Posted on: Saturday, August 10, 2002

HIGH SCHOOLS
Hogue verbally commits to Loyola Marymount

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

All-state girls basketball player Becky Hogue said yesterday that she has verbally committed to play at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles following her graduation next year from Punahou School.

"I want to get it out of the way," Hogue said. "I want to be able to concentrate solely on winning a state championship this upcoming season and not have to worry about anything."

Hogue, a 6-1 power forward, helped Punahou reach the state championship game in May. The Buffanblu, ranked No. 1 in the state most of the season, lost the title game to Kamehameha. Hogue averaged 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Hogue said she had been contacted by "50 or 60 schools" and had received "lots and lots of phone calls since June 21," the first day colleges were allowed to call next term's seniors.

Loyola Marymount was the only college to offer a full scholarship, she said, but many others showed strong interest, including Yale, Princeton, Santa Clara and St. Bonaventure.

"I got the feeling that if I showed more interest in them, they would have offered," Hogue said.

Hogue got to know the Loyola Marymount coaching staff this summer. "I played 19 games (for two teams) on the Mainland this summer and they came to all of them," Hogue said. "Everyone on the staff was involved."

"The coaches are wonderful people," she said. "I love the family atmosphere of the program, it's great to be supported and wanted."

NCAA rules do not allow head coach Julie Wilhoit or her assistants to make public statements about Hogue until they receive her letter of intent, which she is not allowed to sign until Nov. 13.

Rae Self (Kamehameha '00) has started 28 games for Loyola Marymount the past two seasons and is the leading returning point guard.

The Lions will play in University of Hawai'i's Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic Dec. 20-21 at Stan Sheriff Center.

"Hawai'i was interested, but they knew I wanted to go away to school," Hogue said.

"The first recruiting letter I ever got," Hogue said, "was from (then assistant coach) George Wolfe at University of Hawai'i when I was in the fifth grade."