Naperville Sun Sports | Erin Hackett was Naperville Central's leading scorer last season. Expect the junior guard to lead -- period.

Naperville Central ran a specific play three times during a practice last week, and it ended the same way each time, with junior point guard Erin Hackett sinking a 3-pointer.

Coach Andy Nussbaum had seen enough and called a timeout.

"Hey, I wouldn't give Hackett an open shot if I were you," Nussbaum told his players, many of whom are new to the varsity team.

It was sound advice, one that opponents are going to try to follow this season.

Hackett is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which she averaged 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals and was a special mention on the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Class 4A all-state team.

But big changes are in store for the 5-foot-8 Hackett, a third-year varsity player and second-year starter who is the unquestioned leader of a team that is younger and less experienced than anticipated.

The Redhawks could have had five players with starting experience. But two key players -- senior guard Callie Tumilty and sophomore guard Emerson Burke -- didn't rejoin the team.

Tumilty was a dynamic playmaker as a sophomore but missed last season with a torn ACL and has committed to play soccer at Ohio State. Burke was a prolific 3-point shooter as a freshman but is focusing on club soccer.

That leaves Hackett, who also plays goalkeeper for the girls soccer team, to shoulder greater responsibility.

"The difficulty is that everybody knows it," Nussbaum said. "But that just means a lot of our other players will get opportunities. Hopefully, we'll cash in on them."

Hackett will continue to hit 3-pointers but expects to set up more shots, too, if opponents double-team her.

"Yes, I've been training hard in practice, so that will definitely help with that," she said. "Just mentally knowing that's going to happen, I'm seeing more of the court and getting teammates more opportunities."

Hackett is also embracing her greater leadership role alongside senior guard Tessa Williams.

"I like it a lot," Hackett said. "It helps the team's chemistry. Also, me and Tessa are captains, so we've been having more bonding and also have more expectations for the team."

Nussbaum likes what he has seen from Hackett so far.

"She's much more vocal about what she wants and what's good for us," Nussbaum said. "She's a better leader. She's been around long enough to know what we need.

"She is a better player. She has worked really hard, and I think she's willing to give it up when it's time to give it up, but she's willing to shoot when it's time to shoot."

Sophomore center Annabelle Kritzer, who started last season, said she is benefiting from Hackett's advice.

"Erin is a great leader on and off the court," Kritzer said. "She's helping me out. She really helps bring the team together when we're down or when we're up, and she really just helps us with the team chemistry."

That will be vital for a team without much experience outside of Hackett, Williams and Kritzer.

"She's one of our top players," Kritzer said. "She was our leading scorer last year. I think this year that will be the same, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does."

Hackett intends to be a supportive leader.

"Just kind of bringing up everybody in a positive way," she said. "Also getting everybody to put more effort in in practice, bringing energy."

It seems to be working already.

"I definitely think our work ethic is better this year, just everybody showing up to practice early mornings to be here," Hackett said. "Getting started early really helps us use our time effectively in practice."