Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Walz recruiting height

THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

- Erin go Cards? 

- Owens finishes 10th in NCAA long jump



We hear stuff about recruiting for the UofL women's basketball from time-to-time...quite honestly...following recruiting just isn't my bag...so I welcome any and all tidbits you, the readers... discover.

This find from Cardinal Couple writer-on-leave Jenny at SBNation:

Per multiple sources, Erin DeGrate is making an unofficial visit to Louisville. DeGrate, who is 6-foot-5, is rated No. 57 in the country by ESPN and hails from Texas.

She's a 2015 recruit and must be pretty special...since Jeff Walz doesn't waste time on run-of-the-mill post players.

Quick quiz: 

Name Walz's posts since he arrived here in 2007?

(Answers at the end of the article)

Last look I took at the roster indicates that Sherrone Vails, Shawnta Dyer, Cortnee Walton and Sara Hammond (and Emmonnie Henderson, in a pinch) are all capable of playing post in 2004-05. I hear Myisha Hines-Allen can play any of the five spots in a starting lineup. 

None of them are 6'5" though. Sherrone would be closest to that height. 

The Waco Trib is a believer:

Using her rangy 6-4 frame to her distinct advantage, DeGrate scored 34 points and yanked down 32 rebounds to push No. 1-ranked La Vega past No. 11 Robinson, 79-52, in a clash of District 17-3A unbeatens Friday at the Pirate Gym.

The junior might as well have taken a bottle of Windex onto the court, because she cleaned the glass with ferocity all night.

Here's the question. DeGrate is from Waco, TX. We expect Kim Mulkey @ Baylor has probably heard of her. Is there no interest in her there? Does DeGrate not like Baylor? Maybe she doesn't have the skills to play in the Big 12?

(Excuse me while I chuckle...the BIG 12 has had a decided lack of successful centers besides Brit Griner and Danielle McAdams) 

In any event...a tall girl is coming to check out UofL. All ye who approve of this...commence with your street celebrations.

i will say this. Two of the toughest posts I have ever seen live and in person in women's college basketball over the past few years (and I am being subjective here...) were Victoria Dunlap and Katherine Harry. Katherine was about 6'3". Dunlap around 6'1". Both were banshees on the boards and could score inside.

Ask Jeff Walz. 

Cierra Warren was 6'5". An experiment that failed.




So...Erin DeGrate...welcome to the UofL campus for your unofficial look/see. Have a great visit. Envision yourself playing in front of 10-12,000 in the KFC YUM! Center. 

If it fits, climb aboard. Be a part of the Cards. A chance for you....Miss De Grate to become great...

ANSWER TO THE QUIZ


( Walz's posts?  Gwen Rucker, Kellie Young, Keisha Hines, Chauntise Wright, Cierra Warren, Laura Terry, Shelby Harper,  Sherrone Vails, Asia Taylor, Taylor Swift, Shawnta Dyer, Sara Hammond and Emmonnie Henderson...that covers the major ones.) Add more if you want.

I did throw three names in there that weren't Walz posts. Can you pick who wasn't? Bonus points available... 

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Brittany Owens finished tenth in the NCAA Outdoor Long Jump at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon last night. Her first jump of the night (6.18m/20-3.50) was good enough for fifth in her heat and tenth overall.

With the leap, she garners second team All-American honors.

Congratulations Brittany!

paulie