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Maine West's Kent excited for season and her future

As she wraps up her four-year career this winter, Rachel Kent will have a new title in front of her name.

The Maine West girls basketball standout is now St. Louis University recruit Rachel Kent.

"When I started playing basketball I didn't even know if I'd be able to play college basketball," said Kent, one of the top players in the state of Illinois. "It's amazing that I got this opportunity."

With help of Kent's skills, Maine West had the opportunity to play in the Class 4A state finals last year, taking third place at Redbird Arena in Normal.

The 2018 Northwest suburbs all-area co-captain is back for her senior year, and things are still looking bright for another stellar season.

"It isn't the same team," said Kent, one of only two starters returning for the Warriors. "We have to relearn everything but we'll do our best and I think we have a great shot to be a great team this year, too."

Speaking of shots, Kent has one of the finest around, and it has led to her scoring more than 1,200 points in three seasons as a starter.

St. Louis coaches spotted her touch last summer when she was playing in a tournament for her Midwest Elite AAU team.

She made the visit to the campus and it was pretty much love at first sight.

"They contacted me and I went for a visit and fell in love," Kent said. "Once I saw it, I knew it was for me. It's such a good basketball school and such a good academic school. It seems anywhere you go, you hear people who went there, or they know someone who went there."

Rolling Meadows' Jackie Kemph and Jenny Vliet just wrapped up careers playing basketball at St. Louis.

Loyola senior Julia Martinez, who Kent guarded in last year's sectional final, will also be an incoming freshman for the Billikins' women's basketball team.

"It just seems like a real good school and I kind of like the city vibe," Kent added. "They have a great coaching staff and seem real supportive. They came to all my games this past summer."

Kent, who has always wanted to be in the health care field, will study physical therapy.

"I want to go into that specifically because a woman at our church opened her own physical therapy clinic and I was really impressed when I shadowed her and observed it," Kent said.

Just like coaches have been impressed when observing Kent's skills on the basketball floor.

One of the first to recognize her talents was Maine West's late hall of fame coach Derril Kipp, for whom Kent played as a freshman.

"My parents (Namon and Mary Jo) were very important supporting me with everything I did," Rachel said.

"In fourth grade, my dad practiced every single day with my brother (Randy, a sophomore business major at Grand Valley State) and me. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.

"Then when I got to middle school, Mr. Kipp invited me to his AAU team with Alisa (Fallon), Allison (Pearson) and (Catherine Johnson) and that's when I really started getting into it."

Kent started playing year-round travel basketball and by the time she was a freshman, Kipp had her in the starting lineup.

"If I had not met all of them (all-area standouts on last year's team), I don't think I would have been challenged as much because they're such great players," Kent said.

Kent is just as great in the classroom, where she has all A's and one B in four years.

She is a National Honor Society student, and member of the school's Key Club (service club for the community) and Warriors Pride (helping freshmen become acquainted with the school.)

"She is the complete package of student-athlete," said Warriors coach Kim de Marigny. "She is a gem."

And now she and her Maine West teammates will look for some more jewels this winter after winning the CSL North for the second straight time last year.

"We want her to finish strong and play to her capabilities," said the third-year coach. "She has a lot of potential. Now that she is committed, we just want her to relax and have fun playing the game she loves."

It truly is a passion for Kent.

"She has a golden heart inside her chest," de Marigny added. "She is willing to do whatever it takes to be successful and she always gives 100 percent no matter if we are running a drill, or running sprints. Whatever we do, we can always count on Rachel to give it all she's got."

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