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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Pioneer junior guard Ashlynn Brooke committed Monday to play basketball at Ball State University in a social media post.
“I am excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Ball State University to continue my basketball and academic career,” Brooke said.
Brooke also spoke of how her faith guided her through knee injuries that cost her much of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank God for blessing me with an opportunity to play at the next level,” Brooke said.
She also cited Romans 8:25: “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
“God had my back through it all when I didn’t see a clear path,” she added.
Among others, she went on to thank her parents, her family, her physical therapist John Edwards, Always 100 President/CEO Vernard Hollins and Katie Jackson for being her “mental support and my second mom out on the court.”
She also thanked those who have cheered her on from Pioneer.
“To my Panther Family, thank you for all the love you have shown me over the years,” Brooke said. “I will forever be a Panther. With that being said, I am proud to be a future Cardinal.”
Brooke led the state with her 25.9 scoring average in 2021-22. She scored in double figures in all 25 games in which she played. She also led the state with 98 made 3-pointers.
In addition, she averaged 3.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
Pioneer went 21-5 and won the Hoosier North title with a 7-0 record.
The season ended with a 66-61 loss to Carroll (Flora) in the Class 2A, Sectional 37 final on Feb. 8.
Brooke had the game-winning basket against Loogootee in a 43-42 in the 2021 Class 1A state title game.
Coached by Brady Sallee, Ball State is 16-10 on the season. Sallee guided Ball State to six straight WNIT bids from 2013-18.
Ball State first offered Brooke a scholarship prior to her freshman year in high school.
