BY SCOTT HADDOW
Numerous NCAA and CIS schools came knocking
on local basketball star Katie Goggins' door with lucrative
scholarship deals, but they all made offers she could
refuse.
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Lockerby basketball star Katie
Goggins spurned NCAA and CIS schools to stay home and
compete for the Laurentian University Lady Vees. |
In fact, based on her core family values,
sensibility and sheer love of her hometown, there really wasn't
an offer good enough to pry the talented teen away from the
Nickel City.
Instead, Goggins decided to join Laurentian
University and the Lady Vees basketball program for
2006-07.
In that moment, Sudbury not only got to keep
one of its burgeoning post secondary athletes, but maybe a
future doctor as well.
"I wasn't ready to leave because I can't cook
yet," joked the 17-year-old. "I would miss my family too much.
I want to take kinesology or biochemistry because I want to be
a family doctor. It made sense to stay here because of the new
medical school. If I became a doctor, I would stay here
because Sudbury needs family doctors."
The lure of continuing to showcase her skills
in front of rabid local fans also appealed to Goggins.
"There's a little extra pressure playing in
front of hometown crowds," said the Grade 12 Lockerby student.
"I am good under pressure though. I played three years of
provincial level baseball and won three national championships.
In our first two wins, I hit the winning runs in the final
games.
In the third, I pitched relief to help us win
again. Pressure doesn't affect me...In baseball anyway. We'll
see in basketball."
Lady Vees head coach Mike Clarke is overjoyed
about landing such a proficient player.
"Katie is exactly the type of kid we build
our program around," said Clarke. "She's good right now, but
she reminds me of Cassandra Carpenter in the
sense she's an amazing athlete that has only
recently concentrated on basketball. As a result, I think she's
very under-rated. She will actually be more effective at our
level when she can play with more talented and skilled players.
She's a tough nut. If you try to intimidate her, she just
laughs in your face...Like Cassandra, she burns to compete at
her age and this can manifest itself as frustration when she
plays on teams hopelessly over matched. With us, she will be
playing with a full deck and that edge will give her and us
what we need to win big games."
Goggins feels she will be able to
contribute.
"I bring speed and passing," said the point
guard. "I think they need guards to help them score more in
transition. Other strengths are my ability to see the court and
my jumping ability...I can jump high."
Goggins is excited to play with Carpenter, an
OUA all-star and leading scorer.
"She's aggressive and I am aggressive," said
Goggins. "We'll both benefit as I will have someone to pass to.
It should be a good situation."
Clarke also sees the match made in heaven
between Goggins and Laurentian.
"Her speed and jumping ability separate her
from the pack...Having someone push the ball baseline to
baseline makes our transition game very potent," said Clarke.
"She will probably come off the bench, but if she handles the
adjustment, I see her playing a lot of minutes. She, Cassandra,
Darrah Bumstead, Lis Furchner (another top local recruit to
start in 2006) and Chriti Bauck give us top notch athleticism
at their positions, which is
what you need to compete at the national
level."
