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Trojan Warrior: Nwanebu commits to USC
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@acnpapers.com
Lovejoy sophomore Ebony Nwanebu wasn’t planning on making a decision as to where she would play college volleyball for another few months.
An unofficial visit earlier this month to USC changed that timeline.
“I just felt at home there,” Nwanebu said. “I liked how the campus looked, it was just gorgeous, and I got along so well with the girls there.”
But in reality, Nwanebu chose USC over every other school in the country.
“Yeah … I guess that’s sorta true,” Nwanebu said sheepishly after laughing off the question.
But the 6-foot-3 middle blocker is simply being modest. Nwanebu is near the top of all volleyball recruiting lists for the Class of 2013 with PrepVolleyball.com saying, “Nwanebu might be the best college prospect in this class.”
Lovejoy head coach Ryan Mitchell was quick to agree.
“I know Ebony had several … numerous … offers from schools,” he said. “I’m sure she could have chosen to go to any school she wanted to.”
And why not?
Despite being just a sophomore, Nwanebu has already put together an impressive resume.
In 2010, Nwanebu’s TAV 15 Rags Black squad took third in the 15 Open Division at nationals and this year, the TAV 16 Rags Black team has already qualified for the 2011 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in July.
Nwanebu’s impact may have been even more pronounced at the varsity level.
Nwanebu transferred from Irving MacArthur to Lovejoy for her sophomore season and made an instant impression as she led the Lady Leopards in kills (416) and solo blocks (159). Nwanebu was also named District 11-3A MVP, first team all-state and Class 3A State Tournament MVP for a Lovejoy team that finished the season 46-3, won a third straight state title and finished No. 1 in the LoneStarVolleyball.com poll regardless of classification.
“I haven’t coached a player that can affect the game in so many ways,” Mitchell said.
And that’s high praise considering Mitchell was named the MaxPreps/CBSsports National High School Coach of the Year.
“Ebony is legit,” he said. “She is involved in so many points. She is so strong and so quick on the attack and then she has such a huge block that it is capable of altering so much of what the other team is trying to do.”
Assets like that are why schools have been pursuing Nwanebu so hard.
“I’m really relieved to have it all over with because lots and lots of hours went into this decision,” Nwanebu said. “And it’s still sort of a weird feeling. I never thought I would get to a point where I could pick any school I wanted to go to.”
But before heading to USC, Nwanebu said she still has plenty of drive to play hard the next two seasons. The 6-foot-3 recruit is used to having college commits alongside her on the club scene and she will have at least two more on the court with her for the next varsity season as well as Lovejoy juniors Andie Malloy and Nicole Newton have also given verbal pledges.
Malloy, a multi-positional player who may excel most at setter, has committed to Iowa State.
Newton, who Mitchell said has greatly improved since the end of the varsity season, has committed to Tulsa.
“As a coach, you always hope that you make an impact with your players both on an off the court,” Mitchell said. “So it’s a neat feeling because all three of those girls are good people and solid players. And now they are getting a chance to use what they have learned to go to the next level.”
In the fall, Lovejoy will attempt to become the first Class 3A volleyball team in UIL history to win four consecutive state championships.
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