Walz rewards Dakota Weatherford with scholarship

Tuesday was Jeff Walz birthday but the coach wasn’t eating any cake. Not having any part of the sweet stuff two weeks into a strict diet.

“I’m not touching that,” he said, when a red and white cake loaded with calories and candles was delivered to him during a media day press conference at the Swain Center.

Walz, 44, was more excited about discussing his ninth year as women’s basketball coach at the University of Louisville. He chose the occasion to announce that Dakota Weatherford, a 5-foot-5 junior transfer from Evansville University has been awarded a full scholarship. She walked on to this team this season after transferring to UofL as a regular student.

Walz learned about Dakota, contacting before the semester began. “She’s been here with us since the start of practice — been here early, been on time for everything, and works extremely hard, and we’re fortunate enough to have an open scholarship for her,” he said.

Weatherford was, in fact, the starting point guard at Evansville during her freshman year, averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 assists and three rebounds per game. She led her Hamilton Heights High School team to the Indiana 3A State Championship game as a senior, averaging 19.8 points on 45.8 shooting, with 7.2 rebounds and 7.7 steals.

Weatherford, with her small frame, her bright smile and grit may remind UofL fans of Shelby Harper with her non-stop motor and her scrappiness. Raised in a family of three boys, she learned to fend for herself in pickup games under the basketball hoop at the end of the family’s driveway.

Her scrapping all started in those street games, according to the Indianapolis Star:

“We were the only house in the neighborhood with a basketball goal, so all the kids would come to our house to play all through the hours of the night,” Dakota said. “It would always be all guys, so I had to try to fit my way in there.”

Her father, Tim Weatherford, said Dakota not only developed her toughness and speed there but her trademark shot as well.

“It’s where she learned her high arching shot. It came from having tall brothers,” said dad.