You can draw upon all the comparisons you like, but it comes down to the
simple fact that Katie Gearlds is good. Beech Grove won the lottery when
the then star junior high and AAU player matriculated to high school, and
here soon one lucky university will feel the same way. Gearlds is an
athlete capable of playing multiple positions, strong enough to take high
school players into the post and good enough with the ball to run the whole
show at point. At 6'1 with the ability to create her own shot, she would
make a great small forward too. Whatever the position, Gearlds attacks
with the ball and makes defenders work. By the way, she's a pretty
good golfer too.
As a junior, Gearlds finished as the state's No. 2 scorer with an average of
26.5 points per game. Beech Grove finished ranked 8th in Class 3A with a
record of 17-5, and was beaten by No. 2 Brebeuf in Sectionals. While Katie's
scoring average dipped ever so slightly, she increased her rebounding average
from last year to 10 rebounds per game, up from 9.3. Gearlds ended the junior
season already owning the school's career scoring mark at 1,647 points. She
also posted career marks in rebounds (570), assists (408), steals (336) and
blocks (169).
As a sophomore, Gearlds finished as the state's No. 2 scorer with an average
of 27.0 points per game. Her rebound average increased to 9.3 per game,
while her assist and steal averages increased to 7.0 and 6.0 respectively.
All-State honors began mixing with all-american honors both from her high
school efforts and from the summer circuit. She ended the year with an
outstanding showing against the nation's elite at the Nike All-American
Camp.
As a freshman, Gearlds finished as the state's No. 9 scorer with an average
of 23.7 points per game. She also averaged 7.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists
for a 18-4 team. She had a season-high of 43 points against Whiteland just
short of a month of playing her first high school game. For her effort, she
was named second team all-state by the Associated Press.
Katie Gearlds verballed to Purdue on January 27, 2002. She will not be
able to officially sign with Purdue until November of 2002.
11-11-02...Going into her senior season as the top returning scorer in the
state of Indiana, Katie carries an array of numbers with her most high
schoolers end their senior seasons with. Through her junior season,
Katie has averaged 25.7 points (1647 career), 8.9 rebounds (570 career),
5.3 steals (336 career) and 6.4 assists (408 career). Her shooting
percentage form the field has remained rather consistent year-by-year,
averaging 52-percent. Her career free throw percentage is 85-percent. The
Beech Grove schedule has steadily grown more competitive, and the 2002-03
season looks to continue that trend. Beech Grove has a December meeting
with defending 4A state champion Terre Haute South, then begins January
with a visit from Mooresville, a 20-4 team from 2002-02. The final game
of the season is against perennial power, although depleted, Cathedral.
Sectionals should again be competitive this year with sectional foes
Brebeuf and New Palestine already getting postseason votes as top 3A
squads. Beech Grove has been ranked as the No. 7 team in Class 3A by
Hoosier Basketball Magazine.
7-21-02...Denise McClanahan's Indiana's Finest Black Cats 17-under team has
won the national championship at AAU Nationals in Auburn Hills, MI. Indiana's
Finest defeated West Texas Hawks 71-62 in the first game at noon to take the
title. Katie Gearlds was named the 2002 AAU Nationals Tournament MVP, and was
joined on the All-American roster by fellow Purdue recruit Sharika Webb.
Gearlds scored 24 points in the final game, followed by Webb's 19.
7-20-02...Indiana's Finest 17-under team has two shots at the national
championship today. Since they are the only remaining undefeated team in the
double-elimination tournament, they will play for the national championship
today at noon against the winner of the loser's bracket, West Texas Hawks. A
loss at noon will set up a rematch at 4:00pm with the Hawks. The Hawks were
sent to the losers bracket by North Tartan on Wednesday, as North Tartan
rolled to a 95-76 victory. The Finest 17s sent North Tartan to the losers
bracket on Friday, 65-64. Waiting for North Tartan in the finals of the losers
bracket Friday night was the Hawks, who came back to beat North Tartan, 83-72.
