Over the past 13 summers, the Mac Irvin Fire program in Chicago has churned out countless Division I women’s basketball recruits. Founded in 2002, the Fire is simply extending its legacy in the summer of 2015.
The Fire will be looking to write another winning chapter in their tremendous history when they travel to Las Vegas will be for the Lake Las Vegas Classic, which will be played at the Westin Lake Las Vegas complex on July 10. The field in Nevada will be loaded with outstanding programs from around the country.
Mac Irvin Fire has talented players at every level, but the 2017 class seems to be special, even by Fire standards. Three of the young athletes who have been making their mark this year are Savannah Altman (2017, 6-4, PF), Marlee Kyles (2017, 5-8, CG) and Destiny Harden (2017, 5-10, G). Harden is listed as the No. 86 recruit in the class nationally by the All Star Girls Report.
“Savannah has good size — she isn’t a skinny 6-2 — but she can step out and shoot it well from 15 feet,” said Irvin, the program director. “She also has some nice post moves, and she knows how to play with her back to the basket.
“Marlee, in my opinion, is one of the biggest sleepers in the country. She plays for a school in Illinois that doesn’t have big time basketball, so not a lot of people know about her. More and more people have been figuring it out this spring when they see her play. She spends most of her time playing with boys, and she has a real craftiness to her game.
“Destiny is a very, very athletic kid, and her recruiting just blew up this spring. She has one of the better motors in the country. She is just all over the court making plays. Any coach would love to have a player with the energy that Destiny has.”