Juniors Zaria Goins and Chloe Santos of Trinity High School basketball were named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A/4A All-State teams last week. Goins made the Third Team, while Santos received Special Mention.
“To get two people on there is awesome,” said Trinity coach Kimberly Coleman. “Both of them are deserving of it; they had really big years for us.”
Goins, a 5-7 guard, averaged 12.3 points, five rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. She was also named to the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red all-conference team for the second time.
“She’s one of the top players in the state. That was something she wanted people to know,” Coleman said.
Santos, a 5-10 forward, averaged 8.9 points, six rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Like Goins, she made the GCAC Red all-conference team.
“Chloe has made some big gains,” Coleman said. “She showed up in some big conference games. She’s surpassing her potential and we’re hoping to keep it moving forward.”
What has Coleman excited is that she gets Goins and Santos back for their final year.
“It’s a blessing,” she said, “when your top two scorers and dominant players are coming back. We’re going to try to enjoy this last year with them, and try to get over this [sectional] hump.”
Trinity was eliminated in the IHSA Class 3A DePaul Prep sectional semifinal by Montini on Feb. 25, 34-29. The Broncos went on to win the 3A title, so that has Coleman optimistic about a sectional breakthrough next season for the Blazers.
“We lost by five to the state champions. That’s how close we are,” she said.
Coleman added that neither Goins nor Santos has received college offers. But she’s hopeful that will change this summer.
“They’re both open and ready to be recruited,” Coleman said. “They’re looking to have big AAU (American Amateur Union) seasons and get in front of schools. Zaria has a couple of visits lined up, but they’re waiting for the right moment and opportunity.”
OPRF’S O’Connor gets academic honor
Oak Park and River Forest senior Liam O’Connor, a member of the Huskies’ boys cross-country and track-and-field teams, was named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team on March 4. He is the school’s sixth student-athlete, and second cross-country/track runner, to get this honor.
“The IHSA All-State Academic Team truly represents the best that Illinois has to offer,” said IHSA Assistant Executive Director Stacy Lambert in a press release. “When you look at the credentials of these team members, you are not only going to see outstanding grades and incredible test scores, but participation in multiple sports and activities, as well as significant contributions to their school and community. The ability to not only balance but also simultaneously excel in all these endeavors is inspiring. We are proud to have these future leaders represent the IHSA and Illinois.”
All IHSA schools nominated two students — one female, one male — for consideration. Nominees must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale after seven semesters, have participated in at least two IHSA-sponsored sports or activities in each of the last two years, and show outstanding citizenship.
Last fall, O’Connor, who will run collegiately at NCAA Division III Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, became OPRF’s fourth multiple all-stater in cross-country with a ninth-place finish at the Class 3A state meet in a personal best time of 14:25.2.