By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
York senior girls basketball player Danielle Dennis has been a key contributor to the program over the last four years.
But while Dennis said she got better this season at things such as memorizing plays and taking more 3-pointers, it’s her leadership qualities that shined brightly during this year’s campaign.
“I tried to push the team to have one mindset and not panic at certain points of the game,” she said recently. “I’ve been a lot more vocal. I’ve definitely tried to work at being a leader and reinforce things. All the seniors are captains this season. It’s a natural instinct to be a good role model to the underclassmen and even the upperclassmen. I was a leader last year and I’m definitely one now.”
Dennis said her work with the Illinois Evolution club team has helped her. “My AAU basketball coach got me to become more of a shooter,” she said.
Dennis was a consistent presence for the Dukes this season, particularly in the scoring column. Dennis and York reached a Class 4A regional title game this season. “That’s another one of my strong points,” she said. “It’s something I didn’t have last year. I’m scoring and rebounding this year and that’s where I’ve been the most consistent.”
Dennis said this season was enjoyable because of the team chemistry dynamic. “This year we’re all best friends,” she said. “We can talk about anything to each other. We’re open with each other. We all bonded. Because of that it’s easier to look for people on the court. We all have a lot of confidence in each other.”
Dennis would like to play basketball in college. “It’s going well,” she said of the recruitment process. “There are two schools that I have an opportunity to play at and I’m still deciding between them.”
One requirement of where she will go to college is an institution with a nursing program. “It has to be somewhere with a good nursing program,” said Dennis, who would like to work in an emergency room setting. “That’s my priority. I know I am going to have to study a lot. I’m looking for a school with a good clinical program. I’m looking for a well-rounded medium-sized school.”
Dennis has been on the high honor roll at York every semester and enjoys art in her spare time.
“I really enjoy art and like doing it at home outside of school,” she said. “I will draw anything people ask.”
Dennis can’t believe four years in the girls’ program at York have gone by.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “I still get texts from the seniors who were here when I was an underclassmen. It’s pretty crazy. I remember looking up to the seniors and being kind of nervous talking to them. They all were in shape and athletic and I looked up to them. They all were inspirations to me.”
And this season Dennis filled that same role and did so with excellence both on and off the court.
