This latest new beginning has agreed with River Forest senior D’Yanna Hurn.
The 5-foot-9 forward, who has had four coaches in four years, is reaching new heights with veteran Doug Godbolt at the helm this season.
“I feel like last year, I was putting up good numbers,” Hurn said. “This year, I’m putting up good numbers, but it’s different now. The way I think about the game, the way I want to win, it’s so different now that I have him.
“It’s my drive and determination to win and to play as hard as I can. With the coach I have now, he’s one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever had. His drive, he’s a big piece to the puzzle. He’s just so good. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am.”
Indeed, Hurn and the Ingots are in largely uncharted territory. A starter since the middle of her freshman season, Hurn is averaging team highs of 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds along with 2.1 steals for River Forest (9-11, 5-1), which is positioned to record its most victories since going 19-5 in 2016-17.
The Ingots have already clinched a share of the Greater South Shore Conference title, their first since joining as a founding member in 2007 and the second conference title in program history. They won a single conference game last season, one Hurn described as “rocky.” She averaged 13.5 points and 10.6 rebounds.
Hurn’s role has been more defined this season.
“She’s a tremendous asset to our success,” Godbolt said. “Last year, a lot of times she played outside — she would play the point, she would be on the wing. This year, we presented to her, ‘No, you stay inside. We need to keep you inside. We have guards, we have kids who can handle the ball, we have kids who can shoot. You stay inside.’
“It’s been an adjustment for all of us. There are times we see her on the perimeter, going to get the ball when things aren’t working, and I’m good with that. But we’re just trying to get her to adapt.”
Hurn has embraced that change.
“I was everywhere last year — everywhere,” she said. “I couldn’t tell you what position I played last year. I was just everywhere.
“I’m in the post a lot this year, a lot more. That’s 100% where I’m scoring all the time. I can shoot here and there, but the post is where I’m dominant.”
Hurn has also seized a position of leadership. She’s a co-captain with senior forward Julianna Bailey. She was elevated to captain in the middle of her sophomore season and regained the responsibility after a holiday tournament last season.
There has been no doubt about Hurn’s status this season.
“She’s a great kid, amazing,” Godbolt said. “Her teammates respect her. The coaches respect her. Everyone respects her.”
Count Bailey as part of that group among the Ingots, whose senior class also includes guard Ashley Gonzalez and D’Yanna’s twin sister Daciya, a forward/center.
“I’ve been playing with D’Yanna, Ashley and Daciya since sixth grade,” Bailey said. “We’re a close-bonded team. I like being around them. It makes me happy, and I’m happy we’re actually doing something this year, not losing every game.”
D’Yanna Hurn and Bailey have been mainstays. Daciya Hurn has returned to the team after not playing last season, in no small part to close her basketball career alongside D’Yanna.
“We have four seniors, and I wish we could’ve had another year or two working with this group,” Godbolt said. “It’s a good group of kids, great kids. We’re just trying to get it all in in one season and find success and let them experience that success.”
D’Yanna Hurn has followed her brothers Dennis and Deon Hurn, both 2022 River Forest graduates. Dennis Hurn was a standout football and basketball player for the Ingots, and Deon Hurn was a standout football player and wrestler.
“They’re good athletes, I guess you could say,” D’Yanna Hurn said with a laugh. “Not better than me, but I can give them credit.
“I’m 100% the best athlete in the family.”
Hurn competed in track and field as a sophomore and then played shortstop for the softball team last year. She is considering attempting both sports this spring. Hurn also played soccer the past two seasons.
But basketball has long been her primary sport.
“She has a really good way of encouraging everyone,” Bailey said. “She brings out the best in everyone on the team. And, of course, she’s a beast inside. I love playing with her.”
Still, this season hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Ingots. Godbolt, who coached Washington Township the previous three seasons and won a regional title in 2023 after a stint as an assistant at Lake Central and six seasons as Hebron’s coach, said it has been a “transition” for everyone.
“I’ve adjusted to them, and they’ve adjusted to me, and everybody’s on the same page now,” he said. “They know our expectations, and we know what we have to do to keep them focused and keep them working. We’re working very hard, but we’re having a lot of fun too.
“It’s just trying to get them to play at a higher level. We have talent. It’s just continuing to get them to buy in and getting it all to come together. They think losing’s OK — losing’s been no big deal to them — and we’ve been trying to change that. We’ve been winning games, and it’s fun because they don’t know what it’s like to win. They seem to like us, and we like them. I love them to death.”
That connection was strengthened when Godbolt suffered a stroke in November. Midway through Godbolt’s eight-day stay in the hospital, a half-dozen players visited him, bringing flowers and a basketball signed by the team.
“It was very emotional,” Godbolt said. “I hadn’t known them that long. But right then, I knew these kids were golden kids.”
Hurn, who is considering studying to become a dental hygienist, has been exploring her options to play in college.
For now, she is enjoying the fruits of this season.
“We have somebody here who cares and teaches us and wants us to be greater than we know we can be,” Hurn said. “I’m glad to be here. I’m with a great group. I love them.
“He gets us. He understands the shift we’ve had since last year and all of the changes in the past with our entire girls basketball program. He’s put everything into changing that. The position we’re in now, being tied for conference, we’ve never been in that position here. It’s a great thing to see with a new coach and just with a great group.”
