Juliann Woodard
Juliann Woodard had about a dozen scholarship offers from mid-major college basketball programs. Then, the Power Five schools came calling.
Recruitment of the Jennings County senior-to-be ramped up last month. The whirlwind month of June came to a close on Friday with Woodard announcing her commitment to play at Michigan State.
“My process was actually a lot different that most people,” Woodard said. “Most of my friends, it was pretty well cut and dry. Just about three weeks ago, Power 5 schools started looking at me. So it has really changed recently. And it all happened really fast.”
During her first three years of high school, Woodard took some unofficial visits to mid-major schools. Last month, she took official visits to Columbia, Michigan State, West Virginia and Wake Forest before settling on the Spartans.
“My family definitely had a huge contribution to that,” Woodard said. “It basically came down to location. My family can come and watch. The coaches made this decision a lot easier. I’ve always been told, ‘When you know, you know,’ and it just felt right. And, it’s always been my dream to play in the Big Ten, so I’m chasing that dream to the fullest.”
Michigan State has an all new coaching staff, led by Robyn Fralick. Fralick and her staff came from Bowling Green.
“They have a new coaching staff, and they’re trying to rebuild,” Woodard said. “My recruiting class is their first class, so they’ll have to build around us.”
Jennings County’s Juliann Woodard shoots against Columbus East Jan. 19 at Columbus East.
The Republic file photo
Woodard has been playing travel basketball with the Indy Gym Rats, but coach Danny Riego now is coaching the West Virginia Thunder, along with Shawn Parrish, the father of Indiana University player Sydney Parrish, and Bedford North Lawrence assistant Chase Spreen, and Woodard and some of the other players switched over to that team. Although the team is called “West Virginia Thunder,” all of the players are from Indiana.
“I had a timeline in my head that I wanted to commit before July so I could have fun my last AAU season,” Woodard said. “It’s been pretty stressful, so it’s a relief.”
Woodard led the Panthers with 22.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.4 blocks as a junior and was named an Indiana Junior All-Star.
Woodard and her Jennings teammates have big hopes for the high school season after returning several key players from a team that went 16-6. Plus, the Panthers will welcome back senior point guard Alivia Elmore, who missed all of last season after having knee surgery.
“I’m hoping to go out with a bang and go as far as possible,” Woodard said. “Having Alivia back has been huge, and we have a sophomore (Mollie Ernstes) that has been stepping up, so hopefully, we can put some pieces together and go win us some games.”
