Ignatius L Hoops
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http://www.startribune.com/back-hom...-sneakers-to-fill-in-rachel-banham/400486121/
In the Gophers’ opener Saturday against Harvard, Kenisha Bell, the replacement at point guard for All-America Rachel Banham, will have cheering sections with family from Chicago and Minnesota for her U debut.
Her mother, Aisha, had special T-shirts made with her daughter’s picture in front and No. 23 and “K. Bell” on the back.
“That support keeps us together,” Aisha said. “Sometimes if you don’t have support, you lose focus and your passion.”
A one-time Gophers recruit, Kenisha Bell starred at Marquette for one season before deciding to return to Minnesota to be closer to her mom, brothers and the people who shaped her basketball career.
She’s one of four Minnesotans on the Gophers’ roster who transferred back after starting their college careers elsewhere, joining Whitney Tinjum (Bradley), Allina Starr (Auburn) and Bryanna Fernstrom (Iowa State)....
...Bell recalled once getting humbled by Lakeville North, led by Banham, the state’s player of the year and future Gopher legend. Bell started attending games at the Barn just to watch Banham play, leading to Bell’s commitment to the U as a high school sophomore.
That decision came “too soon,” she said, and Bell reopened her recruitment.
Now, about five years later, Bell’s basketball life has come full-circle, back to the Barn. She’ll join junior Carlie Wagner in a Gophers backcourt that has the giant task of replacing Banham, the Big Ten’s all-time scoring leader.
“Kenisha’s definitely different from Rachel,” Wagner said. “She’s more of a driver. She wants to get to the basket. A little craftier with her handles and getting by people. She’s got excellent speed. Kenisha creates for people.”
In the Gophers’ opener Saturday against Harvard, Kenisha Bell, the replacement at point guard for All-America Rachel Banham, will have cheering sections with family from Chicago and Minnesota for her U debut.
Her mother, Aisha, had special T-shirts made with her daughter’s picture in front and No. 23 and “K. Bell” on the back.
“That support keeps us together,” Aisha said. “Sometimes if you don’t have support, you lose focus and your passion.”
A one-time Gophers recruit, Kenisha Bell starred at Marquette for one season before deciding to return to Minnesota to be closer to her mom, brothers and the people who shaped her basketball career.
She’s one of four Minnesotans on the Gophers’ roster who transferred back after starting their college careers elsewhere, joining Whitney Tinjum (Bradley), Allina Starr (Auburn) and Bryanna Fernstrom (Iowa State)....
...Bell recalled once getting humbled by Lakeville North, led by Banham, the state’s player of the year and future Gopher legend. Bell started attending games at the Barn just to watch Banham play, leading to Bell’s commitment to the U as a high school sophomore.
That decision came “too soon,” she said, and Bell reopened her recruitment.
Now, about five years later, Bell’s basketball life has come full-circle, back to the Barn. She’ll join junior Carlie Wagner in a Gophers backcourt that has the giant task of replacing Banham, the Big Ten’s all-time scoring leader.
“Kenisha’s definitely different from Rachel,” Wagner said. “She’s more of a driver. She wants to get to the basket. A little craftier with her handles and getting by people. She’s got excellent speed. Kenisha creates for people.”