Hot Shot: Marian Catholic's Simone Law Honored as Top Winter Sports Athlete

Simone Law, Marian Catholic, senior, girls basketball

When Simone Law leaves Marian Catholic this coming spring, just how will she be missed?

“The better question to be asked is how she won’t be missed,” Marian coach Annie Basic-Byrne said.

Here’s Law's list of honors from this season: McDonald's All-American nominee, ESPN All-Area, MVP of the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Second-Team IBCA, Chicago Sun-Times All-Area, Southtown Star Player of the Year and Northwest Indiana Times Player of the Year.

Now, Law can add one more award to her stack: Chicago Heights Patch pick as Top Winter Sports Athlete.

* Law averaged 17.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. She is the Marian Catholic record holder for career rebounds and single-season rebounds. She is the third all-time leading scorer at Marian Catholic (1,680 points) and she is second all-time for scoring in a single season (622 points).

When Law reflects on the season, she’s going to remember the times shared with teammates. “All the great games that we played,” she said. “This team bonded so much. All the memories that we shared.”

Law will be playing at Loyola next season, and she knows Marian’s focus on developing student-athletes will give her the upper-hand in college. “I’m prepared a little better than most people, I think,” she said.

The future Rambler is excited about the school’s location near downtown Chicago and the beach.

Law was thrown into the fire her freshman season when teammate Mallory Eggert went down with an injury.

“She wasn’t afraid to step in,” Basic-Byrne said. “The more she was out there, the more comfortable she became.”

By the time her junior and senior years rolled around, Law was the one imparting her wisdom to the younger players.

“Going from being the younger kid to the older kid and having responsibility was one of her biggest challenges. She handled it well,” Basic-Byrne said.

With a strong Marian tradition of older players passing the baton to the younger players, Basic-Byrne said sophomore Megan Walsh will be called upon next season to fill the shoes of Law.

Law carries a 3.5 GPA at Marian Catholic. “She takes a lot of pride in her grades,” Basic-Byrne said. “I think that’s one of the reasons she’s so excited about Loyola.”

The Marian Catholic program emphasizes the things that will make players successful in college, such as academics and preparation. Basic-Byrne is confident this will translate for Law at Loyola.

“Our goal is to give them a small taste at what they will experience at the next level,” Basic-Byrne said.

Law said her dad, who played at Western Illinois, was her biggest inspiration to be involved in basketball. With Law, family is important. Her little brother, Victor, is a freshman basketball player at St. Rita. Simone loves to work out with him.

Law is also excited that her family will be able to watch her play at Loyola.

“I’m excited to get there,” Law said. “I’m glad it’s close to home so my parents can come watch.”