FUTURES

Women's Basketball, Oct 2004 by Fay, Bill

A special look at some of the players from the 2004 AAU Girls' Basketball National Championships.

Kelli Agness, Indianapolis, Ind.

Kelli is a point guard for Mohr Magic, the AAU state champions in Indiana in 2003 and third-place finishers at state in 2004. Mohr Magic finished fifth in the 18-under national tournament this season. Kelli was the starting point guard and captain for North Central High School in Indianapolis, leading her team to the state championship in the 4A (largest schools) classification. She won All-County and All-Conference honors and was academic first-team All-State in basketball. She also scored 12 goals and won first-team All-State honors as a forward for North Central in soccer, despite missing half the season with an injury. She considered offers from several Division Il schools, but decided instead to try out at Indiana University as a walk-on. She hopes to get a business degree at IU.

Megan Darrah, Noonan, Ga.

Megan is a shooting guard for the Georgia Metros 18-under AAU team. She has played in AAU national tournaments three times. This year, Megan helped the Metros reach the final four teams with a 32-point output against Puerto Rico. Megan led East Coweta High School to a spot in the Elite Eight of the Georgia state tournament in the 5A classification, averaging 25 points, 10 rebounds and three steals per game. She had a career-high 38 points in a win over cross-town rival Noonan High School during her senior year. She was a four-year starter at East Coweta and is the school's all-time leading scorer. She will attend the University of Georgia on a basketball scholarship this fall.

Maryam Kirk, Decatur, Ala.

Maryam is a shooting guard for the Alabama Twisters team that won the AAU state title in the U16 Division Il category. ; The Twisters finished third in Division Il at the national level, missing a spot in the finals by a single point. Maryam started playing basketball on the playgrounds in Atlanta, Ga. and then joined the school team at Brookhaven Middle School when her family moved to Decatur. Her school team was unbeaten and won the city championship as seventh and eighth graders. She didn't lose a competitive game until she was in ninth grade. She averaged 8.5 points and five rebounds as a sophomore for the Decatur High School junior varsity team last season and will try out for the varsity this season. She ' hopes to earn a college scholarship at a school in Alabama or Georgia and pursue a degree in child psychology.

Caria Cortiso, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Caria is the starting point guard for Puerto Rico's 18-under national team and was regarded as one of the hottest prospects at the AAU nationals this summer. In high school, Carla helped lead Maria Auxiliadora High School to an undefeated season and a state championship her sophomore season. She was named the MVP at the state tournament. Carla transferred to Bellair High School in Houston, Tex. for her junior year, leading her team to the Sweet 16 round in the state 5A (largest schools) classification. Carla averaged 15 points and five assists that season and drew attention from several Division schools. Carla has already visited Texas, North Carolina State, Duke and LSU and is garnering interest from Connecticut, Stanford and others. She expects to make a few more visits before making a collegiate choice.

Krisitn Drabyn, Avon, Ind.

Kristin plays guard for the Team Indiana 18-under squad. Team Indiana finished fifth in the national tournament, losing to eventual champion Missouri in the quarterfinals. Kristin had 28 points as Team Indiana had its best finish ever at a national event. This was her third trip to the AAU national tournament. Last summer, her team won the AAU state title in Indiana in the 17-under bracket and finished 12th at nationals. She won first-team All-State honors after leading Avon High School to a 15-6 season that ended with a loss in the sectional finals. She averaged 17 points and four assists per game. Her high game during the season was 32 points against Westfield High School. Kristin signed a scholarship to play at the University of MarylandBaltimore, where she will join former AAU teammate Sharri Rhode.