7-18-02...The Final Four is set for the 17-under AAU Nationals, and Indiana's
Finest AAU is still alive. The Finest defeated the Alabama Roadrunners Tuesday
evening, 76-67. They followed it up with a decisive 83-59 win over
Massachusetts Comets Wednesday afternoon. The team now faces the Houston
Hotshots on Thursday at 5:00pm for a shot at the title. In the other bracket,
North Tartan takes on Tennessee Elite. For info on two of the other teams
still alive, visit the links below. North Tartan might ring a bell, as they
boast three Division I players, two of which were looked at closely by
Purdue -- Liz Podominick and Megan Ronhovde. The tournament is actually
double-elimination, so to win it all three more wins are needed.
7-15-02...Indiana's Finest AAU is following up an undefeated run in the AAU
state tournament with an undefeated run so far in pool play at Nationals, held
this week in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Finest opened up pool play on
Saturday with a 70-55 win over the Austin Lady Knights and a 68-35 win over
the Michigan Shock. Sunday brought them up against DBL Phoenix, a team they
beat 86-64. As a top seed in the tournament, they will face the 3rd place
team in pool C, Fredrick Madness (MD) at 1:00pm on Monday.
6-17-02...Katie Gearlds and the North squad at the 2002 USA Women's Youth
Development Festival have gone undefeated and won the championship. Over the
five-game series, Katie led her team in minutes per game with 24.6. Katie also
finished first in freethrow percentage (.875) and assists-to-turnovers
(1.7-to-1); second in three-point percentage (.357), total assists (10) and
steals (10); third in rebounds per game (4.0); fourth in scoring (10.0); sixth
in field goal percentage (.413); and ninth out of 12 players in total turnovers
(6). Defensively, the North held their opponents to 76.4 points per game and
35-percent shooting from the floor.
6-16-02...Some interesting comments in an interview with Katie Gearlds at the
USA Women's Youth Development Festival. When asked if Katie is trying to sway
some of her teammates to come to Purdue, she replied, "There are four or five
girls on the North squad that I know Purdue is pretty hard after. I'm just
trying to throw them some good comments about Purdue here and there. You know,
‘I'll pass you the ball at Purdue too!' Just see if they like playing with me."
And, when asked if she is happy her college choice is out of the way, she said,
"Yes. I really wanted to get it out of the way and I knew that Purdue is where
I really wanted to go. The coaching staff there is like no other coaching staff
that I talked to. I mean, no disrespect to any other school, but the Purdue
coaches were awesome. Plus, it is close to home and I just think it is perfect
for me."
06-07-02...To the disappointment of many local Lafayette Purdue fans, Katie
Gearlds will not be taking part in the junior all-star scrimmage in Mackey Arena
next Wednesday, June 12th. Instead, Katie will be showcasing her skills on the
national level as she takes part in the 2002 USA Women's Youth Development
Festival in Colorado Springs. The festival starts June 13th. Forty-eight of the
nation's top high school players have been chosen to play on one of four teams
that will play each other in a five-game tournament. We've mentioned before that
Katie's early commitment has placed her in a good position to bring other players
onboard. The festival has made that much easier, as a handful of known Purdue
targets will be on her team during the festival. Katie's team, the North squad,
includes 6'6 center Alison Bales of Beavercreek (OH), 5'6 guard Deonna Davis of
Cincinnati (OH), 5'10 guard Brandie Hoskins of Chaminade-Julienne (OH), 6'3
forward Brittany Hunter of Columbus Brookhaven (OH), 5'8 guard Britney Jordan
of Peoria Woodruff (IL), 6'3 center Chloe Kerr of Bolingbrook (IL), 6'2 forward
Erin Lawless of Chicago Fenwick (IL), 5'11 forward Victoria Lucas-Perry of Powers
Catholic (MI), 6'3 forward Elise Morrison of Country Day (MI), 5'9 guard Kelly
Roysland of Fossum (MN), and 6'2 center Siedah Williams of Cleveland Regina (OH).
Many of those names we've heard mentioned here before, and Katie will be able to
provide some scouting to the Purdue coaches on some of the girls under
consideration. We'll be posting updates on Katie's progress as the festival gets
underway next week.
