'Phenoms' ready to take on world
Michael Martinez
Issue date: 10/21/09 Section: Sports
| |
|
In two short years, Rademacher has done just that.
After a 12-19 campaign last season, the second-year head coach has the team poised to challenge for the Horizon League championship.
"We have everybody we need to have," said senior Brigid Mulroy, who has become one of the team's go-to offensive players since Rademacher took over. "We are capable of being a team that's going to win the Horizon League."
To do that, the team must play together night in and night out, as well as improve individually from a year ago, Mulroy said. Having already fought to earn playing time and improve quickness, the Titans' top returning scorer says she faces a new challenge this year.
"There is a lot of pressure because I am coming back to a league that knows me," she said. "My new challenge is being able to score being heavily guarded."
In addition to Mulroy, a crop of young players are returning to the team. The group, who dubbed themselves the "Freshmen Phenoms" last year, are ready to take it to the next level as sophomores.
"They decided that they're going to take over the world this year," Rademacher said. "I can see it in their eyes and in their effort that they are ready to go. They want to prove that they are our version of the Michigan Fab Five. They are the Phenoms and they are to be reckoned with."
The Phenoms include Talicia Washington, a 6-1 forward who can get out and run as well as establish a strong post presence; Yar Shayok, another athletic forward who can score at will as well as play defense; and Jalesa Jones, who established herself as the team's point guard last season with her ability to set up her teammates.
Lauren Allen and Jaleesa Trussell also contributed last year and are ready to pick up where they left off.
Sierra Spaude and Dominique Dixon round off the second-year players, although Spaude will sit for some of the year with an injury and Dixon must wait until next season to play due to NCAA transfer rules.
In the offseason, Rademacher recruited proven scorers and added a few freshmen that she believes will impact the club almost immediately.
Kassandra Hooton and Cherridy Thornton will help the Titans down low as forwards. With Dominica Whittaker lost to graduation and junior Heather Hatter out for the season as she rehabs a torn ACL, the two first-year players will provide much needed depth to the roster.
"I think they're ready," Hatter said of the new bigs. "They have so much potential. I just hope I can be there to give them some pointers this year."
Demeisha Fambro, another freshman, comes to Detroit after an excellent high school career where she averaged over 24 points per game. She is expected to contribute to the offense, helping to fill the void left by the graduation of last year's top scorer, Sandi Brown.
Rademacher plans to use the athleticism and versatility of this year's team to get out and run the ball, pushing the offense and getting after teams on defense. She has many options in terms of a starting rotation, and will wait until the first game to decide who will play.
"Right now it keeps you up at night," she said of her many options. "I just have a ton of names to choose from."
One player likely to get a starting nod is Jones, who is confident in her abilities to lead the team as a point guard.
"We're young, but I think we can do it," she said of becoming one of the top teams in the league. "With all of us together, I think we're unstoppable really."
Titan notes
n Sophomore Sierra Spaude will most likely miss half of the season with a fracture in her foot, after missing all of last year due to NCAA transfer rules. Coach Rademacher doesn't expect her to be ready until late December, but is excited by her potential. She said that she can "jump out of the gym" and could possibly challenge senior Brigid Mulroy for playing time at the small forward spot.
n Junior Heather Hatter is in the process of rehabbing her knee after her second torn ACL in two years. She is currently sprinting, shooting the basketball and participating in predetermined basketball moves. She estimates she is about two months away from being able to practice fully with the team. Last season Hatter put up career numbers before suffering a partial tear in a Valentine's Day game against Green Bay. She attempted to come back two weeks later, only to fully tear the ACL upon her return. "It is frustrating," she said of her multiple injuries. "But I try to stay positive. It is kind of nice to sit back and take my time (rehabbing) instead of rushing back." Another positive to Hatter's injury: By redshirting this year, she will be eligible to play next year, which will coincidentally be the freshman year of her sister, Megan, who has already committed to UDM. Although they went to the same high school, the two sisters never took the court together because of their four-year age gap.
n Freshman Kassandra Hooten will wear number 50 this year, but she was in an unfamiliar jersey for Friday night's Boogie Nights scrimmage. Her jersey has not come in yet, so Hooten was forced to wear number 33, which belonged to Dominica Whittaker for four years.
Be the first to comment on this story