By RYAN WALKER
Norwell forward Dekota Hubble signed her letter of intent to join Huntington University’s women’s basketball program on Tuesday.
With friends, family, and two of the Foresters basketball coaches in attendance, Hubble marks the first of three Knights to sign with a college program.
Kennedy Fuelling (Marian) and Makenzie Fuess (St. Francis) will sign at a later date.
The senior went to visit the campus during an open gym and immediately connected with the girls on the current team. She felt comfortable with them and with the coaching staff.
“When I first went there in the summer for an open gym, it kind of instantly clicked,” Hubble said after inking with the Foresters. “I really felt comfortable with the girls I met, and then Darby (Maggard) and Paige (Wright) are really good coaches.”
Maggard is in her second year with Huntington. She played at NCAA Division I Belmont, where she was quite the shooter on the floor. She broke the school’s record for three-point percentage (43.1) and free throw percentage (92.4).
The second-year coach said she’s trying to build a culture that has great chemistry and grit with the Foresters to win championships. Those two tangibles are exactly what Hubble has.
“First and foremost, she’s an excellent teammate,” Maggard said. “She just makes the floor better by just being out there. She encourages her teammates, incredibly athletic, and just disrupts the floor defensively. And honestly, she comes from a great program. Norwell is an incredible program and has been for a really long time, and so it’s a big deal recruiting her from here.”
Last year, Hubble averaged five points per game for the Knights but was a force on the defensive side of the ball.
She led the team in rebounds (5.3 per contest) and blocks (29) while shotting 47 percent from the field.
“I think she could be one of the best defenders we’ll have on our team,” Maggard said. “I also think she could eventually be a top rebounder in the Crossroads League just because of her motor and her length and ability to crash the boards.”
Norwell has high expectations this season with three college-level players on its roster and didn’t graduate anyone from last year.
The Knights fell in the regional final against Hamilton Heights but posted a 21-4 record. This will be the season with the potential to go the furthest.
“I think if we work hard enough and want it bad enough, we can make it to state, at least past regionals,” Hubble said. “I think we’re going to be really good this year.”
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