Horton chooses Valpo

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Liz Horton of Barr-Reeve drives the lane during a game in the 20008-09 season---File Photo By Mike Myers.

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June 28, 2009

By Mike Myers, Sports Writer The Washington Times-Herald Sun Jun 28, 2009, 09:43 PM EDT

Another college basketball recruiting battle for a top area player came to a conclusion last week when Barr-Reeve’s Liz Horton committed to Valparaiso University.

Horton, a 6-1 forward who will be a senior for coach Mark Holt’s Lady Vikings next season, averaged 16.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 2.7 apg for a 19-3 Barr-Reeve squad in 2008-09. Horton has been the focus of college recruiters since before she entered high school, and chose coach Mark Freeman’s Crusader program over St. Louis University and Oakland (Michigan).

Horton said by phone last week that she had all but decided to commit to St. Louis earlier this spring. But Horton elected to take visits to Oakland and Valparaiso before making a final decision, and her visit to the Horizon League school in Northwestern Indiana swayed her decision to remain in Indiana.

“I went there and got a really good feel for the campus and the coaching staff,” Horton said of Valparaiso. “They have a really good academic program. I feel like I can go as far as I can in basketball with them.”

Horton, who intends to major in physical therapy, said her decision came down to the quality of Valpo’s basketball program as she felt each of her final three schools had solid academic programs.

“I had to think about it. It really came to basketball,” said Horton. “I knew I would get a good education and get a job pretty quick at each of the schools, but I think Valpo will take me the farthest in my playing career.

“I pretty much had my heart set on St. Louis, but then I went to Oakland, and then Valparaiso,” said Horton. “I always kept on open mind when I was visiting other schools.”

At Valpo Horton will play for Freeman, the all-time winningest coach in Valparaiso women’s history, having amassed a 259-182 (59 percent) record since coming to Valpo prior to the 1994-95 season. Freeman has led Valpo, which was 16-14 last season, to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances this decade in 2004 and 2005. Under NCAA rules, Freeman cannot comment about recruits until they have a signed a letter of intent, which Horton can’t do until November.

Horton will be joined on the Crusader roster by at least one familiar face in Mooresville senior center Meagan Callaway, who also recently gave a verbal commitment to Valpo. Callaway and Horton have been AAU teammates in the past.

Holt said Horton’s game has improved steadily in the last year.

“I’m very pleased with her improvement on the offensive end. Her 3-point shooting has really blossomed in the last year and over the summer. She was always very good in the lane, and she’s a very good passer,” said Holt last week. “And she’s made great strides on the defensive end of the floor.”

Holt will once again have the opportunity to coach a pair of Division I athletes this season with Horton and center Hilliary Fox. Fox, who averaged 12.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, and 2.6 apg last season as a junior, had several college basketball programs interested in her services until she opted to play college volleyball and committed to Purdue.

“You don’t get those two kind of athletes on the same team very often. Certainly it’s an exciting team,” said Holt.

Horton, who was hampered through both volleyball and basketball seasons a year ago by a stretched ligament in her shoulder, will have surgery this week to repair that injury. Recovery time is slated for four months, meaning Horton will miss volleyball season but will return in time for basketball.

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