Published: 5/16/2010
Author: Bob_Richards
© Old Gold Free Press Columnists
Purdue is showing interest in sophomore guard Ameryst Alston, a 5'9 slasher from Canton McKinley (OH). Alston led McKinley to a 49-47 win over Toledo Waite to win the Ohio state championship this spring, scoring 22 points in the final game. As a sophomore, Alston averaged 18.8 points and 4.5 rebounds. This was McKinley's second trip to the final weekend of the OHSAA tournament. Alston had 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and four turnovers in a state semifinal loss to Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame in 2009. She finished her freshman year with a 14.5 scoring average.
Alston is a pure slasher, but can play some point as she was asked to do to protect her team's lead in the 2010 state championship game against Toledo. Mechanically strong and a gym rat, Alston is the breakdown guard most teams covet. According to her father, she will work on her outside shooting and freethrow percentage over the next two seasons.
Alston was chosen one of the 36 players invited to the 2010 USA Basketball Women's U17 World Championship/Youth Olympic Games Team Trials to be held June 8-11 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs (CO). Other players of interest to Purdue in Colorado Springs for the tryouts include Kaela Davis of Norcross (GA), Malina Howard of Twinsburg (OH), Jewell Loyd of Lincolnwood (IL), Kiah Stokes of Marion (IA), and Morgan Tuck of Bolingbrook (IL).
Along with Purdue, Alston is also seeing attention from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Maryland. The 2012 class is a key reloading class for Purdue, as six players will be graduating including guards Rayburn and Howard, as well as posts Mingo, Jones, Guyton and Woods.
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