Considering her modeling experience, charismatic personality and appealingly alliterative name, it’s only fitting Hailey Hoye has emerged as a cover girl of sorts for the Oak Park and River Forest High School girls basketball team. Panache aside, Hoye has earned considerable respect around the Huskies basketball program as a hard-working, three-year varsity starter.
This season, the 5-foot-8 junior guard has filled many roles for head coach JP Coughlin as the team’s top defender, reliable scorer and unquestioned team leader. Hoye, 17, has effectively blended her assorted skill set on the court as seamlessly as a well-chosen ensemble in another area of interest for her — fashion.
“Hailey is always happy and smiling, her laugh is contagious, and she is really a fun player to be around on a daily basis,” Coughlin said. “She is a great student of the game, and we are always discussing strategy and basketball in general. She really understands my expectations of this team.”
Hoye is averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season. She also scored 29 points in an overtime victory against Hinsdale South this season. Last year, she torched Downers Grove North for 32 points.
“I’m just trying to develop my game and be fluid on the court,” Hoye said. “When I was a freshman, [former OPRF guard] Stekara Hall was a mentor to me. I looked up to her and now I’m trying to help some of our younger players in a similar way.”
Hoye has clearly made an impact on the Huskies’ highly touted freshman point guard, Chardonnay Harris.
“Hailey is always mindful of everybody else,” Harris said. “We relate in many ways and have a great relationship on and off the court.”
Added teammate Alison Carraher: “Hailey is a natural leader on and off the court. She knows what needs to get done and helps the team understand what we need to do.”
Although the Huskies have been hampered by injuries lately and performed inconsistently with a 10-12 record this season, Hoye raised hopes by scoring 21 points in the Huskies’ 60-50 victory over Fenwick in the season opener.
Fenwick suffered a more significant loss when senior all-state guard Jade Owens left the game with an injury only a minute into the first quarter. She recently rejoined the Friars. Hoye and Owens attended Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest together.
“I’m glad Jade is back,” Hoye said. “She’s a close friend of mine, but we play Fenwick and Trinity this season. It’s always nice to beat at least one if not both of them.”
It’s been a time of transition for the Huskies, who installed a new motion offense and a 2-3 zone defense after dropping three of four games at the Montini Christmas Tournament. Erin Orr is out for the season with a torn ACL, Harris is nursing a sprained ankle, and top reserve Katie Mullins has a dislocated finger.
Hoye views the Huskies’ recent adversity as an avenue to better days ahead.
“I like our group of girls,” she said. “We’re focused on getting all of our players healthy and hopefully making some noise in the playoffs.”
Hoye, who plays AAU basketball with Owens for Midwest Elite, is already drawing significant recruiting interest from several college basketball programs, including Colorado, Lehigh, and New York University along with some Big 10 schools.
“I’ve been working on my jump shot and also driving to the basket,” Hoye said. “Being on the varsity now for three seasons, I feel very confident in my ability.”
At OPRF, Hoye enjoys science and math. She might study pre-law or sports medicine in college. Becoming a sports agent is another possibility.
Off the court, Hoye enjoys spending time with her parents, Anthony and Maria, along with their three dogs, Charlie, Sock and Princess in their River Forest home. She’s also flourished as a model, highlighted by photo shoots for Disney and Procter & Gamble.
“I modeled for Disney with an education summer program for kids,” she said. “I also modeled for a children’s book and did a project with Procter & Gamble with a theme of inspiring minorities that anything is possible.”
With Hoye leading the way, it feels like anything is also possible for the Huskies.