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Friday, 01 May 2009 |
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 Wapakoneta High School senior Emily Steveley signs a letter of intent. By CHRIS VOLOSCHUK
Sports Editor
Versatility pays off in high school sports.
The more a person can do on the court or field, the better. It’s a great way to get noticed.
In the case of the Wapakoneta Redskins varsity girls basketball team, it’s paid off two times over.
On Thursday afternoon, senior multi-tasker Emily Steveley became the second player on this year’s team to sign a letter-of-intent to play basketball at the next level. Along with her parents, Wapakoneta coach Rusty Allen and her soon-to-be head coach Scott Gregory, Steveley officially became a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University roster.
Steveley, who will finish up high school in just a couple weeks, said it hasn’t quite sunk in yet that her college career is right around the corner.
“School’s almost out. I’ve got two more weeks,” Steveley said. “Summer’s coming, I’m going to have to start working harder. Everything’s different now.”
Steveley will not be the first Steveley to enroll at MVNU, as she has two sisters who are already students. She’ll be joining a basketball program that won 27 games last year and captured the National Christian College Athletic Association Championship in March.
“I’m very excited to have her coming to our university,” Gregory said. “She’s a kid who will be a strong addition to our team and a kid who’s familiar with Mount Vernon because she’s had two sisters come through. I think she’s completely at ease and comfortable with the university. I think she’ll be a great fit.”
As the coach of both Steveley and Georgetown College signee Devon Golden, Allen said although he was only with the girls for one season, it’s been special to watch them both sign on to play college ball.
“I just played a small part in this, just coming on this year,” Allen said. “I think it’s a tribute to [Emily] and her parents and coach [Brad] Rex, the work ethic he’s instilled in the girls and the work ethic Emily has. We knew she could probably play at the next level, it was just a question of if it was what she wanted to do.”
Steveley, who saw a lot of time at several positions this season on the way to the Division II state title game, will play a number of spots in Gregory’s system, from the forward spots to around the perimeter.
“Primarily for us she’ll play at the three or four,” Gregory said. “She has the size to play a little bit bigger for us. But she’ll play a little bit at the perimeter spots, kind of like she did here at Wapak for coach [Allen].”
Allen isn’t worried about Steveley being able to make the switch to playing inside more, as she showed some post skills at different times during her senior season despite not quite having a post player’s frame.
“She’s the type of girl that can play several positions,” Allen said. “She can run the point on occasion. She can play at shooting guard. She’s going to get a little stronger to play inside at the next level. But she’s the type of person who will put the effort in towards that. She’s done some nice things for us inside this year that was kind of surprising for her build.”
No matter what position she plays on the court, Steveley is happy to continue playing basketball, but is even more focused on working towards a college degree.
“Playing basketball is a bonus,” Steveley said. “It’s a sport I love to do, but I’m going there to pursue an education.”
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 May 2009 )
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