Addyson Figueroa has the “it” factor, that indefinable, know-when-you-see quality, according to Highland coach Eric Kundich.

People tend to flock to the 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, who is one of the Trojans’ captains.

“She’s naturally outgoing,” Kundich said. “She can talk to anybody, all groups of people. She’s taken a leadership role with our younger kids.”

Figueroa can’t exactly explain the phenomenon.

“It comes naturally, being a leader,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball since first grade, and most of the time I’ve been a leader on those teams, whether it’s appointed or not. Most of the time, my teammates look to me if they need to talk about something or just ask a question.

“Even now, during drills, some of the girls will come up to me and ask if they’re supposed to be doing this or just ask a question. It’s just in my nature. I don’t really know what I do to make people see me as a leader, other than talking and helping direct people around.”

Sophomore guard Addyson Figueroa is one of Highland’s three captains this season. (Michael Osipoff / Post-Tribune)

Figueroa’s nonstop effort and team-first approach also could factor into the equation. She’s so valuable to Highland (6-3) that she rarely, if ever, comes off the court. She was averaging 2.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, a team-high 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals before a win against Whiting on Thursday.

“She plays extremely hard,” Kundich said. “Scoring isn’t the strongest part of her game, though she’s trying to become more of a threat, and that’s going to take some time. But she’s focusing on the other things she can do immediately.

“Like, we’re limited in size, so she’s done a great job of boxing out and rebounding this year. She’s leading us in assists this year. She’s averaging two steals a game, and she’s also cut down on her turnovers. She’s doing all the little things that we need in order to continue to develop and improve throughout the season.”

Kundich pointed to Figueroa’s willingness to play inside as an example of her selflessness.

“We have her listed at 5-6, and she’ll play one of our post positions at times, which is a testament to the fact that she’ll sacrifice some numbers in order to better our basketball team,” Kundich said. “That’s a lot to ask a high school kid to do, and she does it with no excuses, no complaints.”

Figueroa, who said she has played in the post “a little bit” when her AAU team has had only six players, has embraced the challenge.

“When I get thrown in there, I’m not fazed,” she said. “I know all the positions. It’s just embedded in my brain. I know all the spots. So going down there, I find myself strong. Sometimes the girls push me around a little bit, but there’s not much I can do. I just try as much as I can.”

The Trojans are trying to get back to their level from last season, when they won their first regional title since 2003, if not exceed it.

Highland’s Addyson Figueroa, left, dribbles the ball up the court during the Class 3A Griffith Sectional championship game against East Chicago Central on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)

Four starters returned from that breakthrough run, including Figueroa, who averaged 3.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals as a freshman. Star senior guard/forward Jordan Steele and junior guard Savannah Ballard also are captains with Figueroa this season.

“Addy’s really important to our team this year, a really important piece,” Kundich said. “She seems to be one of our younger players that wants to step up and replace the leadership of our senior class last year that I loved.

“One of the things we’ve been missing so far through the beginning of the season was leadership, so it seems like Addy is trying to take on that role although she’s only a sophomore. Addy’s just the most vocal one of our three captains this year. Jordan has so much on her plate as far as playing the game, and she’s a leader in her actions on the floor. Savannah’s a leader as the point guard. But we needed more of an emotional leader, and Addy’s our emotional leader on the floor. Addy embodies that for us.”

Highland senior forward Rubi Rubalcaba notices Figueroa’s contributions.

“She’s an amazing asset to the team,” Rubalcaba said. “Our team wouldn’t be what it is without her. She glues it together. She has a lot of positivity. She does a lot on and off the court. It’s just refreshing that a player is able to just bring such a good dynamic to a team in general.

“Seeing her come in as a freshman last year and into this year, it’s just admirable because I see her growth.”

Figueroa has grown up in the Highland system. When she was in seventh grade, she watched the Trojans win a sectional title.

“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that’s really cool. I want to be there one day,’” she said.

Highland’s Addyson Figueroa (1) guards Andrean’s Aubrey Grasha (23) during a Northwest Crossroads Conference game in Highland on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (John Smierciak / Post Tribune)

When Highland took it a step beyond that last season to win the regional, Figueroa described it as “one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever had, for sure.”

“Addy embodies the team attitude,” Kundich said. “She’s been playing Highland girls basketball since she was little. Her father has been running the Highland feeder program for a long time. Her sister attends all of our games.

“There are a lot of reasons why she’s so team-oriented. It’s really important to her to be Highland girls basketball before herself. She gives up herself for Highland girls basketball.”

Figueroa also plays volleyball and qualified for a regional as part of the 1,600-meter relay team in track. But basketball sits at the top of her list of sports.

“Basketball takes over my whole life,” she said.

Still, Figueroa has time to sing in the school choir. She has been known to sing the national anthem before volleyball games, and boys basketball games could be in her future. She’s also a member of Key Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“She’s a great kid,” Kundich said. “She’s a great kid in the classroom, a great kid in the school.

“She’s hit the weight room hard from freshman year to this year. She’s grown up, matured a lot, and gotten a lot stronger. She’s just playing with a lot of confidence.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/basketball-highland-addyson-figueroa/