By
G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort
Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
Players may handle the recruiting process
in different fashions.
But many make verbal commitments to play
at the college level long before their senior seasons begin so they can focus
on their sport. That is what Highlands senior forward Leah Schaefer decided to
do in the spring.
The 6-foot-1-inch Schaefer verbally
committed to play basketball at Xavier University just across the Ohio river in
Cincinnati. She’d also been recruited by other NCAA Division I schools like
Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tenn. and the University of
Massachusetts.
“A huge burden has been lifted,” Schaefer
said. “Colleges are not calling me anymore. The verbal commitment means I’m
committed to them and they’re committed to me until I sign.”
Schaefer said the location had a lot to do
with her decision. Her family and friends, especially from Summit Church of
Christ in Coldspring, Ky., can come see her play.
Schaefer had plenty of help in the
recruiting process. That started with her head coach Jaime Walz-Richey. Richey
is the state’s all-time leading career point scorer with 4,948 points for both
men’s and women’s basketball.
Richey waited until her senior year to
make a decision to attend Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers were a Top-10 team
at the time. Richey scored 1,044 points in her career in Bowling Green and led
the Toppers to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Western Kentucky and the
University of Kentucky flew her down on private planes.
“You have to go where you’re going to be
happy. I was thankful my parents allowed that,” Richey said. “I tell my girls
that you’re going to be the one that has to wake up at 5 a.m. to go work out.
You’re going to be the one that has to sit in class all day then have individuals,
practices or weights. You have to have a good relationship with the college
coach. You can be great friends with the players off the court. But if you
don’t have a good relationship with the head coach, you’re not going to be very
happy, especially when you’re sitting on the bench.”
Former Highlands standout Tara
Boothe-Smith also attended Xavier and had a wonderful career there. Smith
finished with a school-record 2,324 points and 1,004 rebounds. Smith committed
during her junior year. Smith is currently the head coach at Dixie Heights.
Schaefer is aware that some comparisons
will most likely be made between herself and Smith. But Schaefer quickly
dismissed the idea of it bothering her.
“There is no possible way I’ll get that
many points,” Schafer said. “I feel like I’ll have a different contribution to
that team. I’ll be more like a defender and passer than a scorer.”
Richey said Smith was taller and
physically stronger than many of her opponents in high school so she could
score almost at will. Richey said Schaefer is a good all-around player. Smith
is not concerned about Schaefer trying to be like her.
“I graduated six years ago and it does not
seem like it was that long ago,” Smith said. “I think Leah is going to do well.
I don’t think she’s even thought about (potential comparisons). She’s been
herself all through her high school career.”
Schaefer’s recruiting started with Amateur
Athletic Union basketball during the offseason. She played with the Cincinnati
Angels this past year. Prior to that, Schaefer spent four years playing for
Cincinnati’s Finest and two with the Cincinnati Legends.
“During our season, women’s basketball
coaches are coaching their teams so the only time they really come out to watch
high school games is if they’re interested in one girl or whoever is playing,”
Richey said. “Summer time is when coaches are all over the place.”
Highlands finished 17-16 last year. The
Ladybirds finished 36th District Tournament Runner-up to Newport Central
Catholic before falling 13-8 to Notre Dame in the Ninth Region Quarterfinals.
Schaefer averaged 14.9 points and 8.55
rebounds per game. She shot just under 82 percent from the free-throw line and
a little more than 47 percent from the field. Schaefer handled a lot of the
ball handling when teammate and guard Ava Abner went down with an injury in late
December.
“Ï think that helped Leah when colleges
came and watched us play. They said, ‘Holy Cow, Jaime. She’s having to bring
the ball up and give it to someone,” Richey said. “She’s expected to score and
make the pass. I think it showed colleges that even though Leah is 6-0, 6-1,
she’s able to handle the ball. Sometimes, other teams would put their guards
against her to try to steal it and Leah was able to go around them and protect the
ball.”
Xavier finished 8-20 overall and 5-9 in
Atlantic-10 play last year in Waugh’s first season. Waugh played for the
Musketeers and helped them to the NCAA Elite Eight as a player in 2001 and as
an assistant coach in 2010. Waugh served as an assistant coach at Xavier before
becoming head coach. In her six years as head coach and player, Xavier has five
NCAA Tournament appearances.
Waugh can not comment on Schaefer per NCAA
rules until Schaefer signs with the Musketeers in the fall. But Smith played
with Waugh for one season.
“(Waugh) will not sugarcoat things,”Smith
said. “She’s a good leader and is passionate about the game. That’s the type of
people she recruits. She inherited a program that is rebuilding. But she should
do well moving forward.”
Big
Things Expected in Senior Campaign:
Schaefer said she’s tried to improve her
ball handling and three-point shooting in the offseason. Schaefer is one of
several returning starters. Abner, Jesse Daley, Brianna Adler and Emilie Parton
all started some last year.
Schaefer likes to lead both verbally and
by example. She said communication with the coaches and each other will be
another key to the team’s success.
“Ïf we have problems, someone needs to
step forward and tell them not to worry about it,” Schaefer said. “Sometimes it
will work and sometimes, it won’t. We just have to make adjustments in the game
if something happens like that.”
Highlands opens the season on Nov. 27 at
7:30 p.m. at home against Dixie Heights.
Photo Credit by Wayne Litmer: Schaefer goes up for a shot in the Ninth Region Quarterfinals last year.
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