GBI Magazine

Gold and Black Illustrated, Nov.-Dec. 2013

Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.

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"The program itself has always put a good quality product on the floor and kids are starting to see that now." Spiece Indy Gym Rats coach James Banks like she's been a Boilermaker for ages. The first commitment of Versyp's 2014 class, Horrocks chose the Boilers before others could become significantly involved; then, she had offers from Georgia and South Mississippi and interest from Maryland and others, each of which might have offered in time. But Horrocks saw little need to wait, especially after visiting Purdue for its Elite Camp in the summer of 2012. Then, she received an offer from Versyp and took a few minutes to think things over. "I asked her several questions and she had answers," said Horrocks, whose dad John was a 1984 draftee of the Dallas Mavericks. "My dad was with me, so we went into the conference room and I asked her if I could have a minute to speak with my dad. We spent about 10 to 15 minutes and after everything I knew Purdue was where I want to be." After battling ankle and foot injuries as a sophomore, Horrocks was healthy for her junior year, and averaged about eight points and seven rebounds for Buford High School. The numbers might not sound like much, but Buford, a Georgia state power, featured five seniors in 2012-13, including four who had signed to play collegiately. Horrocks could have a significantly bigger role for her senior year. "She's going to be one of foundation players that we've got to have a lot of different things from," Buford coach Gene Durden said. 90 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 Andreona Keys 5-11 • F Andreona Keys was the last of the '14 commitments, pledging to Purdue an hour or so after Bodnar on Oct. 12. But when she came on that official visit, she didn't necessarily know she'd be making her collegiate choice. "I've always loved it," Keys said of Purdue. "Talking to the coaches, I just knew that part, that I enjoyed it and wanted to play for them. Yet, coming here I didn't know. It wasn't, 'Oh yeah, I'm going to commit while I'm there.' It was like, 'See the campus and see if that feeling is there,' and it was so that's why I did it." Keys, a senior at Roswell High School in Georgia who played in middle school with Horrocks, averaged 23 points in her first six games last season but was sidelined after tearing her ACL in December. But she's back healthy now and playing volleyball this fall at Roswell. In basketball, the 5-11 wing calls herself a slasher-scorer. "I like to take it to the basket, draw fouls and go to the free-throw line," Keys said. "I've started to become a mid-range shooter and three-point shooter. That's because I just recently tore my ACL, so the only thing I could do was shoot for a long time. But definitely going to the basket is my strong suit, being physical." Keys chose Purdue over finalist Boston College, where she had also visited, and others, saying she felt a good fit with the Boilermakers. Phil Knight, hhcsports.com Dominique McBryde is part of a 2015 Purdue recruiting haul that will likely be one of the best in the country. ESPN ranks the forward as a top-25 prospect nationally. "It's a great academic school, and as far as basketball, they're great too," she said. "So I feel like it is a win-win situation. Just being here, I felt like this is where I want to be and where I need to be." Erica Moore 6-2 • F A frequent visit to Purdue over the years, Erica Moore had been thinking about committing to the Boilermakers for a while, calling them a favorite for more than a year. She made her choice official in late August, choosing Purdue from a list of more than 30 offers, including finalists Louisville, Michigan State, Indiana, Cincinnati and St. John's. "I just had the right feeling," she said. "It was the right fit for me. They showed the most support and really had all I could ask for. And they're close to home, so that makes it even better." A 6-2 forward at Mt. Vernon High f

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