Indiana freshman stands tall
If Eve Fiala grows another two or three inches, she might just become the tallest girls basketball player in WPIAL history.
Fiala, though, wants no part of that.
“I really hope not,” she said, laughing. “I’m already taller than everybody in my school.”
Not many 15-year-old girls can say that.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches, Fiala might still get taller. But regardless of whether or not she does, the amount of major Division I schools recruiting her almost assuredly will continue to grow.
Fiala finished her freshman year at Indiana High School last Friday. A day later, she picked up a scholarship offer from Pitt. Fiala’s first offer came from Ohio State last summer, before she even began high school. IUP has extended an offer, as well.
Size alone makes Fiala an intriguing prospect, but when you add in her athleticism and productivity, it’s no wonder why a national power like Maryland is already beginning to recruit her. Fiala, who poured in 31 points in just her second varsity game, had an outstanding freshman season, averaging 16.4 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks a game while helping Indiana reach the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals and qualify for the PIAA playoffs.
Dave Woodall was Indiana’s coach for 24 years before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He was also Fiala’s middle school coach, so he knows Fiala well. Woodall said Fiala is assuredly the tallest player he has ever had at Indiana. Last season, the Little Indians boasted only one other player taller than 5-9.
“Not only is she tall, she’s strong and very athletic,” Woodall said. “Athletically, you think with a 6-3 or 6-4 freshman it would be like ‘Bambi on Ice’ with not much coordination, but that’s not the case. She helped us in so many ways. Not only in scoring, but she had a double-double in nearly every game, she was a press breaker, and other teams didn’t get any easy shots inside.”
Fiala’s come a long way since she picked up the sport in sixth grade.
“When I first started, I was pretty bad,” she said.
Now she has schools from big conferences courting her. Fiala said Pitt coaches came to one of Indiana’s games this season and have also watched her play AAU with the Western Pa. Bruins. Fiala is one of three WPIAL players with offers from Pitt, the others being Chartiers Valley sophomore Aislin Malcolm and Peters Township sophomore Journey Thompson.
Fiala made huge strides from eighth grade to ninth grade, according to Woodall, who said Fiala has developed a nice jump shot and even made her first 3-pointer — “It wasn’t a lucky shot, it was nice,” he said — late in the team’s final game of the season. In that loss to District 3 champion Lancaster Catholic, Fiala had 26 points and 17 rebounds.
Woodall said Fiala’s potential is limitless.
“It depends on how hard she works to get better,” Woodall said. “I look at her and think, ‘Geez, this girl could play anywhere.’ The fact that Ohio State offered her before her freshman year says a lot.”
Two for QV
Quaker Valley’s backcourt next season will feature two players who will play at Division I schools. And check this out: the 5-11 juniors will be college rivals. Bailey Garbee committed to American University last week. Garbee’s classmate Corinne Washington pledged to Boston University in May. American and Boston are both Patriot League schools. This past season, Washington averaged 18 points a game and Garbee 13 for a Quaker Valley team that went 17-7 and reached the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals.
Sledge commits
Penn Hills junior guard A’Lysa Sledge has decided to continue her career at UMass Lowell. When Sledge gets there, she won’t be the only player from the WPIAL on the roster. Former Bishop Canevin standout Shamyjha Price just finished up her freshman year. Another Penn Hills native is playing college basketball in Massachusetts. Desiree Oliver plays at UMass.
Football commitment
Sto-Rox’s Diontae Givens (Duquesne).