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Mad about Memphis: Ursuline’s Powell signs with Tigers
By john bassetti
Youngstown
When your father is the school’s all-time leading rebounder, what can you expect from the daughter?
If not all-time status, then, at least, big things.
That’s what to expect out of Ursuline’s Courtney Powell, who signed a letter-of-intent to attend Memphis after she graduates in June.
At Wednesday’s signing session in the presence of family and high school team members, Powell inked to play for the Tigers under coach Melissa McFerrin.
“I was being recruited by lot of other schools, but on my first [an unofficial] visit, I loved it,” Powell said of Memphis. “I wanted to go there, but they didn’t offer me. I waited, then figured they wouldn’t offer me. I was ready to make a decision [to go elsewhere], when they offered me,” the 6-0 Powell said of a call from Memphis assistant coach Danielle O’Banion.
“I communicated with her throughout my whole recruiting process,” said Powell, who will be a senior center on a veteran Ursuline team this season.
Powell’s second visit to her new school was the weekend of Oct. 14, when Memphis Madness was in full force.
“I had a great time,” Powell said of the visit.
Both of Powell’s parents are 1987 high school graduates and former athletes: Shane Johnson (Ursuline) and Dawn Powell (Mooney).
Johnson (1984-1987) remains Ursuline’s all-time career rebounds leader with 829, and Powell was a standout in basketball and track.
Had there been no Memphis Madness, Powell said she probably would have chosen Cleveland State.
Was YSU in the picture?
“They offered my scholarship to another person at the time [early August] because I broke my hand and wasn’t giving them feedback,” she said. “But I wasn’t ready to make a decision then.”
Powell broke bones in her left hand in July during tournaments with Sports City U., a team of top players from Ohio and surrounding states.
College recruiters backed off because of the injury, but she says it’s OK now.
“It was an eye-opener and kind of humbled me,” Powell said of sitting during games, while she observed teammates in action.
Because of the injury, coach McFerrin never saw Powell play in person.
“It [the hand break] was a determining factor in not being offered a scholarship, so I sent my best [video of AAU summer ball] games to her and she liked them.”
Not surprisingly, Powell says that her strength is rebounding.
“I’m a good rebounder and I have a lot of hustle, but I want to work on shooting and driving to the hole.”
What are her expectations at the college level?
“I’ll probably get bounced around, but I feel like I can hold my own.”