Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Go to Gainesville via South Bend

Tampa's Sherisha Hills takes that long path but is happy about where she landed.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 17, 2000

GAINESVILLE -- After a roundabout journey from Tampa to Notre Dame to the orthopedic surgeon -- three times -- Sherisha Hills finally found her way home this season.

At last, she is a Gator.

"I cannot wait to start playing," said Hills, a 5-foot-8 sophomore guard. "It feels like forever since I've played. I'm probably going to go crazy the first game. I love basketball and to be away from anything you love is so hard."

Hills, a fourth-team Parade All-American from Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa, chose Notre Dame over Florida in 1998. She played one season for the Fighting Irish, averaging 7 points and 2 assists. She started two NCAA Tournament games.

But something wasn't right.

"It's not a bad school and I love the people I met there," said Hills, who was released by Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, a courtesy that meant Hills would have to sit out one season, not two, to transfer. "But it just wasn't for me."

Florida coach Carol Ross was thrilled to open her mail one day and find a letter from Hills, whom the Gators recruited heavily in high school. Ross arranged a visit and had scholarship papers ready when Hills arrived.

"All through high school we recruited her very hard and she was important to our program," Ross said. "She had a brain cramp and chose another school, but fortunately she saw the light and came back to the Gators. We're just thrilled."

Hills' journey has been physical as well as emotional. Twice she has torn the ACL in her left knee -- as a junior in high school and last spring -- requiring a total of three surgeries. She still is recuperating from the April revision procedure.

"If I were Sherisha, I would just go ahead and retire," UF senior guard Tombi Bell said. "I admire her for putting up with the pain. That shows me she wants to be out here more than anyone else."

There are days when Hills cannot go full speed in practice, and Ross plans to work her into the lineup gradually by bringing her off the bench to start the season. But Ross does not doubt that Hills will have an immediate and lasting impact on the Gators.

"Her upside is tremendous," Ross said of Hills, who led Academy to the 1996 Class 3A state title and scored 2,538 career points, a Hillsborough County record.

"She has a basketball IQ that really is going to benefit us quickly. She can shoot and pass. She understands the game. She's very quick, one of the quickest I've ever coached. She might not win a track meet from one end of the court to the other, but her quickness will be a huge factor on the defensive end.

"She has it all, and I think she's going to leave our program having made an impact."

By then, maybe everyone will have forgotten how long it took her to find her way to Gainesville.

"When I first got here, coach Ross told me I could have stayed at Notre Dame. And I could have," Hills said. "But she told me it takes a bigger person to change. I think I've matured. I'm going to be my own person."

And a Gator.

Better late then never.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright