Published: Friday, November 13, 2009
Love, Heard headline letter-of-intent signees
Basketball standouts headed to the Pac-10
By Mike Cane Herald Writer
At long last, Danielle Love could finally make her decision official.
Love, a senior basketball player at Cascade High School, was one of several local student-athletes who signed NCAA Letters of Intent on Thursday. For Love, who formally accepted an athletic scholarship from the University of Oregon womens basketball program, it was a major relief.
All day my stomach was like in knots. Its a weight off my shoulders to finally officially have my name down on paper, said Love, a 6-foot-2 post. Im going to Oregon. That feels good.
During a ceremony at Cascade High in Everett about two dozen people celebrated with Love, including her parents, Ken and JoAnne Love, and Loves sister, Devan Love. In addition to thanking her family and coaches, Danielle Love praised her teammates from over the years because theyre the ones that make you get better the people youre playing with.
High school basketball practice for the 2009-2010 season starts Monday. Love, a senior, begins her fourth season on Cascades varsity and her third as a team captain. She averaged 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.6 steals last season.
The NCAA early signing period for several sports including basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball began Wednesday and runs through Nov. 18.
Five Jackson High student-athletes also signed on Thursday: Erin Feeney (Western Washington University womens basketball), Dani Jackman (Grand Canyon University softball), Courtney McDermott (Emory University womens swimming), Alana Pazevic (University of Florida womens swimming) and Ryan Todd (Seattle Pacific University mens basketball).
It was an incredible collection of talent and character at the ceremony in Mill Creek, said Todd, a senior guard who hopes to help lead the Jackson boys basketball team to the Class 4A state tournament this winter.
Its amazing. It really just shows that we have some pretty talented athletes, but more important just some great people, Todd said. When you look at the kids that I was surrounded by today, you cant help but say great things about all of them.
Pazevic and McDermott are teammates on Jacksons girls swimming team, which competes today and Saturday in the Class 4A state championships in Federal Way.
Not far from Jackson High, Glacier Peak High School senior Marjorie Heard made school history in Snohomish by becoming the first Grizzly athlete to accept an athletic scholarship. The powerful, relentless 6-1 forward signed with the University of Washington womens basketball team a huge milestone for second-year Glacier Peak, which did not have seniors in 2008-2009.
Its an honor, said Heard, who averaged about 17 points and 12 rebounds per game during her junior season, earning Herald All-Area first-team and All-Wesco South first-team honors. But being the first is also a big responsibility, she said. Heard, who received about 30 scholarship offers, wants to keep setting a good example.
I definitely want to uphold that honor of respecting my peers and good sportsmanship and being thankful to God that I actually am blessed with a scholarship, she said, and not being cocky and big-headed and everything.
Looking down the road a bit, Heard will be a future opponent of Cascades Love, the Oregon recruit, in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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