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CHOCTAW — Ana Llanusa still wonders at times why it took a car ride home to make up her mind.
After bursting onto the scene at the state basketball tournament as a freshman at Choctaw High School, she had been invited on an unofficial visit to Oklahoma. While she was in Norman, Sooner coach Sherri Coale surprised her with a scholarship offer.
“She told me to think about it, and my parents were telling me to think about it,” Llanusa said. “Deep down inside I already knew that’s where I wanted to go.”
Llanusa called Coale back within minutes of arriving home to commit.
Three years later, Llanusa is already working out in Norman with future teammates as she celebrates a Class 6A state championship.
There were times Llanusa wondered if she would ever get a gold ball. But at the end of a stellar senior season, Llanusa, The Oklahoman’s Big All-City Player of the Year, can now focus on the Sooners.
“I expect her to go in there and immediately be a pretty big factor,” said Choctaw coach Ryan Maloney, The Oklahoman’s Big All-City Coach of the Year. “I don’t know how you can keep a girl like that off of the floor. I think she’ll find ways to get it done.”
Llanusa, a 6-foot guard, is a force when she attacks the hoop. She can shoot the 3-pointer and rebound, too. She’s a scoring weapon OU can quickly use.
That’s why she’s spent considerable time the past month working out in Norman with the goal to make an immediate impact.
“I’d like to help them as much as I can,” Llanusa said. “They’re looking for a scorer. I’m a scorer here at Choctaw, but that’s big-time Division I basketball. It’s going to be a lot different, but I feel if I put in the time I can be a big help to them.”
Llanusa was also drawn to Coale.
She loves the bond Coale makes with her players. She loves having the freedom to express herself.
“I know I’m going to grow as a player, and I like the way she coaches,” Llanusa said. “She takes time out of her day to talk not only basketball but everyday things with her players. I like that a lot.”
For Maloney, it’s tough to watch his star graduate in May.
But he has little doubt she can pick up her game at OU.
“The thing we loved about her is she’s quick to learn,” Maloney said. “I know with that coaching staff up there they’ll be able to get her to the next level pretty quick. I think it’ll be a matter of time before she’s playing well at the next level.”
After bursting onto the scene at the state basketball tournament as a freshman at Choctaw High School, she had been invited on an unofficial visit to Oklahoma. While she was in Norman, Sooner coach Sherri Coale surprised her with a scholarship offer.
“She told me to think about it, and my parents were telling me to think about it,” Llanusa said. “Deep down inside I already knew that’s where I wanted to go.”
Llanusa called Coale back within minutes of arriving home to commit.
Three years later, Llanusa is already working out in Norman with future teammates as she celebrates a Class 6A state championship.
There were times Llanusa wondered if she would ever get a gold ball. But at the end of a stellar senior season, Llanusa, The Oklahoman’s Big All-City Player of the Year, can now focus on the Sooners.
“I expect her to go in there and immediately be a pretty big factor,” said Choctaw coach Ryan Maloney, The Oklahoman’s Big All-City Coach of the Year. “I don’t know how you can keep a girl like that off of the floor. I think she’ll find ways to get it done.”
Llanusa, a 6-foot guard, is a force when she attacks the hoop. She can shoot the 3-pointer and rebound, too. She’s a scoring weapon OU can quickly use.
That’s why she’s spent considerable time the past month working out in Norman with the goal to make an immediate impact.
“I’d like to help them as much as I can,” Llanusa said. “They’re looking for a scorer. I’m a scorer here at Choctaw, but that’s big-time Division I basketball. It’s going to be a lot different, but I feel if I put in the time I can be a big help to them.”
Llanusa was also drawn to Coale.
She loves the bond Coale makes with her players. She loves having the freedom to express herself.
“I know I’m going to grow as a player, and I like the way she coaches,” Llanusa said. “She takes time out of her day to talk not only basketball but everyday things with her players. I like that a lot.”
For Maloney, it’s tough to watch his star graduate in May.
But he has little doubt she can pick up her game at OU.
“The thing we loved about her is she’s quick to learn,” Maloney said. “I know with that coaching staff up there they’ll be able to get her to the next level pretty quick. I think it’ll be a matter of time before she’s playing well at the next level.”