04-24-02...According to the Indy Star, Reicina Russell's move to Lawrence North
has been finalized. Purdue fans already hoping to attend next fall's 2002 City
Securities Hall of Fame Classic will have one less prospect to view. The matchup
featuring Purdue verbal Katie Gearlds on Beech Grove and Russell, then on Terre
Haute South, was becoming a must-see game.
04-14-02...Katie Gearlds, Purdue's first commitment from the class of 2003, has
been named to the Parade All-American third team.
04-05-02...Carol Duncan, Katie Gearlds and Sharika Webb were all named to the
all-state first team by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports.
03-29-02...Junior Katie Gearlds and senior Sharika Webb have both been named
first team all-state by the Associated Press. Carol Duncan was named to the
third team.
03-20-02...Beech Grove and Terre Haute South will face each other in the second
game of the 2002 City Securities Hall of Fame Classic, to be held on December
27th at the New Castle Fieldhouse. Game one (10:00am) is a rematch of the 2002
state 2A championship between Shenandoah and Southwestern. Game two (12:00pm)
will match Beech Grove and Terre Haute South. The losers play later that day at
6:00pm, followed by the championship game at 8:00pm.
03-16-02...Katie Gearlds and Reicina Russell headline the selections to this
year's Junior All-Star team, who will face the Senior All-Stars in two scrimmages
this summer.
03-10-02...Katie Gearlds has been named the Indianapolis area Player of the Year
by area coaches and writers from the Indianapolis Star. Gearlds heads the Star
Super Team, which also includes Purdue signee Sharika Webb, and two targets we've
talked a little about on this page before -- Brebeuf 6'1 junior Carrie Smith and
Alexandria 5'11 freshman Jodi Howell. Gearlds averaged 26.5 points, 10 rebounds
and 6.2 assists this season. Smith, a 6'1 power forward/center, averaged 14.2
points and 7.2 boards for a 25-3 Brebeuf team. Howell finished her freshman year
as the No. 2 scorer (behind Gearlds) in the Indianapolis area with 25.9 points
per game, hitting 40-percent of her perimeter shots and an area leading 88-percent
of her freethrows.
02-07-02...No. 8 Beech Grove fell in the first round of sectional action to No. 2
Brebeuf, 56-42. Katie Gearlds finished with 24 points on 6-of-21 shooting against
one of the state's best defensive teams. The win was bittersweet for Brebeuf
junior Carrie Smith, who has played summer ball with Gearlds since they were 10.
02-04-02...Some prospects were spotted at the Wisconsin game on Sunday. Katie
Gearlds was in the house spending some time with 6'2 Chicago Fenwick forward Erin
Lawless.
01-27-02...Katie Gearlds to Purdue! Katie verballed to the staff following the
Iowa game. We had heard from a person close to the situation last week that it
might happen on Sunday, which turned out to be true. Congratulations to Katie!
01-25-02...Including games through January 22, Jeff Sagarin's ratings of Indiana
girls teams has Reicina Russell's Terre Haute South at No. 2, playing the 16th
toughest schedule. Also ranked among the top fifty teams are -- Sharika Webb and
Cathedral at No. 5 (schedule No. 48), Katie Gearlds and Beech Grove at No. 13
(schedule No. 39), Granderson, Norman and South Bend Riley at No. 20 (schedule
No. 97), Ashley Mays and Warren Central at No. 36 (schedule No. 4) and Carol
Duncan and NorthWood at No. 46 (No. 109).
01-24-02...Two prospects are scheduled to visit Mackey Sunday as the Boilers take
on Iowa. Katie Gearlds is expected, as is 5'10 sophomore Janese Banks of
Indianapolis Ben Davis. Banks averaged 7.2 points and 5.3 rebounds as a freshman,
playing on Indiana's most talented squad. Now as a sophomore, she is averaging
18.4 points, shooting 103-of-249 (.410) from the floor and 22-of-45 (.490) from
the perimeter. She also adds 9.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
01-23-02...The McDonald's Girls Prep Classic in Chicago wrapped up on Monday with
two great games. No. 1 Fenwick beat the No. 1 team in Ohio, Beavercreek, 52-49.
