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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 28, Digital 2

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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 2 88 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com M arcus Perry knows he's going to get a phone call. It's a weekend before the start of the sea- son, but Nyagoa Gony wants into the school's locked gymnasium, hoping she can spend more time working to continue to develop her game. Perry, the coach at Lincoln High School in Nebraska, has the keys and is happy to oblige. "She works extremely hard and is always wanting to get better," he said of Gony, one of three 2018 Purdue commitments. "She shows up before practice and goes through countless reps … and after practice, when we've conditioned and everyone is dead tired, she'll still stay after and shoot some free throws or work on some more post moves or ask questions about how she can get bet- ter in certain areas. In the weight room, she's pushing herself, gaining some muscle weight. She's getting those extra reps and encouraging her teammates to do the same things." It's what helped make Gony, a 6-foot-3 defensive-mind- ed forward, so intriguing to the Boilermakers, with Sha- ron Versyp vying to get a commitment before other Power 5 schools could make a late push. Versyp offered during Gony's Sept. 24 official visit, and the forward accepted before leaving campus. "Everyone is there for your best interest, not just the staff but others," Gony said. "That's one of my top prior- ities, and it's like being part of something that's bigger than myself and that's something I really value. They welcomed me with open arms." Gony will sign with Purdue Nov. 8, joining the Indiana backcourt combination of Cassidy Hardin (Center Grove) and Kayana Traylor (Martinsville) in the '18 class. A solid post defender and excellent shot-blocker, Gony had 94 blocks as a junior at Lincoln along with averages of 7.3 points and 10.6 rebounds. "My greatest strength is blocking shots and rebound- ing," she said. "I'm more of a defensive player, at least I Incoming Boilermakers 2018 Commitments Name Pos. Ht. Hometown/Last School Nyagoa Gony F 6-3 Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Cassidy Hardin G 5-9 Bargersville, Ind./Center Grove Kayana Traylor G 5-9 Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville 2019 Commitment Bria Harmon G 5-7 Suwanee, Ga./Collins Defense First Purdue commitment is a shot-blocking menace Matt Ryerson Lincoln coach Marcus Perry, who played at Nebraska, says Nyagoa Gony (left) is a solid interior defender whose length and athleti- cism allow her to be effective in a press, as well.

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