Brookville girls basketball star chooses WSU

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Staff file photo Brookville's Courtney Weeden drives to the basket against Milton Union last season.

Courtney Weeden wanted to stay close to home.

By Sean McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 1:08 AM Friday, July 17, 2009

Recruitable local women’s basketball prospects traditionally have crossed Wright State off their lists early in the process.

Not this time.

Courtney Weeden, a 5-foot-10 wing player who averaged 19.1 points per game last season as a Brookville High School junior, verbally committed Thursday, July 16, choosing WSU over Bowling Green, Toledo, Butler and Kent State.

“I wanted to stay close to my family, and the coaches — Christian, a husband and wife — felt like a perfect fit for me,” Weeden said. “It just seems like they care about their players.”

Since 2001, the Raiders have been guided by head coach Bridgett Williams and her husband, Kevin Williams. The team went 15-16 last season, ousted in the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament 67-36 by Wisconsin-Green Bay. The lone “local” player on the roster was forward Erica Richardson, from Wilmington.

“My AAU coach said he has been trying to get Wright State to recruit his players for a long time,” Weeden said. “He thinks this is going to open some doors there.”

Weeden has been competing this summer with the Dayton Lady HoopStars in far-away AAU showcases. Her decision to stay home for college delights her family.

“We’re thrilled,” said Amy Boyd, Courtney’s mom. “We’ll be going to all her games.”

Weeden has played numerous positions in high school and AAU, but she sees herself as a shooting guard and scouts view her as a matchup nightmare for college opponents.

“Courtney is an explosive offensive player who can score from anywhere on the court,” girls basketball analyst Jim Dabbelt of The Dabbelt Report marveled. “She has outstanding range out to the 3-point line.”

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-2408 or  

smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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