guard them.”
H-F coach Tony Smith said Deere has had to grow up quickly as he has given her more and more responsibility, even on par with an upperclassman in Murphy.
Sometimes, the stage has been big for Deere when the expectation is to not only contribute but take over a game like Tuesday’s matchup.
“She’s more than capable,” Smith said. “We’ve just to get her to believe it all the time that she’s ready to be that. She can go in and get it done.”
Smith said the leadership torch was passed from Latham to Murphy, and it might very well end up in Deere’s hands eventually.
That’s fine. She’s ready with her own leadership philosophy for the Vikings.
“It would probably be talking and communicating with the team,” she said. “It’s helping them whenever they need help offensively and defensively.”
Deere also has big plans for the future. She’s already getting college looks but has her eye on one school in particular.
“I want to go to UConn,” she said with a smile. “I think’s a very good program, and it’s just the style of play they have, the tempo, the way they run up and down the court.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
