October 26, 2008
By gPrep
New University, New Verbal, New Cats, New Opportunity
“It felt right. It felt different.”
Hopkins High School Senior Kara Elofson has verbaled again. This time the 5’11” Royals power forward is committed to the Binghamton University Bearcats in Vestal, (upstate) New York. Binghamton is a NCAA Division I school. Fingers crossed, expect Elofson to bring her very physical game to the America East Conference. Who knows, Elofson could face the Division I Bobcats on the hardwood.
You’ll recall in August, gPrep reported that Elofson was at the center of an Ohio University scholarship controversy. Incoming Head Coach Semeka Randall revoked a January verbal, despite an earlier promise (by then Head Coach Sylvia Crawley) that the full scholarship offer would be honored, despite a change in coaching staff. In fact, Randall never even spoke to Elofson. Instead, Randall phoned the baller’s father, Rod Elofson, to inform him of her decision.
gPrep readers participated in two website polls, to voice their disappointment and their support for the baller. Readers overwhelmingly voted that a change in coaching staff was not a legitimate reason to resend Elofson’s full scholarship.
Elosfon has moved on now with a different breed of wild cats and another Division I school. In August, she told gPrep, “My plans are to keep all of my options open, look at all the options that come to me, and pick the best college for me. When I verbal in the future, I will trust what the coaches are saying. But in the back of my mind, I will know, and tell myself that until it happens, I can’t fully believe everything.”
Binghamton University had knowledge of Elofson’s situation and the Ohio University scholarship controversy. “The assistant coach told me. We will not pull your scholarship. That made me feel happy. I was more excited this time. It felt right. It felt different. I knew it was a good fit for me,” said Elofson.
Elofson visited the Binghamton University campus on October, 18th. “I played some pick-up games with the team. I felt I held my own with the team. The college pace is faster,” she said.
Binghamton saw Elofson’s physical game first hand in Portland and Chicago, when she played on her AAU team, the Metro Stars Black. The Bearcats also watched a Hopkins’ highlight game film. Elofson and her father told gPrep, her gPrep “workout video” was also a recruiting tool used by the Binghamton Bearcats, when making their decision.
Hopkins Head Coach Brian Cosgriff said, "She is a great kid and a hard worker. I believe if you have those two qualities, good things will happen. It did not work out for her the first time around, but I believe she found a good home in Binghamton. I am proud of her she is a good role model." In the end, it seems Elofson took her own advice. “Don't get down about it. Stay positive at all times, and just trust that something better will come your way.” And, it did.
submitted by rodelofson on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 22:46:02: Thanks to gPreP for their help in Kara finding a new excellent college to learn and grow at. The local support by everyone, coaches, fans and writers has been greatly appreciated. Thank You, Rod
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