California wing player commits to Wahine
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Amy Sanders said yesterday she will play basketball for the University of Hawai'i next fall, giving the Wahine four verbal commitments before the early signing period.
Sanders is a 5-foot-11 wing player from Huntington Beach, Calif. She averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and 4.5 assists for Huntington Beach High School last season. She has returned to Mater Dei, in Santa Ana, for her senior year.
Sanders also visited San Francisco and Wyoming. She was contacted by several schools, including San Diego State and UCLA, before narrowing her choices. She came here two weeks ago, attended Midnight Ohana, and made her decision soon after returning home.
"The coaches were probably the reason, and the girls were really nice," Sanders said. "Plus, I like their league and schedule, especially the tournaments, with teams like UConn coming in."
Callie Spooner (6-3 center), Penny Jones (6-1 forward) and Iolani point guard Trisha Nishimoto previously announced they would come to UH. If the commitments come through, UH will have one scholarship remaining. It could fill that this season with volleyball player Kim Willoughby, who has expressed a preliminary interest in playing.
Willoughby, currently leading the country in kills, was also an all-state basketball player in high school. UH coach Vince Goo says he has talked with volleyball coach Dave Shoji and will meet with Willoughby again to detail his program's demands.
"I don't want to jeopardize volleyball now, she needs to take care of that, finish strong and have a good season," Goo said. "We'll go from there when she's done.
"I have no idea about her basketball. I'll have to take a look at her skills. But she'd probably be a pretty good rebounder."
In other news the Wahine, picked to finish second in the WAC coaches preseason poll, do not have a player on the preseason all-conference teams.
Louisiana Tech All-American Ayanna Walker is the WAC Preseason Player of the Year. She and teammate Takeisha Lewis are the only seniors on the first team. Tech was picked to win the conference in its first WAC season.
OVER AND BACK: UH coach Vince Goo is closing on 300 victories. His record is 287-124. An incorrect number was reported in an Advertiser story last week. ... The Wahine open Saturday, Nov. 10, with a 1 p.m. exhibition against New Zealand's national team. Tickets go on sale Monday and are not part of the season ticket package. ... Individual game tickets for the regular season go on sale Nov. 13.
