high schools

Wilkins' winning ways

To suggest Burnsville senior tennis player Tooli Wilkins is on a roll doesn't do her justice. Wilkins' success can better be compared to an avalanche.

Following Monday's victory in her match against Chaska, Wilkins has a career record of 89-0 in regular-season matches. Few of those matches ever were in doubt, particularly during the past three seasons, when she rarely has lost more than one game in a set.

Wilkins has lost four times in the postseason, with all four losses coming at the hands of former Edina standout Whitney Taney. She beat Wilkins in the Section 6AA final and the state final each of the past two seasons.

"It was always fun to play her," Wilkins said. "She always made me play better. So I'm sad to see her go -- but also happy."

Happy because Wilkins is the favorite to win the state title this season. Going out on top after finishing second twice has been the goal all season.

"It's in the back of my mind," Wilkins said. "I'm looking forward to it. It was hard at the beginning of the season to keep my focus on that particular match, but my teammates have made it fun for me to have matches with them."

Burnsville has three more matches in the regular season. Wilkins admits to being well aware she has a chance to finish her career without losing a match in the regular season. "I hate losing," she said, "so it's definitely a goal."

Wilkins joined the Burnsville varsity as an eighth-grader, and quickly established herself as the Blaze's best player. Her talent has been enhanced by a commitment to excellence.

"The thing that separates her from the rest is she is incredibly accurate," Burnsville coach Bruce Anderson said. "She just paints the corners with her shots. She is very consistent. If things do start going badly she has the wherewithal to refocus and turn things around. Only the elite players can do that."

Wilkins' personal coach is Dana Young, a former Gophers player and assistant coach, and the wife of Gophers men's coach Geoff Young. A typical day involves hitting balls for three hours and an hour and a half of conditioning.

Wilkins is home schooled by her mother, which provides the flexibility to fit everything into her day. Wilkins is a full-blooded American Indian. Her father, Dave, is a professor of American Indian Studies at the U. Her older brother, Sion, lettered for the Gophers men's tennis team in 2004.

Wilkins has made a verbal commitment to the Gophers after also looking at Dartmouth, North Carolina State and Brown. "I never really considered any other schools," she said.

Now, much like Taney a year ago, there will be plenty of opponents happy to see her go.

On the recruiting trail

Minneapolis South junior girls' basketball player Tayler Hill, who already is a three-time Star Tribune All-Metro first-team selection, is drawing the attention of college coaches from across the country.

Coaches from Kansas and Duke are expected to watch Hill, a 5-10 guard, work out during an upcoming open gym at South. Other colleges heavily recruiting Hill include Indiana, Baylor, Texas, Louisiana State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Georgia Tech, "and at least another 30," South coach Ahmil Jihad said.

Hill made unofficial visits to Notre Dame and Marquette while her family was taking her brother, P.J. Hill, to Ohio State. He is a sophomore basketball player with the Buckeyes, transferring after one year at Midland (Texas) Community College. P.J. played high school basketball at Minneapolis North.