Isler Commits to NCAA Div. I Alcorn State
CUTHBERT, Ga. -- Andrew College sophomore Toddrianna Isler knows a thing or two about basketball and family; there is no success on the court without support off the court. On Sunday, Isler made up her mind to soon join a new basketball family.
Isler committed to Alcorn State, an NCAA Division I college, choosing the Braves over five other finalists. A 5-foot-10 forward, Isler's journey to DI basketball has not been easy. As her senior year approached her basketball performance was over-shadowed by a heavily recruited center on her high school basketball team.
"I was done with the season and no one was knocking the door down to offer a 5-10 post player. One night I got a call from Coach Courtney Pritchett who I had known since he was the assistant at Darton State College. At that time he was at Tuskegee University. His first question was do you trust me? I replied with yes and he told me that he accepted the Head Women's job at Andrew College and he wanted me to help set a foundation for greatness. It was a no brainer for me, because Coach P has an unbelievable talent for relating to us and teaching us why and how to think the game. I wanted to do my part, I wanted to be accountable for building a program, I wanted the basketball, faith and family principle Coach P preaches daily." Isler stated
Isler visited Alcorn State in September and came away impressed with what she saw. She said her time in Lorman, MS allowed her to meet the team and spend some quality time with the other Coach Courtney, Alcon State's Head Women's Basketball Coach Courtney Pruitt. Isler stated "They are too much alike (Pritchett and Pruitt). So much so, that it's scary. They are also friends and talk to each other often. It's funny to have gone through a practice with her and hear some of the same principles I hear every day with Coach P. I am excited because I get to play DI basketball and face the challenges of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC)."
"Todd is like a daughter for me. She has always done what I asked her. I asked her to trust me two years ago, I was not sure how it would work out but she came in and worked really hard to be successful. Her freshman year was full of experienced teammates that help her mature. Parris, McCoy and Faust all embraced the development of Toddrianna and they showed no jealousy or leniency in helping her achieve. The great thing about Todd is that she is now giving that knowledge to the large group of freshman we have this year. I am so happy for "T Ice" she just committed to a full scholarship to a HBCU. These are great times for Andrew Women's Basketball.
Toddrianna is the first student to sign a Division I basketball scholarship from Andrew College in the past decade. Isler said she's known she wanted to go to Alcorn State, making the announcement nothing more than a formality.