Player Profile: Lilly Crounse (Schnecksville, PA)

May 08, 2023

Player Profile: Lilly Crounse (Schnecksville, PA)

Name: Lilly Crounse

Hometown: Schnecksville, Pennsylvania

Height: 6-4

Position: Center

High School: Mercersburg Academy (PA)

Graduation Class: 2025

AAU Club: Global Squad

GPA: 3.7

Status: Uncommitted

MERCERSBURG, PA -- Lilly Crounse is a 6-4 Post from Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. She's currently a sophomore at Mercersburg Academy, and runs with Global Squad on the AAU circuit. She's the sister of Boston College Football commit, Michael Crounse and daughter of Mike, who played football at Notre Dame in the late 80's.

As you can tell Crounse comes from a family of athletes, but now she's looking to write her own story. The Lehigh Valley product is a solid paint presence at 6-4 who dominates on the glass and is an improved defender from a year ago. I've been monitoring Crounse's progress for almost two years now, but I'm proud to say that she's finally starting to put things together. Being more aggressive on offense, keeping the ball high and strong, and even with the little things of playing confidently on the court, her game is maturing. I can't wait to see what Crounse does these next two years, and glad she is joining the RPN's 2025 class.

I caught up with the Lehigh Valley prospect on the transition to Mercersburg, a breakdown of her game and preparation heading into next season.

Lilly Crounse Breakdown

Strengths:

Active Rebounder

"One of her stronger traits, you can always count on Crounse to hit the glass. She's greatly improved at remaining active on the glass compared to a year ago. Standing above 6-feet, you can say 'Oh, that's what she's supposed to do,' but having this type of motor outside of scoring is one of the best characteristics to have as a player. Once Crounse gets stronger, it could be a deciding factor for her recruitment."

High Basketball IQ

"Crounse has a 3.7 (GPA) in the classroom, so it's no surprise that it translates to her game. The Lehigh Valley prospect can be very serviceable as a playmaker as she's able to look for the open teammate, or finding a gap to pop a 15-footer. Mercersburg has allowed Crounse to grow as a player, but having a high IQ will open so many doors for you at the next level."

Keeps the ball high.

"Every big needs to have an emphasis on keeping the ball high. Whether it's being strong in going to get a rebound, working the high post, or using your length to an advantage to score. Crounse has improved with this little detail in her game, and will get better over time as a post player."

Solid Shot Blocker

"One of, if not, her best traits, Crounse will send your shot to the third row. I'm not exaggerating *laughs*. I've seen it on film of her pinning a girl's shot at the bottom of the rim. But, Crounse does a great job of being aware on the defensive end in using her length and frame to her advantage.

Unselfishness

"The fact that I have to even discuss this is criminal, but in today's youth scene, players's egos are destroying the game of basketball. One thing I wanted to point out is how Crounse handles herself as a player. Always celebrates her teammates on and off the court, looks to make the extra pass and not being afraid to do what others wont, there's a uniqueness to Crounse that needs to be talked about more. She's only going to get better as a player, so it's time to buy stock now before it's too late!"

Improvements:

Agility

"If I am Crounse this offseason, I am making sure I hit an agility ladder and plyometric exercises every single day. Doesn't exactly have to be the ladder or plyometrics *laughs*, but doing something to get 1% better each day will work wonders. Crounse will need to work on her agility to help her become more mobile as a player. Whether it's posting up in the one-on-one game, being more active on defense and more importantly as an athlete, she will need to make this change in her game to appeal more to college coaches."

Expanding Offensive Game

"This message has gone to every prospect I have worked with. It does not hurt to add more onto your offensive game. It's what the offseason is for. If Crounse can add more to her bag, she can become a more expandable player. The 2025 prospect can hit a mid range and finish under the basket, but adding more such as driving to the basket with different finishes, and a pick-and-pop game will help her have an understanding of being a threat on offense. Who knows though, she may rise up on a defender at some point come November!"

Getting Stronger

"Let's get serious again. Taking on a role like Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal), I always challenge post players to become the best versions of themselves. Adding on to this statement, Crounse will need to get a lot stronger if she wants to play at the next level. Not saying immediately to just use the weight room as a single option, but even if it's working on her athleticism doing some outside work or on a turf field, she can become a dominant post if she puts it all together. The Lehigh Valley prospect comes from a history of athletes, so trust me when I say that it will come together in due time."

Post-Game

"The biggest adjustment that she will need to make, Crounse will need to build on her post game. Adding the physicals is one thing, but being skilled at her size will help her in the long run. Adding a size up game with a hook shot, controlled fadeaway and even ball fakes to get a defender to move, she can become so much more than just being under the basket due to her height. To play in the post, there's much more than having height as you have to be so organized with your footwork, intensity and skill work. If Crounse can put everything together as a player these next two years, she can become one of the best available posts in the state. I have faith that she will get there!"

Lilly Crounse Interview

When did you first start playing basketball?

"I first started playing basketball when I was about 8. I grew up in a mostly football family, but my brother always played basketball when we were younger. I was always at the games, so I think I just picked it up and haven’t really looked back since."

Describe your game from the skill standpoint.

"If I had to describe myself as a player, I would definitely have to say that I' m aggressive and competitive. Also a team player. I’m a strong defender, and often block key shots. I also have a decent jumper, and I’m able to move around well and get good positioning in the post."

How was life growing up in the Lehigh Valley?

