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Published May 01, 2012, 12:00 AM

Superior’s Kontny gets another Division I offer

BASKETBALL: As an eighth-grader, Hailey Kontny was surprised to receive a scholarship offer from a Division I women’s basketball program.

By: Rick Weegman, Duluth News Tribune

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    Superior's Hailey Kontny (left) has been offered a Division I basketball scholarship from Northern Illinois. (2012 file / News Tribune)

As an eighth-grader, Hailey Kontny was surprised to receive a scholarship offer from a Division I women’s basketball program.

Now finishing out her sophomore year at Superior High School, Kontny can expect more of where that came from.

Northern Illinois is the latest Division I university to offer a scholarship, according to her Amateur Athletic Union coach.

Huskies coach Kathi Bennett, the daughter of former Wisconsin men’s coach Dick Bennett, saw Kontny play during the three-day evaluation period that Division I schools are allowed in April and offered a full scholarship.

“Kathi is not easily impressed,” said Andy Crane, a coach on the University of Dubuque women’s team and coach of the Team Wisconsin U-17 AAU team. “She spoke really highly of Hailey. Kathi takes her time to recruit, so for her to offer Hailey now as a sophomore, that’s pretty remarkable.”

Crane said Kontny expects to eventually visit the DeKalb, Ill., campus, but by that time the Spartans point guard might have several other offers to mull over.

“It’s about to get really busy for her,” Crane said Monday night. “I took phone calls today from Louisville and Kansas State. She’s going to become pretty popular over the next three months.

“Hailey is one of the mainstays and one of the names that keeps coming up with virtually every program I talk to.”

Kontny, who made news when the University of Michigan offered her a scholarship two years ago, averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game for the Spartans. She earned a second straight All-Lake Superior Conference first-team honor, as well as being named honorable mention on the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 1 team.

Neither Kontny nor her father, Superior boys coach Dave Kontny, were reached for comment.

Teammate Jessica Lindstrom, who averaged 19.0 points and 11.4 rebounds en route to being named News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year, also is generating interest from Division I colleges.

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