Hersey's Eidle named Illinois Gatorade player of the year

Hersey junior Katy Eidle has been named the 2021-2022 Gatorade Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

She is the school's first winner of the award for girls basketball.

The award, which recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character, makes her a finalist for Gatorade's national player of the year later this month.

The 6-foot guard averaged 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game this season, leading the Huskies to a 27-6 season.

A two-time Class 4A first team all-state selection, Eidle is also a two-time Mid-Suburban League East Division Player of the Year. Ranked the nation's No. 45 recruit in the Class of 2023 by PrepGirlsHoops.com, she concluded her season with 1,495 career points.

Eidle has volunteered with Hersey's Big Game, which facilitates special needs students playing basketball. She has also donated her time as a youth basketball coach.

"Katy is able to control the game in a number of ways with her ball-handling, passing, rebounding and scoring," said Ryan Kirkorsky, head coach at Rolling Meadows.

"She definitely makes her teammates better and plays the game the right way. I was impressed with how she let the game come to her, but found ways to dominate when necessary."

Eidle has maintained a weighted 3.48 GPA, and made a verbal commitment to play on scholarship at Michigan in the fall of 2023.

Other Gatorade players of the year are Greta Kampschroeder (2020-21, Naperville North), Angela Dugalic (2019-20, Maine West), and Brea Beal (2017-18 and 2018-19, Rock Island).

Through Gatorade's "Play it Forward" program, Eidle has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to an organization that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. Eidle is also eligible to submit a short video explaining why the organization is deserving of one of 12 $10,000 spotlight grants.