"For me growing up, sports were always a big thing at my small public school. Most of my memories as a child come from some type of sports game. I was always the type of kid that never wanted help, and wanted to prove myself. I was kind of my own person, and I enjoyed being on my own, so I didn’t have many friends until i left the public school scene. Parents went crazy at every sporting event, and it was always a lot, but I think being around that culture made me wanna be a part of it. My parents raised me and my siblings differently in a sense. We chose what we wanted to do, and I think that shows in our lives currently. I ended up at Allentown Central Catholic. For my first year without my older brother around, and had a bit of a rough year overall. It was a totally different environment than what I knew before. I went from a school in cornfields to a school that was in the middle of the city. I made great friends and had fun, but I was struggling to be the player I wanted."
"I pushed through and started my first season of AAU two years ago." She continued. "When I finally found passion for basketball, I realized I needed a change in pace, but I had no clue where to start. It all came to me as I hadn’t even looked, or applied to any schools. I really didn’t even know how. I randomly got a message on twitter from a coach at Putnam Science Academy and four weeks later, I was completely packed and ready to go."

What was the process behind you transferring to Mercersburg Academy?

"At Putnam, I was around people who were a lot older than me because of the post-grad program there. I think that was hard because I had to mature faster in order to fit in. I made some of the best friends I’ll ever have, but the environment was too much for a kid who’s freshly 15, and has never been away from home. I struggled with basketball heavily last year. Most of it was mental, but I think I was in need of more support from the people around me. I needed more structure and a calmer atmosphere where I could focus on academics, and also better my game. This is where I started looking for other schools."
"I had known someone who went to Mercersburg," She continued. "I looked the school up, and reached out to Coach (Paul) Sipes expressing my interest in playing there. Coach Sipes and my mom helped me so much with all of it. We figured out the financial part, and I filled out the application. I took the tests, and found out I had been accepted around April of last year. I think this was the best choice I could’ve made given the situation. I was also looking to be closer to home because of AAU in the spring."

How was your first year experience at Mercersburg?

"My first year with Mercersburg has actually been really good. I have an amazing coach, and our team gets along very well. I think academically it’s definitely more challenging than what I’m used to, but this school makes sure you stay on task. I’m so happy here, and I think it’s really setting me on the right path. I’m excited for the next two years!"

What is a typical day for you at MA?

"I wake up between 7 and 7:30. I usually try to get some extra homework done or just listen to music, and get ready for the day. I head to breakfast between 8 to 8:15 usually with my roommate or friends. I have four classes on a normal day which are an hour and 15 minutes long. I usually go to my first class then we have a 45 minute break called “help”, which means I try to go meet with teachers to study or catch up on work. We have lunch at noon and it’s family-style meaning where we sit at our assigned tables and eat together. Classes get out at 3:10 so I head to my room to prepare for PGA, which is what we call whatever after-school activity we do. I leave my dorm around 3:20 to 3:30. During the season, I would be heading to practice around 3:20 and go to the trainers for stim and heat or to get scraped. Practice runs from around 3:45 to 6. Right now, I work as an intern in our weight room, so I go to the weight room to check in with our trainer, clean up any mess in there, and help run some team workouts. After I finish, I’ll get my workout in and shoot around for at least 45 minutes. Most of the time, I’m done by about 5:30, so I just go straight to dinner. On Monday nights, we have family-style dinner so we have to dress up and sit at our assigned tables. After dinner, I go back to the dorm to shower, clean my room for room checks, and get ready for study hours betweem 8 to 9:30. Most of the time I spend study hours in the library. I leave the library and check into my dorm for the night. We have to be in bed by 10:45 so I usually go to bed at 10:30pm."

Having your brother by your side and off to the big leagues, he must have been a good influence on you. Now writing your own story, how does that help shift the mindset into your career for these next two years?

"My brother and I have always been super close. Growing up, he was my best friend, and I think having a leader like that was really important. We also talked about our dreams and what we wanted to do. Before getting good at football, he was really good at basketball and always talked about wanting to play in college. I wanted to be just like him, so that influenced my decision heavily to start playing."
“For a while,” She continued. “I envied the things he was doing *laughs*, but that jealousy turned into happiness for him. He has really done so much for me and he’s still my best friend he helps me through everything. Since we’re in very similar situations and he was so close to my school, I see him frequently. I’ve gone on college visits with him, and it’s really made me realize that this is what I want to do. He’s also super supportive and he gives the best advice, so I really appreciate our relationship.”

Who's your favorite basketball player and why?

"My favorite NBA player is definitely Giannis (Antetokounmpo). In middle school, I was always the tallest kid, and had this friend who would always call me Giannis. I started to watch his games, and he basically became my idol. I really admire his game because hes very humble, a great team player with lots of energy, and is also super family oriented which is important to me as well.

Who would you consider your role models?

"One of my biggest role models is our assistant coach, Vanessa Witfield. She’s an amazing leader, and has played a huge part in my improvement this year. Another big role model is definitely my brother, as I've said before."

As you’re now at the age where you’re looking and playing for college opportunities, what do you ideally look for in a school?

"I would love to go to a school that has a good culture around sports, but also overall is a good balanced school. I don’t mind being too far from home because I've already been away for two years now. I want to be somewhere where there is structure. I want to be somewhere where I automatically feel a sense of purpose and belonging."

What are your expectations heading into junior year?

"I want to be a leader for my teammates. I think that’s the most important thing because team chemistry is fundamental for a good season. We’re all hoping to win the MAPL championship next year after the tough loss against Blair (Academy) this year. For myself, I really want to become more and more dominant in the paint. Junior year is exciting because it’s the most important year for athletes. With the work my teammates and I are putting in now, I cannot put into words the excitement I have for the coming season."

Thank you Lilly for taking the time to talk with me. Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation? Any last words?

"I would say for anyone on a similar journey as me, always show up and trust the process. It doesn’t all come at once. Let basketball become your outlet. Believe in yourself, believe in your teammates, learn about your teammates and most importantly learn about yourself. Nobody knows you better than you at the end of the day."