T.F. North senior center Jeanise Randolph sees the paint as her home, and she refused to let anyone come in.

The Cincinnati recruit is one of the reasons the Meteors had success in the postseason last year. She took control of the boards as the Meteors were 28-3, losing to Marian Catholic 36-35 in the championship of the Class 4A T.F. North Sectional.

With nearly everyone back and the Meteors moving down to 3A, there is plenty of optimism in Calumet City as practice officially opened Monday. T.F. North has four Division I recruits in Randolph, Centrese McGee (Illinois), Dawn Luster (IUPUI) and Karisma Chapman (Alabama-Birmingham). Chapman will be out until early December, according to coach Tim Zasada, as she is not fully recovered from a torn ACL.

Randolph is the latest of great post players at North. Times 2007 Player of the Year LaShaunda Sandifer and Jeanise's sister Jeanell helped set the standard for play, and Jeanise has continued it.

"My job, my role, is to get rebounds and stop the other team's center from going inside on us," Randolph said. "I take (rebounding) as a contest to see who can get more. Rebounding is a big part of the game."

Chapman has played with both Sandifer and Jeanell Randolph, but paid a great compliment to Jeanise.

"She is by far the best post player I played with or against," Chapman said. "You can always count on her to get that big rebound and take care of the middle."

North coach Tim Zasada said he is expecting her to have a great year.

"She could be the best one of them all," Zasada said. "It depends on how physical she wants to get. Each game last year we saw her improve. The sky is the limit for her."

Last season, Randolph had seven double-doubles and averaged 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Randolph and her teammates are excited about the season.

"We know it is one game at a time, but we also want to go further than last year," Randolph said. "We have a lot of good players and we've worked hard."

GIRLS BASKETBALL | FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE