Mount Vernon senior Sydney Huber is living her dream. She committed to playing Division I basketball with the Evansville Purple Aces over the weekend.
“It feels great,” Huber said. “I’m really excited for it.”
Huber averaged 12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season for the Mustangs, who advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals. She made 49 3-pointers, shooting at a 37.1 percent clip.
“It is an exciting accomplishment for her,” Mount Vernon coach Nate Sanderson said. “She’s put a lot of work.”
Huber announced her decision on social media Sunday. The 6-foot guard/forward said she had been looking at schools within the Missouri Valley Conference.
“That conference is closest to home and all around the Midwest,” Huber said. “My parents will be able to come and watch games, and I really like that.”
Her parents both have ties to Evansville. Her mom, Stacy (Frese), a Hall of Famer player at Iowa State, was an assistant coach for the Purple Aces. And her father worked there as well.
“It was all the people, they were all great,” Huber said. “It felt like home. My parents loved it there.”
Huber has what programs are looking for … a tall guard who can shoot it.
“She has a nice all-around game with an elite skill set,” Sanderson said. “With her size and versatility, she’s a nice fit for a lot of teams. You can never have enough shooting.”
Evansville recently hired former Hawkeye Molly Davis as a graduate assistant coach, and Huber said she got to visit with her during her trip.
The Purple Aces were 4-28 last season, including 2-18 in the MVC. So there’s work to do.
But before that … Mount Vernon returns four starters this winter from a team that finished in the Final Four in 3A.
“We have a great nucleus coming back,” Sanderson said. “It’ll be a fun year either way and I’m just excited for Sydney.”
“My expectations remain the same,” Huber said. “My goal is to win a state title. I’m excited for that.”