Oklahoma Sooner Whitney Hand, the next Larry Bird?

When you think women's basketball at Oklahoma you think of 4-time All-American, Courtney Paris, but the road to the final four for this Sooner team may be determined by a freshman sharpshooter that plays Larry-Bird like.

Whitney Hand who over three weeks ago came back from a broken and dislocated index finger is proving that not only can she overcome a difficult injury and shooting slump, but she may be the top freshman in the country. Hand led the Sooners to the elite 8 this past weekend by scoring 22 points and 8 rebounds with Paris in foul trouble most of the game.

Hand would get off to a hot start with 17 first half points giving Oklahoma a 9 point lead over Pittsburgh at the half.  Oklahoma put the game out of reach to start the second half as the Sooners went on a 20-2 run that included a circus shot by Hand that found it's way into the basket.  "I think she's an extraordinary collegiate basketball player already, and you can spot the great ones because they show up when the lights are brightest,"  Sooners coach Sherri Coale said

The lights are shining bright on this former private school player from Liberty Christian in Argyle, Texas.  She was recently pictured in Sports Illustrated, a first for a Liberty Christian athlete.  And you may remember her from that 3-point contest with Dallas Mavericks 6th man, Jason Terry, back when Hand was a senior in high school.  Terry will never forget it, losing to Hand as she made 8-10 from 3 point land.  Terry is now probably taking a keen interest in her road to the final four.

The Sooners now play Tuesday night against Purdue and the winner advances to the final four.  This is the farthest the Sooners have made it in the tournament since they won the National title in 2002. 

Date of Article: Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:53 pm

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