GBI Magazine

for that, and playing Kentucky is always good. "But we'll be having two-a-day practices before then, so it will be good preparation in terms of conditioning and getting up shots." Perry hopes to be an early contributor at Purdue, and she could be; despite the Boilers returning their top five guards, Perry's height gives Purdue something it doesn't have in the backcourt. "I'm definitely hoping to get some playing time," she said. "I want to make an impact on the program, as far as my career goes over the four years. So for my freshman season, I'm really going to have to work on being prepared physically and mentally, knowing it's going to be a grind and an adjustment. "I definitely have high expectations for myself." Ashley Morrissette After winning back-to-back state championships, Morrissette's quest for No. 3 came up just short. Despite Morrissette's late heroics, her Twinsburg squad lost 52-48 to Fairmont in the Division I (big school) championship. Morrissette, a 5-9 combo guard, scored 27 in the title game, including six in the final 51 seconds to try to rally from an eight-point hole. It wasn't all bad news for Morrissette. Along with becoming the state's second all-time leading tournament scorer — she had 110 in six games this postseason — she was also named Ohio's Ms. Basketball. "I'm just really excited for her," Purdue coach Sharon Versyp said. "I think it's just recognition by the state of how much work she has put in. I just think it's fantastic and we're really excited for her." As a senior, Morrissette averaged 19.1 points, 6.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 steals per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 82 percent from the line. Twinsburg, which had beaten Fairmont for titles the last two seasons, finished 29-1. "She's worked exceptionally hard," Versyp said. "Their team has gone down to three state championships and she continues to excel (at) her game." mer — could take place next season when Horrocks becomes a more integral part of Buford High School's offense. Five seniors from last season's 25-5 squad will graduate, including four who are headed to Division I colleges to continue their careers. So Horrocks averages of 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game could very likely see increases. Horrocks is a 6-4 post player who is working to develop her offensive game and would like to be a better rebounder with a goal of averaging double digits next season. She could still be growing, too; her dad, former NBA player John Horrocks, is 7 foot, while her mom is 5-11. "I've heard different opinions from different doctors and trainers, it looks like the growth plates at the bottom of my legs are closed, but I could still have growth in my torso and just by improving my posture, I'll get taller too," Bree Horrocks said. "That's kind of an issue right now." Horrocks has time, however. She won't be at Purdue until the 2013-14 season, as she's the first of a possible five-player 2014 recruiting class. She's been committed to the Boilermakers for nearly a year, having done so following Purdue's Elite Camp last summer. She still gets an occasional recruiting letter but not often. "I don't know if they just don't know that I'm committed or if they're still trying," she said. "But either way, I haven't made contact with them because I'm entirely satisfied with my commitment." j Bree Horrocks Horrocks could have some growing to do, both in physical stature and in her play. The latter — genetics will be in control of the forGold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5com

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