Incoming University of Louisville point guard Asia Durr was the first member of the Cardinals' top-ranked recruiting class on campus. She'll be the last one cleared to play, still rehabbing from a groin injury suffered while training for USA Basketball in the spring.
Coach Jeff Walz said Friday he expects Durr, a McDonald's All American ranked the No. 2 prospect in the country by ESPN, to be "full go by mid-September."
"She'd been playing year-round for so long that I just think her body was like, 'Hey, I need a little bit of a break,'" Walz said. "We were fortunate enough that she was here on campus. Everything's been taken care of."
From Georgia, Durr arrived to Louisville in June. The rest of U of L's 2015 recruiting class – guards Taja Cole and Brianna Jones, as well as forward Samantha Fuehring and post player Erin DeGrate – made it here in July for the school's second summer session.
Walz said he anticipates all five will contribute this season, which starts off Nov. 15 against anticipated top 25 foe Cal at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals have to replace three starters from a team that last season went 27-4 on its way to the Sweet 16.
"I think we understand that, on paper, we have what they consider the No. 1 recruiting class," Walz said. "But that's strictly on paper. You've got to go our and produce now. You've got to perform. Our kids understand that. It's about what you do between the lines that matters, and that's something we've really worked on and tried to explain to them.
"They can't live off the hype.
Back, of course, is leading scorer Mariya Moore. The forward tallied 13.4 points per game last season, and fellow freshman Myisha Hines-Allen averaged 11.8. Along with departed seniors Sara Hammond, Jude Schimmel and Bria Smith, Walz lost some depth when Emmonnie Henderson this week decided to take a year off from basketball, focusing instead on a discus and shot put career she hopes will carry her to the 2016 Olympics.
"We knew it wasn't possible for her to do basketball, finish up in April, and expect to try and make an Olympic team," Walz said. "Is it necessarily what's best for our program? No, because we are going to miss her. But at the same time, we're here for what the best for the student athlete is.
"For Emmonnie, and for that to be her ultimate goal – to compete in the Olympics – then she needs to focus on that, and I'm in complete support of that."
Coach Jeff Walz said Friday he expects Durr, a McDonald's All American ranked the No. 2 prospect in the country by ESPN, to be "full go by mid-September."
"She'd been playing year-round for so long that I just think her body was like, 'Hey, I need a little bit of a break,'" Walz said. "We were fortunate enough that she was here on campus. Everything's been taken care of."
From Georgia, Durr arrived to Louisville in June. The rest of U of L's 2015 recruiting class – guards Taja Cole and Brianna Jones, as well as forward Samantha Fuehring and post player Erin DeGrate – made it here in July for the school's second summer session.
Walz said he anticipates all five will contribute this season, which starts off Nov. 15 against anticipated top 25 foe Cal at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals have to replace three starters from a team that last season went 27-4 on its way to the Sweet 16.
"I think we understand that, on paper, we have what they consider the No. 1 recruiting class," Walz said. "But that's strictly on paper. You've got to go our and produce now. You've got to perform. Our kids understand that. It's about what you do between the lines that matters, and that's something we've really worked on and tried to explain to them.
"They can't live off the hype.
Back, of course, is leading scorer Mariya Moore. The forward tallied 13.4 points per game last season, and fellow freshman Myisha Hines-Allen averaged 11.8. Along with departed seniors Sara Hammond, Jude Schimmel and Bria Smith, Walz lost some depth when Emmonnie Henderson this week decided to take a year off from basketball, focusing instead on a discus and shot put career she hopes will carry her to the 2016 Olympics.
"We knew it wasn't possible for her to do basketball, finish up in April, and expect to try and make an Olympic team," Walz said. "Is it necessarily what's best for our program? No, because we are going to miss her. But at the same time, we're here for what the best for the student athlete is.
"For Emmonnie, and for that to be her ultimate goal – to compete in the Olympics – then she needs to focus on that, and I'm in complete support of that."
