At 6-foot-4-inches, Lilly Stoddard can easily be the center of attention.
And, such has been the case for the Crown Point High School (IN) standout, whether it be on the hardwood or the volleyball court, where she has experienced quite a bit of success during his prep career.
A season ago, Stoddard was a dominant force in basketball, averaging 10.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game, while leading Crown Point to a 25-1 record and the Class 4A state title, as Crown Point knocked off Brownsburg 44-34 in the final. In the state title tilt, Stoddard scored five points and recorded 12 rebounds.
"Winning state was such a cool experience, and I am so grateful for everyone that helped me get there. It was so cool to see everyone there to support us," Stoddard recently told Heartland Sports Report.
Efforts like that have become the norm for Stoddard and have been since picking up a basketball at the age of 5.
"Both of my parents played, and my mom played at St. Joe College, so I’ve been playing almost my entire life. What I enjoy most about the game is the team atmosphere and the competitiveness. The game is constantly changing, and it gets more competitive the higher level you get to," Stoddard said.
While some may feel pressure to follow in their parents' footsteps, Stoddard welcomes it, saying her mother and father have been tremendous.
"Both of my parents playing basketball has helped me so much. They come in with me to shoot and give me things that I can improve or work on, so I’m very grateful that they are able to help me improve," Stoddard said.
In addition to her parents, Stoddard has benefited from her sister, Abby Stoddard, who plays at Butler University.
"She has been a big help, and she went through the recruiting process first, so she was a big help in telling me what to expect. She knows the game really well, so working out with her is a lot of fun. We’re both very competitive, so we make each other better and help each other with what we need to work on. She’s my role model, and I’m very proud of the things she’s accomplished," Stoddard admitted.
The hard work has paid dividends, as Stoddard was recognized as an Indiana Junior All-Star last season and has been nominated as a McDonald's All-American as a junior and senior.
"Being nominated is such a cool experience. It’s a huge honor, and I’ve been to the camp the past two years. Being nominated as a junior and a senior is something that I’m really grateful for," she said.
While some may be surprised with the senior's success, she is not. Instead, she admits that she is "very grateful" for all her success.
"I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m surprised. I’m very grateful for the things that I’ve worked for. I’ve put in a lot of work to get to where I am today. I couldn’t have done it without my shooting coach, trainers, all of my parents, and AAU also helped a lot. I have worked out after or before practices, and put in a lot of work," Stoddard noted.
The work caught the attention of several colleges as offers began to pour in, but, in the end, Stoddard opted to stay inside Indiana and commit to Purdue University. She selected the Boilermakers over offers from Iowa, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Butler and Illinois. In addition, she had a volleyball scholarship offer to Colorado.
"Purdue’s coaching staff has always stood out to me. They really care about their players. They also had a plan for me, which I thought was really important and unique about them. The education aspect also stood out. Overall, I’m very excited to play at Purdue with my new teammates. Purdue really stood out, and they’re my top school," Stoddard told HSR.
And, she noted it was important to her to get the decision out of the way prior to her senior season.
"It’s definitely nice to have made the decision and to know where I’m going. I can focus on what they think I should work on to try to prepare the best I can for next year," Stoddard said.
With the girl's basketball season inching closer to the sectional tournament in Indiana, Crown Point has positioned itself for another run at a title, racing off to a 13-2 record.
And, while there has been success for both Stoddard and the Bulldogs, she admits she isn't done yet.
"My goals for this season are to improve my shot and outside game. The game is changing and becoming more and more positionless. I talk to a sports psychologist that helps with my mental state and confidence while playing," Stoddard said.
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