The win snapped Beavercreek's 41-game winning streak. For Fenwick, 6'2 junior
Erin Lawless scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. For Beavercreek, 6'6
junior center Alison Bales had 27 points. Bales was recently seen in Mackey
Arena on an unoffical visit for the Ohio State game, while Lawless, according
to the Chicago Sun-Times, has an offer on the table from Purdue. In the other
close game, Katie Gearlds again led all scorers with 31 points, but Beech Grove
failed to get past Illinois No. 10 Regina. Beech Grove lost in overtime, 48-44.
01-20-02...At the McDonald's Girls Prep Classic in Chicago...Katie Gearlds led
all scorers with 27 points in a 65-49 loss to Chicago Fenwick (21-1). Purdue
target Erin Lawless had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Fenwick, playing on a tender
ankle.
01-17-02...Katie Gearlds ranks as the state's 4th best scorer, averaging 26.0
points per game. Leading the state is Wawasee senior Shanna Zolman (35.0),
followed by New Washington senior Sonya Wahl (26.9) and Alexandria freshman
Jodi Howell (26.2).
01-14-02...Several Purdue targets were seen seated behind the bench during
Purdue's 80-43 victory over Ohio State. Beavercreek (OH) center Alison Bales
and South Bend (IN) guard Suntana Granderson were seen along with a frequent
visitor to Purdue games, Beech Grove HS guard Katie Gearlds. This may have
been the first game Gearlds has attended in Mackey this season, after attending
many last season. Beech Grove's schedule has conflicted with all but two of
Purdue's home games to date, but most of the Big Ten Conference home games
are free for her to attend. Gearlds could be Purdue's best recruiter once she
makes up her mind whether the Boilers are a good fit.
01-11-02...According to the IHSAA, Katie Gearlds ranks third in the state and is
the top non-senior scorer in the state with a 26.5 average through 14 games.
01-05-01...Beech Grove (11-3) defeated Roncalli 46-39 with 30 points coming from
Katie Gearlds.
12-17-02...Chalk up another 30-point performance for Katie Gearlds. Beech Grove
(9-2) held Mooresville (7-2) scoreless in the final 6:16 of the game, and Katie
hit 11 straight freethrows to seal the win. Through 11 games, Katie is averaging
27.1 points per game, which ranks her third in the state in scoring.
12-16-01...An article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel has Katie Gearlds marked
as a top Tennessee target among the junior class.
12-09-01...Katie Gearlds and Beech Grove (6-2) were knocked out of the semifinals
of Marion County Tournament by Ben Davis, 62-56. Gearlds led all scorers with
32 points.
12-08-01...Katie Gearlds scored a game-high 31 points to lead Beech Grove past
Decatur Central 58-42 in the Marion County Tournament.
11-30-01...Beech Grove is off to a 5-1 start following a 56-49 victory over
Whiteland. Katie Gearlds scored 33 points.
11-21-01...Indianapolis Beech Grove dropped their first game of the season to
Southport, 61-54, after leading by as many as nine points in the game. Katie
Gearlds led everyone with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Beech Grove is now 2-1 on
the season.
11-15-01...Blue Star has their newest rankings out. Missy Taylor is the highest
rated verballed Purdue recruit on the "seniors only" list, at #61. Others of
interest among the 100 listed...Sabrina Keys #66, Ashley Mays #73, and Sharika
Webb #84. Looking at the list of the top 80 players regardless of class,
Candace Parker ranks #15 as the top sophomore in the nation, and Katie Gearlds
ranks #32 as the 7th best junior in the nation. Reicina Russell ranks 68th
overall, and is the 17th best junior on the list.
11-14-01...Beech Grove is now 2-0, as Katie Gearlds posts her first
triple-double of the season with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists.
11-12-01...Katie Gearlds opened her season with a 19 point, 10 rebound effort
in a 52-37 win over Greenwood.
10-28-01...The latest Street & Smith all-american teams have been released.
