Before her junior year even started, junior Ali Andrews committed to play basketball at University of Illinois.

Since her freshman year at HHS she has played varsity level basketball as well as AAU basketball.

Last year, Andrews was named the Northwest Herald Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She was also named to The Associated Press’ Class 4A all-state honorable mention team.

Along with the scholarship offer from U of I, Andrews was offered scholarships from Marquette University, DePaul University, and Southern Illinois University. Although she did not receive scholarship offers from University of Iowa and Michigan University, she was talking to them, and considering playing for them.

Playing AAU basketball has contributed a lot to her exposure to college coaches. A lot of coaches go to tournaments over the summer to watch the girls play basketball to recruit them for a specific college.

I have watched Andrews play before, and it really was something I benefited from as a player. It was cool to watch the way she can place herself in spots where it seems like a play cannot be made and to have the ball in her hands at the end of the play with her in scoring position.

Andrews will be successful in college because she is able to play in such a way that it is almost impossible to defend.