Barton sends 7 sophomores on to Division I level; 9 to play at 4-year level
Success on the court has turned into great opportunities for 8 sophomores and 1 freshman on the Barton County Community College basketball team. This past season Barton went 28-6 and the 2-year sophomores have a combined record of 50-18 the past two seasons. Now those players are moving on to continue their careers at the NCAA level. Of those 9 looking to continue their careers, 7 will do so at NCAA Division I schools. Two more will do so at NCAA Division II schools.
Maya Onikute and Sunshine Uli, a big part of the turnaround for the Cougars these past two seasons, will remain together for 2 more years. The duo has signed to play for the University of Houston next season. Houston is a member of Conference USA, where the Cougars finished 8-8 last season. For the season, Houston was 12-17 overall and made it to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Last season was the 1st time in 3 years the Cougars didn't make the NCAA Tournament.
Another highly sought after sophomore for the Cougars this past season was 6-2 post Stephanie N'Garsanet. The native of the Ivory Coast chose American University, due in large part to its foreign studies programs. She will also look to improve an American team that went 7-21 last season, finishing 4-9 in the Patriot League.
Sharece Love will continue her playing days the University of Central Arkansas, recent addition to NCAA Division I. The Sugar Bears will be moving to NCAA Division I status this season after being an NCAA Division II school. Central Arkansas will compete in the Southland Conference next season. This season the Sugar Bears were 17-11. Former Barton men's basketball player Aubrey Bruner will be a senior next season at Central Arkansas.
Brandi Harris will be heading closer to home as she heads to Reno to play for the University of Nevada. Harris, from Phoenix, Arizona, will be joining a Wolf Pack team that finished 13-17 last season, but made it to the semifinals of the WAC tournament. Nevada finished the regular season by winning 9 of its final 13 games and went 8-8 in the WAC for 4th place.
Victoria Carlile will get her chance to play on one of the biggest stages in women's college basketball next season for the University of Tennessee-Martin. Carlile and the Skyhawks will travel to Knoxville next season to play the University of Tennessee. Carlile will be joining at Tennessee-Martin team that went 8-19 last season, including a 6-14 mark in the Ohio Valley.
Andrea Barber decided to head into Division I waters as well, even though she had one more year of eligibility remaining at Barton. Barber will go the Missouri Valley, playing Bradley University in Illinois next season. The Braves finished 9-18 a year ago and 10th in the Missouri Valley with a 5-13 mark.
KG Hellen will stay in state next season, heading to Washburn University to play for the Lady Blues. Washburn is an NCAA Division II school with a powerful tradition. The Lady Blues were 32-1 this past season, putting together a 52-game winning streak until a loss in the South Central Regional title game to rival Emporia State. The Icabods won the 2005 NCAA Division II title with a 35-2 record the previous season.
Ashley Glen is also expected to play NCAA Division II basketball next season with the University of Bridgeport (Conn.) Glen is expected to sign her letter next week to play for the Purple Knights. Bridgeport has been a power in the East the past few seasons, winning the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference title in 2005 and taking 2nd last season. The conference will change its name to the East Coast Conference this season. Last season the Purple Knights went 19-9 overall and 15-5 in the NYCAC.
Another Cougar sophomore will walk on next season at Southern Connecticut State University. Feminique Wiles, who missed most of the season after a knee injury in November, will walk on at the New Haven school. Wiles, from Hartford, Connecticut, will attempt to be part of an Owl team that went 29-4 last season before falling in the Northeast Region title game.
Sunshine Uli – Houston
6-0 – PF
1st team All-Jayhawk West
10.5 pts, 6.8 rbs, 54% FG
Maya Onikute – Houston
5-6 – PG
8.8 pts, 5.5 rbs, 3.9 assts, 2.0 stls
Stephanie N'Garsanet – American University
6-2 – P
Honorable Mention All-Jayhawk West
8.2 pts, 5.8 rbs, 1.3 blks
Sharece Love – Central Arkansas
5-10 – F
2.6 pts, 1.8 rbs, 1.6 stls
Brandi Harris – Nevada
5-7 – G
6.8 pts, 3.2 rbs, 2.1 assts, 1.6 stls
Victoria Carlile – Tennesse-Martin
5-7 – G
7.1 pts, 2.0 rbs, 48 3's
Andrea Barber – Bradley
5-5 – PG
7.2 pts, 3.4 rbs, 3.5 assts, 2.4 stls
KG Hellen – Washburn
5-9 – G
9.4 pts, 3.3 rbs, 1.6 assts
Ashley Glen – Bridgeport (Conn)
5-10 – F
2.0 pts, 2.2 rbs
Feminique Wiles – Southern Connecticut State (D-II)
5-10 – F
Injured – Medical Redshirt