Before senior season, Allentown’s Weise chooses LIU Brooklyn
Hello Brooklyn!
One of the top players in Mercer County girls basketball recently decided she’s ready to tackle the biggest city in the world.
Allentown senior Ryan Weise committed to LIU Brooklyn over the Labor Day weekend.
“I really had to think about what I wanted in a school and a women’s basketball program,” Weise said. “There’s so many opportunities there. I love the coaches, they were awesome through the whole process. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Weise said her goal has always been to play Division I basketball. Her father Rich played at Rider from 1979-82 and her mother Linda, also her coach at Allentown, was a huge star at McCorristin (now TCA) and then Delaware in the early 90s.
“I think they may actually be more relieved than me,” Weise said. “They’ve been very helpful through this stressful process. It’s been long, and stressful, and frustrating and overwhelming, but I couldn’t be more thankful and happy. It’s one of the things that I’ve been wanting to do playing basketball all my life.”
The Blackbirds, who play in the Northeast Conference and are coached by Stephanie Del Preore, a former standout out at Livingston High and Marist College, are getting perhaps the best girls player ever from Allentown.
As a junior, Weise averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds for the Redbirds, who went 21-6. She also got to the free throw line 3.7 times per contest and shot 91.7 percent from the stripe.
Weise has an outside shot to reach the 2,000-point milestone. She’ll begin her senior season with 1,293 points.
Weise admitted she’s thought about the records, but the goals are team focused, especially now that she’s made her college choice.
“It’s a big relief and weight lifted off my shoulders,” Weise said. “It just makes me more excited for this year and all the possibilities that can come. My goal is definitely win (the) MCT and states. I haven’t gotten there the past few years, and I really feel like this is the year.”
Weise said she’s leaning toward studying business at LIU Brooklyn and loves all the potential opportunities of being in New York City.
And, of course, the chance to play Division I basketball.
“My dream was to play Division I basketball and I’m really forever thankful that this opportunity was given to me,” Weise said. “I couldn’t be more excited.”