|
Warricknews - Sports
If you would like to search one of the papers individually, please visit our "Advanced Search" page.
Olsthoorn chooses Sycamores
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 09, 2005 - 11:33:38 am EST
By Nathan Blackford-Warrick Publishing Online
 | | Castle's Maria Olsthoorn has made a verbal committment to play her college basketball at Indiana State University. File Photo |
|
Maria Olsthoorn hasn't yet completed her junior year of high school, but she already knows where she wants to play basketball in college. The 6-foot-1 center/forward from Castle High School made an oral commitment to Indiana State University on Saturday while attending the Lady Sycamores' final home game against Illinois State.
And though the commitment may seem like an early decision to some, Olsthoorn sees it differently. Ever since she stepped on the court for her summer travel team after her eighth grade year, she's drawn attention from colleges all over the country.
"I am glad I got this over with, because I am really tired of the phone calls and the email, and all of the hounding that you get," said Olsthoorn. "I feel a lot of relief."
Olsthoorn also received early offers from Ball State and Evansville; and was being recruited by Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Xavier, Miami of Ohio, Western Kentucky, and others.
After making multiple unofficial visits to various schools, Olsthoorn was most impressed with ISU. The coaches and players, the fans, campus, focus on academics, and short distance from her home in Newburgh, were all key factors in her decision.
"Everything about the school was a perfect fit for me," said Olsthoorn. "I like that is it is not too close to home, but it is close enough that you can come home if you need to. And I liked the coaches and the players; I felt comfortable with everyone there. Plus, Indiana State draws about 3,000 fans per game, which I like. It is a good environment whenever they play."
Olsthoorn also likes the focus on academics at ISU. Though she's not yet sure of her major, Olsthoorn is considering criminal justice or nursing.
Indiana State Coach Jim Wiedie isn't able to comment on Olsthoorn until she signs with the school, which she can't do until next fall at the earliest. But Olsthoorn says that the Sycamores have been one of the programs that have been recruiting her steadily for nearly four years.
Olsthoorn will join Castle teammate Leah Phillips at Indiana State. Phillips also made a commitment to the Sycamores during her junior year, and will be a freshman at ISU this fall.
But while having a friend on the team was a nice side benefit, it wasn't the reason Olsthoorn chose to attend ISU.
"It is always nice to have someone that you know when you go to college, someone you played with in high school and is like one of your best friends," said Olsthoorn. "But that was not the deciding factor."
From Olsthoorn's freshman year at Castle she started every game until January 15, when a torn ACL sidelined her for the rest of the season. As a sophomore and junior, Olsthoorn led Castle in both scoring and rebounding. This season she averaged 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in the 15 games before her injury.
The sixth-ranked Knights reached the semi-state finals where they lost to eventual state champion Indianapolis North Central. And Olsthoorn admits that watching her teammates finish the season without her on the floor was difficult.
Olsthoorn plans to get back on the floor again over the summer, though she says she isn't planning on playing any AAU tournaments. She is working to be at full strength for her senior year at Castle, and says Indiana State coaches weren't too concerned with the injury.
"They know that I am going to come back stronger than ever," said Olsthoorn. "They know I am going to work hard at it. So they are not worried about it at all."
|
|
 |
Advertisers
Search Site
Enter a keyword:
Tri-State Media Weather
|
|