Wilnett Crockett, visiting Purdue this weekend, is the highest honored prospect
on the list. Crockett made the Street & Smith third team, while sophomore
Candace Parker of Naperville Central (IL) made the fifth team. Other players
of interest receiving honorable mention by the magazine include Camille Lenoir,
Carol Duncan, Sharika Webb, Missy Taylor, Ashley Mays, Reicina Russell, Katie
Gearlds and Amber Harris.
7-28-01...Missy Taylor and Katie Gearlds have both been named AAU All-Americans,
following the AAU 16-under national championships held in Orlando. Gearlds'
team, Indiana's Finest, finished in a four-way tie for 13th at nationals, while
Taylor's Dayton Lady Hoopstars team finished tied for 7th. Taylor is seeing
major attention from Purdue, Stanford, Iowa State, Iowa, Xavier, Vanderbilt and
Western Kentucky.
5-20-01...Three names mentioning Purdue appear on USA Today's list of top girls
underclassmen, one from each of the 2002, 2003, and 2004 classes. Barrington
(IL) guard Lindsay Richards is listed as one of the eight top junior players,
while Beech Grove (IN) wing Katie Gearlds is strengthening her reputation as
one of the top players in the class of 2003. Keep and eye on a class of 2004
player Purdue is also all over, Naperville Central's (IL) 6'3 Candace Parker.
4-9-01...The Louisville Courier-Journal has released their 2001 Indiana all-state
teams. Sophomore Katie Gearlds and junior Missy Taylor were named second team
all-state, junior Sharika Webb made the third team, and Purdue-bound Carol
Duncan and Ashley Mays both made the honorable mention list.
4-1-01...Two underclassmen prospects have landed on the AP all-state second
team -- junior Sharika Webb and sophomore Katie Gearlds.
2-25-01...Katie Gearlds (Beech Grove, IN) - Season over. Beech Grove was bounced
in the first round of sectional play by Class 3A No. 1 Cathedral. Gearlds
finished her season rated as the Indianapolis area top scorer, and No. 2 in
the state behind Wawasee's Shanna Zolman. She averaged 27.3 points per game
this season. Beech Grove finished the season 13-8.
2-20-01...I had a chance to talk with Denise McClanahan, 16-under AAU coach for
the Indiana Finest program. McClanahan has both Sharika Webb and Katie Gearlds
on her summer squad, so she was the perfect person to give us some scouting on
the two players. [MrHoops]
2-18-01...Just last week it was Sharika Webb's Cathedral squad bouncing Katie
Gearlds' Beech Grove from the 2001 IHSAA tournament. On Sunday, both players
were in attendance to see the Purdue women win another Big Ten Basketball
Championship. Gearlds has become a fixture at Purdue home games, rated as the
top player in the Indiana sophomore class and rated as Full Court Press's
No. 18 player in the Class of 2003. Gearlds finished the regular season rated
as the Indianapolis area top scorer, and No. 2 in the state behind Wawasee's
Shanna Zolman. Before the tournament, Gearlds was averaging 26.7 points with
a season high of 42, on .538 shooting from the floor, .864 from the line and
.420 from the perimeter. Gearlds is also averaging 9.2 rebounds, 6.2 steals,
6.7 assists and 3.2 blocks per game. With the loss to Cathedral last week,
Beech Grove finished the season 13-8. Webb, on a more loaded team, is
averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 steals. Cathedral is still alive in the IHSAA
tournament, winning the Sectional 25 championship at Beech Grove behind a
game-high 21 points from Webb. Cathedral, the defending state 3A champion,
moves on to a Wednesday matchup with Franklin (15-7). Both Webb and Gearlds
played for the 15-under Indiana Finest AAU program last summer, finishing
5th in the nation. Webb was named the team's most outstanding performer for
the summer of 2000, while Gearlds won the award in 1999.
2-15-01...Kristy Curry attended Tuesday's first round sectional matchup
between Cathedral and Beech Grove to check out two of the best guards in
the junior and sophomore classes. Cathedral bounced Beech Grove from the
IHSAA tournment 74-60. Cathedral's Sharika Webb led her team with 25 points,
hitting 5-of-11 shots from the perimeter. Katie Gearlds led all scorers
with 33 points, only one coming from long range. She made only one of eight
shots from the perimeter, but was a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw
line. Gearlds also added nine rebounds and five assists.
