Indiana University Athletics
Two Years In the Making, Chanel Wilson ‘Blessed’ To Check-In For #iuwbb
11/8/2019 2:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Jared Rigdon
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - She checked in with 3:14 left in the first quarter Thursday night.
It was nothing more than a routine substitution for IU head coach Teri Moren but it marked the first regular season action that redshirt freshman Chanel Wilson had seen in her collegiate career.
Wilson sat out the entire season last year after recovering from her second torn ACL she suffered at the end of her high school career – just after Moren watched her play on Senior Day in February 2018. It followed up a tear she suffered as a junior nearly a year prior in the early days of February 2017.
She was forced to be nothing more than a cheerleader as IU followed up a WNIT championship with a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a first round victory over Texas.
"It was a blessing," Wilson said. "I've sat out almost two years. Sitting out was very tough so getting to play again is a blessing."
Just 1:37 after checking in for the first time, Wilson buried a three-pointer from the top of the key. 22 seconds later, she hit another three-pointer, almost from the near exact spot.
If she can provide a consistent scoring option off the bench, IU will gain something it often lacked last year; bench scoring.
IU returns the core of last year's roster with players like senior forward Brenna Wise, junior guard Jaelynn Penn and redshirt junior guard Ali Patberg but also adds key pieces to the backcourt with Wilson. Her ability to play the point guard opens up the offense and allows it to play faster.
She will serve as another point guard option, lightning the load for Patberg who averaged 35.5 minutes per game last season and is still working back into playing shape.
"Chanel certainly gives us a good backup point guard," Moren said. "She and Ali [Patberg] different in terms of speed and quickness. What is nice is that they can both stretch you out. Chanel has shown and proven in practice that she can knock down the three with a lot of confidence."
She still wears a long brace on her right leg, a sign that two ACL surgeries are still not that far out of her rearview mirror. But if history is any indication, she's a winner. She won three 6A state titles in Georgia at powerhouse McEachern High School.
Wilson's return to the court was overshadowed on a night where sophomore Grace Berger broke her career high in points in the first half and finished with 24 overall.
The redshirt freshman Wilson finished with nine points on three-of-seven shooting in IU's 75-52 win over Mount St. Mary's to kickoff the 2019-20 campaign.
But it's Wilson's fiery personality and spirited play makes her standout on the court. She wears a black Adidas headband and a white undershirt with sleeves that come down to just above her elbows. And she just makes plays.
Last year she was the hype-man on the bench, cheering on her teammates as they played their way to a successful season.
"Regardless of the battles I was facing, I had to be there for my teammates," Wilson said. "I can't put that on them. My job was to be a supporter and cheer for them and make sure they had the energy they needed."
Now it's her turn to be the recipient of that energy.
Before the half she gets fouled going for a three-point attempt. At the 5:05 mark in the third quarter she drives to her right, throwing in a basket before getting fouled for an-and-one opportunity.
She walks around the court with a smile always on her face. Even when she's called for a foul on a block, she has a smirk in the corner of her face. For her, it's just a joy to be back on the court playing basketball.
For the rest of IU, it's a joy to have Wilson back in the rotation, playing a crucial role it needs serviced.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - She checked in with 3:14 left in the first quarter Thursday night.
It was nothing more than a routine substitution for IU head coach Teri Moren but it marked the first regular season action that redshirt freshman Chanel Wilson had seen in her collegiate career.
Wilson sat out the entire season last year after recovering from her second torn ACL she suffered at the end of her high school career – just after Moren watched her play on Senior Day in February 2018. It followed up a tear she suffered as a junior nearly a year prior in the early days of February 2017.
She was forced to be nothing more than a cheerleader as IU followed up a WNIT championship with a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a first round victory over Texas.
"It was a blessing," Wilson said. "I've sat out almost two years. Sitting out was very tough so getting to play again is a blessing."
Just 1:37 after checking in for the first time, Wilson buried a three-pointer from the top of the key. 22 seconds later, she hit another three-pointer, almost from the near exact spot.
If she can provide a consistent scoring option off the bench, IU will gain something it often lacked last year; bench scoring.
IU returns the core of last year's roster with players like senior forward Brenna Wise, junior guard Jaelynn Penn and redshirt junior guard Ali Patberg but also adds key pieces to the backcourt with Wilson. Her ability to play the point guard opens up the offense and allows it to play faster.
She will serve as another point guard option, lightning the load for Patberg who averaged 35.5 minutes per game last season and is still working back into playing shape.
"Chanel certainly gives us a good backup point guard," Moren said. "She and Ali [Patberg] different in terms of speed and quickness. What is nice is that they can both stretch you out. Chanel has shown and proven in practice that she can knock down the three with a lot of confidence."
She still wears a long brace on her right leg, a sign that two ACL surgeries are still not that far out of her rearview mirror. But if history is any indication, she's a winner. She won three 6A state titles in Georgia at powerhouse McEachern High School.
Wilson's return to the court was overshadowed on a night where sophomore Grace Berger broke her career high in points in the first half and finished with 24 overall.
The redshirt freshman Wilson finished with nine points on three-of-seven shooting in IU's 75-52 win over Mount St. Mary's to kickoff the 2019-20 campaign.
But it's Wilson's fiery personality and spirited play makes her standout on the court. She wears a black Adidas headband and a white undershirt with sleeves that come down to just above her elbows. And she just makes plays.
Last year she was the hype-man on the bench, cheering on her teammates as they played their way to a successful season.
"Regardless of the battles I was facing, I had to be there for my teammates," Wilson said. "I can't put that on them. My job was to be a supporter and cheer for them and make sure they had the energy they needed."
Now it's her turn to be the recipient of that energy.
Before the half she gets fouled going for a three-point attempt. At the 5:05 mark in the third quarter she drives to her right, throwing in a basket before getting fouled for an-and-one opportunity.
She walks around the court with a smile always on her face. Even when she's called for a foul on a block, she has a smirk in the corner of her face. For her, it's just a joy to be back on the court playing basketball.
For the rest of IU, it's a joy to have Wilson back in the rotation, playing a crucial role it needs serviced.
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