Home-schooled student to suit up for ISU

**C.John** · 11-14-2007, 12:23 PM

DMR LINK

By DAN JOHNSON • Register Staff Writer • November 14, 2007

Whitney Williams won't have a big high school ceremony when she signs a letter of intent today to play basketball at Iowa State.

Williams doesn't attend high school. She is home-schooled at her Fort Worth, Texas, residence. She is already taking college-level courses.

How does a college coach find out about a player who doesn't play in high school?

Williams played in summer tournaments, which is how Iowa State spotted her. She also plays on a team that won the home-school national championship in Oklahoma City, where she was named most valuable player.

"There are some pretty good teams that go to the nationals," Williams said. "We consider it like a state championship."

Williams chose Iowa State over Kansas State and Texas Christian.

She said the home-schooling experience was right for her.

"I'm glad I was home-schooled," she said. "It can teach discipline. You have to schedule your time to make sure everything gets done in a certain time frame."

The Cyclones also have commitments from Ashley Arlen, a Class 2-A all-state post player from Cascade, and Alexis Yackley, a point guard from Sulley Buttes in Onida, S.D.

**bos** · 11-14-2007, 12:26 PM

Excellent. Hopefully she does well here. I hope the ladies kick some but this year.

**j_crow** · 11-14-2007, 01:57 PM

To go along with C.John's article, here's Cyclones.com's article on the three signees for 2008-09...

Cyclone WBB Signs Three for 2008-09

I am somewhat concerned about the lack of true height in the post we'll appear to have after Wieben and Anderson (both 6'4") graduate next year. While it is obvious that you don't have to be tall to dominate in the post in WBB (see Toccara Ross), we'll definitely be missing that shot-blocking presence we've gotten so used to in recent years unless that need is addressed very soon. I am under the impression that women's basketball has 15 scholarships to give, so I believe our class is done for 2008-09. Here's what next year's roster should look like:

Jocelyn Anderson; Senior; 6'4"
Nicky Wieben; Senior; 6'4"
Gillian Bjerke; Senior; 6'2"
Amanda Nisleit; Senior; 6'0"
Heather Ezell; Senior; 5'7"

Allison Lacey; Junior; 6'0"
Genesis Lightbourne; Junior; 6'0"
Anna Florzak; Junior; 5'10"
Brittany Lange; Junior; 5'10"
Shellie Mosman; Junior; 5'10"
Denae Stuckey; Junior; 5'8"

Kelsey Bolte; Sophomore; 6'1"

Ashley Arlen; Freshman; 6'1"
Whitney Williams; Freshman; 5'7"
Alexis Yackley; Freshman; 5'7"

On the other hand...looking at next year's team, we should be flat-out dominant...

**psycln11** · 11-14-2007, 02:06 PM

Don't forget... we have a commitment from the Zimmerman girl that plays for Ballard/Huxley. I believe she's just a junior this year though.

**kg-cyclone** · 11-14-2007, 02:10 PM

It doesn't really matter, but it's the Cascade Cougars...Not Cascade Bruins.

**price26** · 11-14-2007, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by kg-cyclone

It doesn't really matter, but it's the Cascade Cougars...Not Cascade Bruins.

Funny that they would get that wrong, considering that is GMac's high school . . .

**C.John** · 11-14-2007, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by psycln11

Don't forget... we have a commitment from the Zimmerman girl that plays for Ballard/Huxley. I believe she's just a junior this year though.

Zimmerman is 6'3" correct?

**psycln11** · 11-14-2007, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by C.John

Zimmerman is 6'3" correct?

6'3" if she's done growing.

**intrepid27** · 11-14-2007, 02:50 PM

We've had several home school kids play on my kid's High School teams.

**Knownothing** · 11-14-2007, 03:18 PM

I bet she can spell words really well.

**BenEClone** · 11-14-2007, 05:39 PM

Does anyone have insight into whether Arlen is likely to be Miss Basketball for Iowa this year?

I agree that we don't want to rely on a frosh post after Wieben and Anderson graduate. There may be a JC post in the future, or a late period signee if someone leaves.

**j_crow** · 11-14-2007, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by psycln11

Don't forget... we have a commitment from the Zimmerman girl that plays for Ballard/Huxley. I believe she's just a junior this year though.

Haha...it's easy to forget a girl who committed before she started playing her freshman ball! I haven't really followed how she's progressed since her year playing with Lacey; did anybody see her play last year?

**fulll02** · 11-14-2007, 06:21 PM

I gotta think he's looking at a JUCO post for the late signing period. There still is one scholarship to give. I recall that B. Lange is walk-on, she has to be or where would the scholarship have come for Kathleen Scheer (who committed to Duke). The three we signed all had verballed before Scheer decided, so we must have been ready to sign four.