By Sonja Sykes
Former Lady Card basketball reserves Mary Jackson and Tiera Stephen have found new basketball home after leaving Jeff Walz program.
For Mary Jackson, it was a return to Memphis…in more ways than one. The Oakhaven (Memphis), Tenn. star returns to play for the hometown Tigers after spending one year at UofL. Memphis, which has its ups and downs in women’s college basketball, will have her services in the 2010-2011 season. With the Tigers, she’ll have the opportunity to log considerably more court time and hopefully the outside shooting skills that drew Louisville’s interest will return.
For Tiera Stephen, it’s Wisconsin. The Badgers recruited the Dayton, Ohio prepster heavily during her senior year. She’ll also hit the court in 2010. Wisconsin will hopefully use her point guard skills to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 7 years. Stephen often looked lost on the court for the Lady Cards. A year off and a little practice familiarity with her future teammates will help her develop the skills necessary to lead the Big Ten squad.
Good luck to both former Lady Cards. You’ll always have the memories of going to a national championship game and let’s hope you can lead your new team to much success and many wins.
To add on to Sonja’s article…Jeff Walz spoke at the monthly gathering of the Sportsmen’s Supper Club last night. Briefly recapping his comments, he said that the girls have been hitting the gym daily since the season ended, even though he knows nothing about this. The incoming freshmen and our juco transfer are on campus and attending summer school. Walz indicated last night that Dez Byrd may remain at point guard for the upcoming season and he was very encouraged by the season ending play of Keisha Hines, Monique Reid and Becky Burke. He also went into some detail on Keisha’s ordeal with losing her grandmother during the NCAA run.
No mention was made of Brandie Radde’s departure or the status of Tise Wright. Walz did indicate that the Cards are getting in a lot more doors these days to talk with recruits because of the NCAA success and he went into a explanation of the different recruiting philosophies used by women’s head coaches and men’s head coaches in college basketball.
All in all, a very good update and review of the WBB program at UofL. Walz was candid, entertaining and took time to answer the many questions that the members posed.
Who is our juco transfer?
Kenyatta Gill comes in after two years at Pensacola J.C. Gill, a 6’1″ forward will try to help fill the gap left by the graduation of Candyce Bingham on the front line. Walz was after two other jucos from Jefferson State Junior College (MO), Danielle Adams, a power forward who signed with Texas A&M and LaToya Johnson, a point guard who is still uncommitted.
All four of the freshman recruits signed are now on campus and enrolled in summer school. Ashley Rainey, a 6’2″ forward from Warren East is playing in the KY-IND All-Star games this weekend. The others are Asia Taylor, forward from Columbus, OH, Nikki Burton, guard/forward from Charlotte, NC and Rachel Story, guard from Milwaukee, WI.
I had high hopes for both of these players at U of L but I wish them well at their new locations.