March 29--Jack Boehm can recall his sister always sporting a pink bow in pictures or while sitting in the stands during her younger years.
A two-sport standout at New Trier and a pitcher at Bucknell from 2009-12, he was near the top of his family's athletic hierarchy for years.
Jack and brothers Peter, Connor and Michael all played college sports. Spencer is a freshman at New Trier who played varsity for the Trevians this season. The boys are all between 6-foot-6 and 6-8.
And then there's Jeannie Boehm, the only girl of the six siblings. She received a late start to organized basketball.
"Despite my dad's pleading that Jeannie be allowed to play basketball, my mom would always put a big pink bow in her hair and enrolled Jeannie in violin class, gymnastics, dance and ice skating," Jack Boehm said.
"Jeannie was at least a head taller than (the other girls in) those classes. My mom finally relented and allowed her to join basketball in fourth grade, where she could fit in with other tall girls and use her height to her advantage. My mom still made Jeannie wear pink bows on the court."
Jeannie Boehm, now 6-3, fits in nicely with the best ballers in the country. The New Trier senior center is enjoying the festivities surrounding the McDonald's All-American game. Boehm, a Harvard recruit, is one of 24 players named to the All-American girls team.
Her roommate this week is Anna Wilson, the sister of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
The McDonald's selection, Jeannie Boehm said, helped solidify her status at the top the family's athletic ladder.
"Before high school, my brothers saw me more as an annoying sister who plays sports," she said. "I do have temporary bragging rights now."
"I think it goes without saying that she got her payback by being the best athlete in the family," Jack Boehm said.
Boehm, who averaged 19.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks this season, is enjoying her time in the spotlight. She's become a veteran of television and print interviews in the last month, even doing a guest appearance on 103.5 KISS-FM. Boehm said one TV interview "was painful to watch" because she misunderstood a question.
Sitting on the bottom steps leading to the balcony at the fabled Chicago Theatre on Sunday night, Boehm felt at ease as the only girl to join top-five boys recruits Jayson Tatum (Duke), Bam Adebayo (Kentucky) and Lonzo Ball (UCLA) for an on-camera solo interview and Q session.
"It's been fun to show my personality and have fun during interviews," Boehm said. "It's been a crazy experience, and it hasn't sunk in. I think it will be weeks after the game when I realize how cool this actually is. It's crazy to think I'm in the same category as lot of these people who play this game."
Boehm has relied on her experience with her brothers to deal with competing against the country's elite players this week. Practice sessions, in particular, are eye-openers for some highly ranked players.
Boehm admits that she heard criticism regarding her selection for the McDonald's team. She finished second in the state's Ms. Basketball voting to Benet's Kathleen Doyle and some coaches -- including Young's Corry Irvin, who advocated for the Dolphins' Kiara Lewis -- expressed displeasure that Boehm was the only player selected from the Chicago area.
"I'm definitely an underdog," Boehm said. "I think especially going to Harvard people have understated me. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder. I think that's one of the reasons why I've done so well -- at no point have I been satisfied. I always had something to prove. My brothers taught me that."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
McDonald's All-American games
When, where: Wednesday, United Center.
15th girls game: 5:30 p.m. (ESPNU).
39th boys game: 8 p.m. (ESPN).
