Brooke Petty, former Peoria Central High School and Illinois Central College star, has joined the Illinois State University womens basketball team as a practice player.
Petty spent the fall, 2001 semester at Eastern Michigan but did not play basketball. She enrolleed at Illinois State for the Spring, 2002 semester.
The 6-foot-1 post player played two years at ICC for Illinois State alumnus and Hall of Fame coach Lorene Ramsey, helping the Cougars to third place at the 2000 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament. One of her teammates on that squad was Stacey Nickerson, one of her current Redbird teammates.
She also starred at Peoria Central with another current Redbird, Sharon Blade. The duo led Peoria Central to the IHSA Class AA Supersectional as juniors in 1998. Both are 1999 graduates.
According to Redbird coach Jenny Yopp, Petty called her because the player wanted to resume playing college basketball.
Brooke called us and was persistent about wanting to play, said Yopp. She has the size and strength to play basketball. If she has the desire, she can help our team. We believe her interest in joining the team shows desire.
Petty is excited about playing with the Redbirds.
I am impressed with the players on the team and I like the style, said Petty. Sharon (Blade) and I talked and she said she thought I would fit in.
In accordance with NCAA rules, Petty can practice with the Redbirds until the end of the Fall, 2002 semester. At that point, she can play the remainder of the 2002-03 season and all of the 2003-04 season.
But the wait doesnt worry Petty.
I see that as practice time for me to develop my game, said Petty. I want to improve my ability as an inside and outside player.
