Girls: Amani Free locks down her college choice
After a sensational summer playing with iExcel on the AAU circuit, 6'0" wing Amani Free '18 had her choice of colleges to go attend. She ended up with over a dozen Division 1 offers, but one ended up standing out to her above the rest.
It took a recent visit to seal the deal but on Wednesday afternoon Free decided she didn't need to be sold anymore, committing to Quinnipiac University.
Having been up to the Hamden, CT campus, Free admitted that she felt right at home with the players, building up a great relationship with many of what will now be her future teammates, while Daryl Free, Amani's father, admitted that the entire family was impressed from the start with head coach Tricia Fabbri and the entire Bobcats coaching staff.
Another big selling point for Free was the fact that Quinnipiac has built up a winning program over the past few seasons, advancing all the way to the Sweet 16 in last year's NCAA Tournament. It's that winning tradition that Free's father said his daughter wanted to be a part of.
"Their track record has put them in the tournament time and time again, including the Sweet 16 last year," Free explained. "Amani wants to help them advance even further in the tournament now going forward."
While the play on the court was a big selling point for Quinnipiac, it was the academic side of the school that may have been the final sell. Free says that she wants to pursue sports broadcasting in college, a department in which Quinnipiac has a very strong program, and with ESPN just 35 minutes away from the school, it was another reason why the Bobcats for her were the perfect fit.
With her college decision now over with, Free also let out another move that she will be making as she will be leaving Long Island Lutheran after spending just one year with the national power and is now heading back for her senior year to Cicero-North Syracuse.
That decision was made because she wanted to spend her final year at home before heading off to college, with it being something both she and her family wanted.
Free is happy to have this decision now behind her as she readies for her senior season, and her father says that it really has been an amazing time in her life, and he is just happy to have the support of so many who have been behind her during all these years.
"We are truly thankful for all those who have supported and believed in Amani throughout this amazing journey," Free said in closing.
