Ashley Rainey Shines In All-Star Games
By Sonja Sykes
Ashley Rainey, a 6-2 forward/center from Warren East was the highlight reel for the Kentucky Girls All-Star team, totaling 29 points and 19 rebounds against the Hoosiers in games at Indianapolis and Bellarmine.
Despite the UofL signee’s heroics, the Hoosiers swept the Kentucky girls in the two game series. Indiana leads the series 39-30. Indiana blew the Kentucky team off the court in Indy, winning 105-75 in the first game. Rainey and teammates got it closer the next day, falling 85-75 after leading much of the game.
Rainey showed the skills that she’ll be counted on to provide for the Lady Cards this fall. Aggressive on the boards and working well inside the paint, the Jeff Walz signee will be needed to help fill the gap left by graduation of Angel McCoughtry and Candyce Bingham.
Here’s ESPN Insider’s take on Rainey:
The 6-2 forward has the size, build, and willingness to play physical to keep any coach smiling. The smiles will be on the campus of the University of Louisville next year as she moves on to play for Coach Jeff Walz. Her power game is almost unstoppable once she gets the ball on the block and she posts aggressively looking for it. She can put it on the floor some and create on short drives from the elbows or corners. Her rebounding at both ends of the floor is impressive and will translate well to the college game.
Skylar Diggins, a guard headed to Notre Dame, was impressive for Indiana. She scored 53 points in the two games, completely dominating UK signee Adia Mathies. Diggins will no doubt give the Lady Cards headaches the next four years in an Irish uniform. She is a skilled guard that can go either point or shooter and distributes the ball just as well as she shoots it. She has been named national player of the year by several publications.
About the Author: Sonja Sykes is an avid fan of University of Louisville athletics, especially the women's basketball team.
Looking forward to the “3RD Edition of The LadyCards!” And to Miss. Rainey & Co., “WELCOME to Loo a vull AND the Big East!” I’ve been browsing the internet this pass season trying to keep up with our recruits. I use to live in Warren Co. and hung around the 31W-bypass/ Scottsville Rd area.
and I’m thrilled to C us get the recruits we’re getting especially from the BG area! And, I believe we’re going to need them as long as the so-called top recruits keep committing to other Big East Schools!!
Sey Sonja, what’s the scoup on Ondrea Shaw & Teonia McCune??? OOooh, WELCOME back Miss. T. Gibbs or is that Miss. Kentucky!!!!!!!
McCune, Ondrea Shaw and Antonia Slaughter were all on the Louisville Lady Legends, who won the Kentucky 16 and under chmpionship in Lexington. Teonia just completed her sophomore yearat Fern Creek and has the potential to be one ofthe state’s top centers by the time she is a senior. Jeff Walz is interested in her and vice versa.
Ondrea Shaw is now at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia and the 6’4″ center has been dominatingin getting ready for her senior year. Let’s hope the academics fall in line. Not sure if she has the Cards program in her top five or not, but you can be assured that the former Moore High School player has been getting plenty of attention from Stephanie Norman and Walz over at UofL .
My wife and I sat next to Ashley at the Lions Club dinner the Friday night before the games. Granted it was only for a couple of hours but we believe her to be an even better young lady than she showed to be a player. Class.
Good report, Charlie B.
I think Rainey will see some immediate court time for the Lady Cards and hopefully will learn enough in time for what appears to be a very tough and challenging Big East schedule.
Had a brief e-mail chat with Jeff Walz yesterday. Some things I had questions about he was nice enough to answer. Can’t go public with them just yet, but I think Lady Card fans will be pleased and surprised.
Diggins has dominated many players over the years so it’s no surprise she did well against the KY all stars. Hate to spoil the party but UK has a couple of key transfer eligible this season with 2007 KY Miss Basketball and UNC transfer Rebecca Gray as well as the Riley girl from LSU. Look for UK to take the Cards over the next few seasons.
Gray and Riley will certainly help get the Cats back to where they can contend for an NCAA bid if they can continue at the skills they showed earlier in their basketball careers. As far as UK taking the Cards over the next several seasons…not convinced that is going to happen. Hopefully, for UK fans they’ll get closer than the 15 point losses they’ve experienced the last two years to UofL. Still think that despite the graduation of Angel and Candyce, Walz has some excellent players returning.
I agree Sonja, The cats have gotten some surprise players! However, the cats have had talented players before and on too many occasions they didn’t show up! I don’t believe coach Mitchell knows how to develope talented players or plays for the type of players he gets. The cats should B good this year if they learn each other B4 the SEC games get started.
Sey, is the rumor true about another UofL women BBall tranferring?
Need not reply to the above post concerning another women bballer transferring.
I just read it on this website! And I thought V. Stringer was having it rough keeping players! This tranferring thing appears 2 B contagious!!!
In the words of Marvin Gaye….” What’s Going On?”. Especially in these freshmen way of thinking? I really thought these young ladies that transferred were going to have a Breaklose Sophmore Year and that they would keep the LadyCards N the Upper part of the Big East.
Well , if anyone can work with this disappointment, Jeff Walz is the man. Again… “What’s Going On?!?!”