Girls Basketball notes: Downers Grove South’s Jordin Grant sets sights on Air Force, making most of last season

Jordin Grant made one thing clear as she discussed her future with the United States Air Force.

She’ll remain grounded.

Grant, a Downers Grove South senior and third-year member of the varsity basketball team, will much more likely be pursuing a career with the military police than as a pilot.

“Oh, no, I’m so scared of heights, terrified of heights,” Grant said.

All kidding aside, Grant clearly has her head on straight as she makes her plans for beyond high school. One of six siblings, she considered going to college to play basketball. Her older sister, Jaylyn, is a sophomore on the College of DuPage basketball team.

But Jordin Grant thinks of herself as more of a hands-on person than the classroom-type.

“I want to see stuff,” she said. “It was between the Army and the Air Force. I ended up picking the Air Force and the training they would give me and the opportunities after.”

She knows well those opportunities. Grant has family members in almost every branch of the armed services, uncles and a cousin in the Army and an uncle in the Marines. Grant was sworn into the Air Force in January, and leaves for basic training at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio in August.

“And then tech school and then after that they’ll give us our station,” Grant said.

Meanwhile, Grant will try to make the most of her opportunities left in high school. She’s one of five seniors on a Downers Grove South team that’s 2-2 after wins last week against Proviso East and Oak Park-River Forest. Grant twisted her ankle in practice, and aggravated it in a game, but hopes to be off crutches this week.

“It’s going good, us seniors are all happy to be able to play this season,” Grant said.

Grant, always a good driver and rebounder for the Mustangs, has this season knocked down some key shots with an improved shooting form.

“When she is on, she is fun to watch,” Downers Grove South coach Lyndsie Long said. “When she gets in that second gear of hers, the things that she can do when she puts her mind to it is unbelievable.”

Grant was first called up to varsity the start of sophomore year. It was an adjustment going from playing point guard as a freshman to more of a guard/forward role with the varsity team. Long saw a player who was super athletic and physical, but has since grown her game, improved her decision-making on the court and fundamentals. Grant worked after practice with Downers Grove South’s assistant coach on her shooting form, placing her hand under the ball instead of at the side.

“It’s a much quicker release now, a much quicker shot,” she said.

Grant said the physical nature to her game comes from playing pickup with the boys when she first started with basketball.

“You can’t be weak with them,” Grant said. “You have to push them out of the way or they’ll push you. I like playing physical. It gives me a rush.”

Grant said her basketball playing days might not be completely over after this year, as she may get the chance to play with the Air Force. She likely will pursue a career with security force, like military police. After a few years, she could qualify for the CIA, which caught her attention.

“Just super proud that she made the decision and is going to go with it,” Long said.

Stapleton closing in on a milestone

Another Downers Grove South senior, Meghan Stapleton, is closing in on a career milestone. Stapleton, a four-year varsity player and Loras College commit, is about 40 points away from 1,000 career points going into this week.

Stapleton was always a spot-on shooter. Last season she scored a career-high 34 points against Leyden, with five 3-pointers. Long, though, said Stapleton has worked on her driving since the beginning of last season to become a more well-rounded scorer.

“We tried to develop that aspect of her game and she’s just outstanding,” Long said. “I don’t just call her a shooter anymore. She’s a really good offensive player.”

Stapleton has also grown in areas not as easily seen on the court.

“It’s her leadership,” Long said. “She’s a captain, and she’s far more vocal this year. She’s really taken the younger girls under her wing.”

Downers Grove North on COVID-19 quarantine

Downers Grove North’s varsity girls basketball team had its two games last weekend canceled, and will miss its next three games as well as it has been quarantined for COVID-19.

The Trojans learned of a positive case in the varsity program after its practice last Thursday. Downers Grove North had its game Friday at Oak Park-River Forest and Saturday against York canceled. Games this week at Hinsdale South, York and Lyons have also been canceled.

Downers Grove North coach Stephan Bolt thinks that they can return to practice March 1, with the hope that they can resume playing March 2 at Hinsdale Central.

The Trojans last played Feb. 16, a 44-28 win over Downers Grove South.

“It’s really demoralizing for the kids,” Bolt said. “They looked forward to playing so much and then on a moment’s notice you have to stop. Hopefully next week we can get going again. A week and a half off, get back in gear, it’s just a weird year.”

Timothy Christian’s Schuringa scores career-high

Timothy Christian senior Hannah Schuringa may not reach one program milestone because of the pandemic-shortened season, but she’s certainly making the most of her year.

Last week, Schuringa scored a career-high 32 points in a win over St. Edward. Schuringa before that was averaging 21.2 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals through the Trojans’ first five games.

Schuringa finished last season with 1,164 career points, which already has her top five in program history, the fifth woman to eclipse 1,000 points at Timothy Christian. In a normal senior season Schuringa would pass the all-time mark set by Kristi Bosman VanderWal, mom of current Timothy Christian junior Ben VanderWal.

“With half of the amount of games, it’s really not possible,” Schuringa said. “That was a little sad, but I’m just happy we’re having a season.

Schuringa plans to play basketball collegiately, and is talking to a few NAIA and Division III schools. She’s keeping quite busy in the meantime. Schuringa ran cross country last fall, and plans to play volleyball and run track this spring. When Timothy Christian started a badminton team this year, she gave it a try.

“It was a season happening, I figured let’s do it,” Schuringa said.

Hall leading short-handed Fenwick

It’s not ideal, but Fenwick is adjusting to life without junior forward Audrey Hinrichs. The junior forward, who averaged nearly a double-double last season, has missed four games as she nurses an ankle injury. The Friars are 2-2 without her after last Saturday’s 62-44 win over Montini.

It helps having Lauren Hall, Fenwick’s lone senior, around. Fenwick coach Dave Power said Hall wears jersey No. 1, and is very deserving of it.

“She plays very hard and exerts so much energy, is go go nonstop,” Power said. “She’s been a leader for these girls, been on varsity for all four years. She can not score a single point and totally turn the game in our favor, whether defense or rebounding.”

Hall scored 11 points against Montini, what Power considered her best game of the season.

“It’s a lot different adjusting without Aubrey,” Hall said. “It’s all about bringing energy and we’re doing really good with all the circumstances. I think I had a rough start, was a little rusty but the team is building momentum.”