St. Edward's Yohn will play for Bradley

There were many schools interested in St. Edward girls basketball standout Katie Yohn.

She was interested in just one.

After participating in a camp at Bradley University's Peoria campus Sunday afternoon, the 5-foot-10 Yohn gave her verbal commitment to coach Paula Buscher and accepted a scholarship offer to play for the Braves.

"My parents and I really liked it a lot," said Yohn of Bradley. "The coaching staff is awesome and the players are awesome. It's a great atmosphere there, and I've heard a lot of positive things about them."

Bradley, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, finished 12-18 overall last season but returns 9 of 13 letterwinners and 6 of its 7 top scorers.

"I've talked to people who graduated from there awhile ago and to people who have graduated from there recently and they all have positive things to say," said Yohn, who intends to study medical science in hopes of becoming a physician's assistant.

Yohn, an honorary co-captain of the Daily Herald's All-Area team this past season, averaged 20 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Green Wave last season and was a key figure in the team's run to the Class A state quarterfinals in 2007.

She enters her senior season with 1,127 career points.

"She can relax and enjoy her senior season now," said St. Edward coach Michelle Dawson. "She's been getting calls from coaches every day and she's happy to have made this decision. I think she'll be happy there. She worked hard for this and it's neat for her to have this done going into her senior year."

Yohn said she was told she'd be given every opportunity to contribute immediately to the Braves.

"They said it depends on how hard I work," said Yohn. who is again playing AAU basketball this summer for the Full Package Lady Lightning team. "I'll have my chance, but I'll have to earn my position."

Yohn, who took no official visits to any school, also said she is relieved to have made her college choice.

"It's really nice," Yohn said. "Now I don't have to worry about all that stuff my senior year. I can just work hard, help my team win and then move on. I've been thinking about it a lot and doing lists of pros and cons but nothing really compared to the pros at Bradley and what they can offer me.

"Coach Buscher is an amazing coach. The way she interacts with her players is awesome. I had so much fun at camp (Sunday) it was amazing."