Lake Forest Academy’s Emily Krasnow puts in extra effort

If Lake Forest Academy senior guard Emily Krasnow has a free period during the day, you don’t need a GPS device to locate her.

Just check the Lake Forest Academy gymnasium.

“Our athletics director [Darrin Madeley] is always telling me that whenever she has a window of time she’ll be in the gym shooting,” Caxys coach Chris Tennyson said. “She’s a total gym rat.”

All those hours in the gym have paid off for Krasnow this season. She is averaging about 12 points per game and scored a season-high 28 points Jan. 30 in a 62-16 victory over Woodlands Academy. The Caxys will need highly productive games like that from Krasnow going forward, particularly after the loss of 6-foot-3 senior center Dija Diouf in the Woodlands Academy game.

Diouf, who will play Division I basketball next year for Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, collided with Jasmine Sawyer in the first quarter. Diouf broke two orbital bones, a season-ending injury.

Krasnow will be called upon to help offset the sizable loss. Diouf was averaging close to 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Through Monday, the Caxys had a 12-6 record.

“[Against] Woodlands, my first couple of shots went in and I just continued to look to score,” Krasnow said.

As a junior, Krasnow did the majority of her scoring stationed near the three-point line.

“She was our stretch player,” Tennyson said. “We had her camp out on the three-point line, and when teams focused on her, that would free things up for [others].”

This season, she has become a much more versatile scorer. Knowing that the Caxys needed more from her offensively, Krasnow spent the majority of her summer in the gym working on her ball-handling, driving and pull-up jumper.

“I wanted to be able to go to the basket off the dribble and create for my teammates,” she said. “I improved my confidence and [awareness] on the court.”

Over the summer, she also initiated a correspondence with Haverford College coach Bobbi Morgan. Haverford, a Division III school just outside of Philadelphia, is 17-3 this season.

“I really liked my visit and the chemistry I had with Coach [Morgan],” said Krasnow, who will join the program next year.

When the high school season started, it was clear that all the time Krasnow logged working on her game was productive.

“She’s had more of an opportunity to shine this year,” sophomore Brianna Sturkey said. “She’s a major contributor on offense and defense.”

Krasnow’s enthusiasm is infectious.

“She makes sure we always have our heads in the game,” Sturkey said. “She’s intense and focused and doesn’t take any days off.”