2-6-01...Four top high school players unofficially visited for the Michigan
game in Mackey on Sunday. As expected, Missy Taylor (2002, 6'2,
Connersville, IN) visited, joined by Katie Gearlds (2003, 6'0, Beech Grove,
IN) making her third unofficial visit to Purdue. Two new prospects from
Illinois, Lindsay Richards (2002, 5'8, Barrington, IL) and Blair Hardiek
(2003, 5'6, Effingham, IL), also visited.
1-16-01...A few prospects were spotted at the Purdue blowout of
Northwestern. Sophomore Katie Gearlds of Beech Grove HS (IN) was the one
recognized right away.
3-3-00...The Indianapolis Star has released the 1999-2000 girls Super Team
which includes several Purdue prospects and one signee. Eleven players
from the Indianapolis area were chosen by polling area coaches. Broad
Ripple's 6-foot-4 Shalicia Hurns was named to the team, averaging 19.6
points per game this season. Among the prospects chosen for the team are
6-foot-2 junior post Shyra Ely of Ben Davis (19.6 ppg) and 5-foot-10
junior forward Ashley Allen (17.0 ppg). Ely was also named the Indianapolis
Player-of-the-Year. A couple of other players to keep an eye on who made
the team include 6-foot-0 Beech Grove freshman Katie Gearlds and 5-foot-7
Cathedral sophomore Sharika Webb.
Capri Small at the College Exposure Shootout..."Katie stood out all day. One
reason was because she is equally adept at penetrating, pulling up to hit
three-point shots, or finding an open teammate. The other reason was her
height - at over six feet (unfortunately, this information was not included on
the roster sheets made available), she towered over the other perimeter players.
The most impressive parts of her game this day were her interior defense and
quick hands. She is a complete player whose style is extremely reminiscent of
Katie Douglas’s." (September 19, 2001)
Steve Valiant at the 2001 Nike Camp..."If Cherrise Graham was said to be a
Ukari Figgs clone, then Katie Gearlds could be seen as a Katie Douglas clone as
she is a tall, versatile guard/forward type. Gearlds played as complete a team
game as is possible at a camp designed to showcase individual talent and razzle
dazzle. She rebounded well with taller players, played good defense against
shorter guards, could see the floor well and had some excellent passes. Katie
never forced a shot and knocked down almost everything. Katie and Willnett
Crockett played on the same team together and looked good. One of the better
players in camp." (July 21, 2001)
Date Day Time Opponent
---- --- ---- --------------------
11/12/02 TUE 7:30P Cascade
11/16/02 SAT 7:30P @ Greenwood
11/19/02 TUE 7:30P @ Morristown
11/26/02 TUE 7:30P @ Southport
12/04/02 WED 7:30P Whiteland
12/07/02 SAT 6:00P @ Franklin
Marion County Tournament
12/10/02 TUE TBA vs Indianapolis Lutheran
12/12/02 THR TBA TBA
12/14/02 SAT TBA TBA
Marion County Tournament
12/17/02 TUE 7:30P @ Pike
12/19/02 THR 7:30P Park Tudor
Hall of Fame Classic (at New Castle)
12/27/02 FRI TBA vs Terre Haute South
Hall of Fame Classic (at New Castle)
Beech Grove Tourney
(Ritter, Scecina, Monrovia, Beech Grove)
01/04/03 SAT TBA TBA
Beech Grove Tourney
01/07/03 TUE 7:30P @ Mooresville
01/10/03 FRI 6:00P Roncalli
01/15/03 WED 7:00P @ Franklin Central
01/17/03 SAT 7:30P @ Speedway
01/23/03 MON 7:30P @ Plainfield
02/01/03 SAT 6:00P @ Lutheran
02/03/03 MON 7:30P Indian Creek
02/06/03 WED 7:30P Cathedral
As news organizations move their stories to an archive, some of the links listed above may become inactive
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