Now
the pressure is off Jenny DeMuth and back on her opponents.
The Times has learned that DeMuth, a 2001 Miss Basketball
candidate, has verbally committed to play basketball at
Indiana University.
"I think if anything, the pressure is off the
mailman," Highland coach Chris Huppenthal said. "The
burden of delivering the mail everyday with four, five, six
letters from colleges.
"Not only can Jenny sit back and relax, but this might
be the best news for the mailman on the DeMuth block."
This past season, DeMuth, the Times 1999-2000 Player of the
Year, averaged 23.1 points and 10.5 rebounds for the 19-2
Trojans. In January, she broke the Highland girls career
scoring record.
"Jenny's parents (Dave and Judy) are IU grads and her
brother (Dave) goes to school there," Huppenthal said.
"I think it was a big family thing, and I think deep down
Jenny bleeds red and white."
Unlike Highland, it was an up-and-down season for Indiana
during the '99-'00 campaign. The Hoosiers finished with a
10-18 record and a 5-11 mark in the Big Ten conference.
DeMuth will play for Indiana coach Kathi Bennett, who was
hired in March to replace Jim Izard, whose contract wasn't
renewed after 12 seasons. Bennett, the daughter of Wisconsin
men's coach Dick Bennett, was the head coach at the University
of Evansville the past four seasons before taking over the IU
post.
"I think it's an ideal place for any kid coming out of
high school. It might take Kathi Bennett a year or two to
bring the program around, but Jenny could walk right in and
play," Huppenthal said. "Purdue has owned the state
in recruiting, but now Kathi Bennett is going to have a say in
that and I think you're going to see a resurgence in the
program."
DeMuth burst on the scene as a freshman when she wowed
fans, then as a sophomore she averaged 19.5 points, eight
rebounds and 3.8 steals per game. Going into last season, she
was named to the Street & Smith All-America preseason
honorable mention team. Of the 150 or so on the national list,
DeMuth was the only Region player listed.
"Coaching her has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience
and I've still got one more to enjoy," Huppenthal said.
"I'll just sit back and enjoy it and let her do her
thing. She's a kid I've grown to trust on the floor.
"I'm going to be partial because I get to see her play
everyday, but there's so many things she can do that I don't
see other kids do. I've had the pleasure of coaching a great
one for three years. I'm excited for this last one, but I'm
also excited to see her wearing red and white and playing at
that level."
DeMuth was out of town and unavailable for comment.
* Brian Waddle can be reached at bwaddle@howpubs.com or
(219) 462-5151 ext. 356.
