NSU Horizons Spring 2013

38 HORIZONS Women Basketball Players Team Up On and Off the Court ATHLETICS BY WALTER VILLA A dozen strong, the Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball team members enjoy going out together to watch scary movies. On the court, though, it’s the reverse. The NSU women are the predators, defeating opponents with a relentless lack of mercy and a persistent desire to win. In 2012, the Sharks finished 17-11 in their first year un- der the direction of Coach LeAnn Freeland. This year’s Sharks—led by starters Meixandra Porter, Danielle Robinson, Jessica Russi, Tailor Jones, and Amanda Burakoski—finished the greatest season in program history with a 23-9 record, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight of the national finals in San Antonio. Porter said the key to the Sharks is how well the student- athletes have bonded. “We’re a pretty close team, even though we’re very diverse,” she said. “When we go out together, we get a lot of stares. I guess we’re pretty in- teresting to look at.” They’re more than just inter- esting. They’re smart, too. The team grade point average is an impressive 3.25, and it seems like every player is planning for a dynamic future. Burakoski, a 6'0" junior from Brooklyn, New York, is going for her master’s degree in de- velopmental disabilities, inspired by a cousin who has cerebral palsy. Porter, a 5'6" senior from Chantilly, Virginia, is majoring in business. A car enthusiast, her dream is to be an entrepreneur. Jones, a 6'0" senior from Altamonte Springs, Florida, is working toward her mas- ter’s degree in sports administration and has an internship this summer with FOX Sports. Robinson, a 5'8" sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, wants to be a coach. And Russi, a 5'11" junior from Lake Mary, Florida, is majoring in criminal justice. The team’s architect is Freeland, who took over at NSU during the fall of 2011. She has spent her basketball career playing or coaching at the Division II level, and she loves it. “Our players are committed to their chosen fields,” she said. “Basketball is important, of course, but there is a healthy balance. We love the total person that we are able to recruit at NSU.” In a way, the future of NSU basketball started in the Midwest, with a netless rim on the side of a farm shed in Sims, Illinois, population 300. That’s where Freeland grew up, often escaping many of the chores assigned to her older brother and sister because their father saw her talent. The 6'0" Freeland attended the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, where basketball is very nearly its own religion, with thousands of devoted followers. At the univer- sity, Freeland became a three-time All-American and led the Screaming Eagles to the 1997 national championship game. Freeland launched her coaching career as an assistant at her alma mater and, ultimately, as the head coach at the University of Indianapolis, where she led the Greyhounds to three straight NCAA tournament berths, including a Sweet 16 appearance. She left Indianapolis for NSU, where her first two recruits were Robinson and Porter, who quickly became the foundation of the pro- gram. Three players transferred in from Division I programs, and all have found success—Porter (Colorado State University), Jones (Northwest- ern University), and Burakoski (St. John’s University). Part of the credit goes to Free- land’s top assistant coach, Brooklyn Kohlheim, a history buff from Fort Myers who works tirelessly to find players. “She sorts through thousands of emails and articles online to find a handful of players,” Freeland said. “She loves the game, and she knows what type of players we need. She is the equivalent of three assistant coaches.” “Coach Kohlheim is always excited about everything,” Robinson said. “She’s got that extra energy, that extra burst. She’s like a firecracker.” Robinson said the coaches complement each other well. “Both coaches are all in. And as players, we don’t want to do anything other than give our all for them.” n Coach LeAnn Freeland took over the NSU team during the fall of 2011.