CARDINAL COMMIT DANA EVANS FINISHES SECOND IN INDIANA MISS BASKETBALL
She was chosen for the US U 18 team. She was picked for the McDonalds All-American and Jordan Brand Classic games. USA Today saw her as the best player in Indiana Girls High School Basketball. But, at the Indiana Sports Awards Banquet @Butler University...Dana Evans finished second in the voting from the state's coaches and media.
Karissa McLaughlin, who guided Ft. Wayne's Homestead High School to the state's 4A title and is headed to Purdue, received 155 votes. Evans...who averaged 35.8 for West Side High School (Gary, IN) received 91.
Evans reaction?
Like coming to Louisville and joining one of the best teams in college basketball.
Evans is ready to move on:
"At the college level, you get what you earn, what you deserve. Nothing will be taken away from you. You still have to work for it. You have to earn it, but it's fair.
The Jeff Walz philosophy works well for Ms. Evans. You earn your playing time by working hard every day. There are no guarantees, you create your niche and earn your minutes. You serve the unit and individual stats are secondary.
Her coach at West Side, Rod Fisher, has a different take on Evans second place in the voting:
"It's an injustice to her and the system is flawed in many ways. Players get votes sight unseen. People vote for players they've seen play or who play for schools close to them. To see her actually play is the key."
Fisher also points to the national perspective:
"Team USA, McDonald's Jordan Brand. They all chose her over McLaughlin. Dana's the #2 ranked point guard in her class in the nation. Dana's accomplished more than any female from Northwestern Indiana ever has. It's hands down."
McLaughlin was the tenth-ranked point guard in the nation.
So...is the slight a good thing? It is, in the perspective that it is a life lesson. Sometimes things don't turn out the way they should or as most perceive they should. You learn to accept it and move on to do better. Evans has learned this lesson. It will make her better and more competitive than she already is...in my opinion. You go get it, you don't wait for it to come to you.
Evans joins a Cardinal squad that has no Indiana players on the roster. A team that made it to the NCAA regionals. A team that returns nine players. Evans had Purdue in her final three.
Evans and McLaughlin will play a few games together. The Indiana Senior All-Stars will scrimmage against the Indiana Junior All-Stars before doing a home and away against the Kentucky All-Stars. The Kentucky game will be played at the Frankfort, KY Civic Center on Sunday, June 11th. The Indiana game will be on Saturday, June 10th at Indy's Bankers Life Field House. It just may be worth the drive from Louisville to watch these. Evans. Duvall. McLaughlin.
paulie
xxxxx
She'll do well at Louisville. Remember, Angel McCoughtry and Shoni Schimmel weren't the best players in their states as seniors. The Deb Factor
ReplyDeleteIn Friday's article, it was mentioned that the women will play in the little yum. Where is that?
ReplyDeleteThey won't play there, that will be their practice facility, and where the WBB staff offices are. It's on the west side of Floyd St, just south of the Eastern Pkwy overpass, and north of the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium. Also houses offices for Lacrosse, and offices and practice facilities for Men's Basketball.
DeleteThanks for the clarification. Based on other comments, don't think the article was clear.
DeleteLittle Yum is the nickname for the practice facility that also holds the Men's basketball, Lacrosse and soon-to-be Women's basketball offices. It is on Floyd St, right next to the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium.
DeleteSorry if their was any confusion. Men and women's basketball will still continue to play their games at the downtown KFC YUM! Center. Volleyball moves their games to Cardinal Arena, across the street (Floyd St.) from Ulmer Stadium...home of Louisville Softball.
Paulie
Karissa McLaughlin is a darling white girl and if you think that has nothing to do with this vote, than you have not been paying attention. Remember this is the land of Mike Pence.
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
DeleteAnd Gary is considered the ugly stepchild of the state for similar reasons you alluded to about the vote. Come in hungry Dana. She has an awesome attitude. You eat what you kill here at Louisville. She'll be fine.
DeleteSeems Evan's reaction to the vote was significantly classier and more mature than some comments on this board.
ReplyDeleteMcLaughlin is also a highly ranked kid that decided to stay home to play her college ball versus Evans who decided to go out of state to play. It should surprise no-one that the Indiana folks look favorably on a kid who won an Indiana State Championship that stays in-state for college for it's Miss Basketball award. If I didn't know better I'd think that the "darling white girl" comment is more than a little bit racist. Further since when did USA Today become basketball experts? I'll take the votes of in state coaches and media before USA Today any day and so should anyone that knows anything about basketball.
I've never felt these types of awards mean much if anything in the big picture. ULWBB has had many kids that have won multiple honors that haven't done anything and others who were less honored that tore things up. In fact we had one that was one of our most highly "decorated" in history that just quit the program as a senior.
So worry less about honors and more about character. Everything isn't about race. Everyone knows Gary, Indiana is a nightmare of a city. Any objective metric proves it. It doesn't mean anything relative to Evan's ability to ball but it is what it is. She sounds like a great kid. Keep race and politics out of it.
Sadly though race and area of state had a lot to do with. Close your eyes on it if you wish. Evans is a bright and remarkable young women that will achieve great things at UofL. One award will not stand in the way or matter at all. Evans is significantly better that 'Mac". If a coach in rural Indiana has a vote, though, you can almost guarantee he or she will pick the 'cute white girl' over the inner city black girl. That is just how it is over here in some areas of my state. It's wrong, it's backwards in thinking but it happens. I have lived over here 20 years. I see it. And, I'm black.
DeleteCurtis "Point me to the point guard" Franklin
Curtis - I'm going to do you and Paulie a huge favor and not post my full response. I hope Evans is that good but anyone that puts up comments like "darling white girl" or "cute white girl" is just denigrating the kid's skills based on her skin color. Not a good look and full grown adults ought to know better.
DeleteLet's just close this segment by saying Evans is good we hope she plays very well at Louisville, OK?
DeletePaulie
OMG! I'm stunned at that ignorant,racist comment! I appreciate the Burn comment and tho I don't know any of you, I just enjoy everyone's opinions and comments all season long. But that ASS has no business spreading hate and negativity.Its ppl like
DeleteYOU with your nasty comments and attitude that keep racism alive! How about both YOUNG LADIES WERE WORTHY OF THE AWARD! But as we know there could only be one winner! I am all for strong young women of ALL COLOR! And instead of worrying about the color of these young women that your ranting about maybe you can focus on these ladies getting equal pay and recognition in the WNBA!
That's alright she'd win ACC rockie of the year.
ReplyDeleteMLW
Oops rookie of the year.
DeleteMLW