84 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2
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W O M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L F E A T U R E : A P R I L W I L S O N
BY KYLE CHARTERS
KCharters@GoldandBlack.com
I
t's the photo.
April Wilson, on the night of her arrest in late
April, looking disheveled — messy hair, tired eyes,
sullen appearance — as an officer takes her mug
shot while she's booked into the Tippecanoe County
Jail. It's not the image she wants the world to see.
Not the image she wants to project. Not the image
of a pastor's daughter. Not the image of a Purdue
basketball player.
But it's the image that's out there now.
"The photo was probably one of the worst things
ever," says Wilson now, as she prepares for her ju-
nior season. "It was so embarrassing. Not even for
me, but for my university and my team.
"… I'm trying to put it behind me. I know people
still bring it up and I'm still going to have to think
about it, but I have to deal with the consequences of
my actions."
Wilson's working to change the image, and doing
so by exuding a more mature persona than her first
couple seasons at Purdue. Only months since the
incident — Wilson was arrested on disorderly con-
duct and illegal consumption charges on April 26 —
nearly everyone can see a difference. Wilson's more
engaged in practices, taking ownership of her role
as the Boilermakers' starting point guard and one of
their captains. She's communicating, directing the
rest of her teammates, encouraging them and being
a positive influence. She has better body language,
showing a willingness to do what is asked, rather
than sulk away like she is uninterested. She bounds
out of the locker room, saying "Hi, friend!" to an on-
Tom Campbell
April Wilson experienced an awakening over the summer,
spurred by an arrest that left her feeling the need for change.
And she has, accepting more responsibility to lead the Boil-
ermakers.
REDEMPTION
Matured Wilson brings
new attitude to Boilermakers
REDEMPTION
Matured Wilson brings
new attitude to Boilermakers
