Julia Henrikson, a junior at Oswego High School, has been playing basketball since second grade, along with being on the varsity basketball team since freshman year.
At Lakewood Creek Elementary, she started to learn the concepts and skills of basketball. Henrikson already had the talent in her to play at a high level.
“I decided to play basketball because I enjoy and love the game,” Henrikson said.
She started to do basic fundamental drills with her parents and coaches. This included form shooting, pound dribbles, and one on one games with friends.
When she began playing travel basketball in third grade, she started on the Lady Lighting, then played for Truth. Last season, she played for the Illinois T Wolves out of Plainfield.
To improve her basketball skills, she trained with the basketball training facility “M-14” and multiple high school and college coaches.
“The Oswego basketball coaches started to notice my talent in elementary school, because my dad was the basketball coach,” Henrikson said.“I grew up playing in the OHS gym.”
Her favorite memory of basketball was being a freshman on the varsity team and her initial teammates.
Now, Henrickson has her priorities set—spending her time only to “eat and sleep, eat and practice.”
With one year left of high school after this basketball season, Henrickson is starting to look at colleges to continue her basketball career.
“After high school, I’m interested in University of Dubuque or Lewis University to play,” Henrickson said.
She is continuing to work on her skills everyday to get better and her talent could lead her to many offers from college coaches.
“It’s a 10 out of 10 in my life,” Henrickson said.
Henrickson’s junior year continues on Friday, when the girls varsity team hosts Minooka in a conference battle.
