New additions to women’s basketball team

By Christian Lucero, Ben Ward

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Last week, the Kansan profiled three of the seven ‘newbies’ to the women’s basketball team — Rhea Codio, Angel Goodrich, and Tania Jackson. Today, the Kansan will conclude the two-part feature by highlighting the team’s four remaining newcomers.

Annette Davis

Having Antonio Davis, a 13-year NBA veteran, as a father would give most some notion of entitlement and complacency. Annette Davis, however, was never one to settle for just that.

“Everyone says I play like him, but just staying in the gym with my coaches and sister made me the player I am,” Annette said.

The 6-foot-1-inch forward and 2009 McDonalds All-American nominee was on the radar for both Missouri and Texas A&M, but Annette said she saw a difference in KU, which made the decision easier.

“The fact that everyone believes we have a chance to do something big was important for me,” Annette said.

Coming to a school with eight returning letter winners, Annette said staying in the gym would be a big factor in adjusting to Big 12 basketball and competing for playing time. Head Coach Bonnie Henrickson said Annette’s short learning curve has helped ease the transition to university play, and the graduate from Bellaire high school said she expects the team’s work in the offseason to would pay off with more than just wining.

“Expect something different,” Annette said. “We want a big turnout because we’re not going to settle for just anything this year.”

Carolyn Davis

Annette and Carolyn Davis aren’t sisters, though an argument could be made for it by taking a closer look.

Both attended high school in Houston and played on the same Amateur Athletic Union team. Carolyn, like Annette, averaged a double-double during her senior year, notching 19 points and 11 rebounds per game. She also garnered numerous postseason accolades while catching the eye of the same big time schools.

Having the same last name doesn’t hurt the comparison, either.

Given all of the similarities between the two, it isn’t surprising that Carolyn also has high expectations for her freshman season.

“We really want turnouts,” she said. “We’re a good team but it seems like we get outshined by the boys. We want people to come out and see the girls are just as good as the boys.”

Ultimately though, Carolyn simply hopes to add to an already-talented Jayhawk roster.

“KU had a great year last year,” she said. “But I think I can bring a lot to the team. Now I just have to keep in shape and be ready to play.”

Marisha Brown

As a junior college transfer, Marisha Brown never thought adjusting to the Division one level of play would be easy.

“The competition is never as great so it’s going to be hard to get used to,” Brown said.

But Brown is well-accustomed to change, her move to Lawrence marking the third college she has attended in three years. As for work in the classroom goes, Brown said she doesn’t foresee any problems, but that the work on the court is a challenge – one that she is more than up to.

“Now that everyone’s as athletic as everyone else, all I can do now is work to be as athletic as I can and get better every day,” Brown said.

She also said that her coaches and teammates were making the transition easier.

Brown should help bolster the Jayhawk backcourt with what Henrickson described as a combination of speed, athleticism and strength. Add to that list her in-game experience: She started all 32 of her team’s games last season and averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per contest.

Monica Engelman

In selecting Monica Engelman, Kansas adds a guard with All-State accolades in Texas, coming off of her senior season with averages of 17.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and over three steals and assists per game.

Though Engelman was unavailable for comment this week, Henrickson spoke glowingly of the strengths of the new guard.

“She’s a very skilled player,” Henrickson said. “She has the ability to score in different ways, and can create her own shot.”

Described by Henrickson as soft spoken and a player who leads by example, Engelman should fit in well with the rest of the Jayhawk guards. Henrickson also said that Engelman had an excellent summer training with the team, and that her transition into fall has been smooth.

Be on the lookout for all seven of the newbies, as well as the rest of the Jayhawks, as they get back into action Nov. 1 at the Allen Fieldhouse against Pittsburg State.

— — Edited by Jacob Muselmann

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