See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Nazareth senior forward Yazmine Belk is on her way to Georgetown after all.
Belk wanted to join the Hoyas from the start, but there were no open scholarships available, so she committed to Virginia Commonwealth University instead. Then a second opportunity emerged when VCU coach Marlene Stollings left to lead Minnesota in April.
“I’m thinking I’m really going to go to VCU and spend my four years there and play basketball for coach Marlene, and then to find out that she’s going to another school and the whole staff is leaving,” Belk said. “It’s like, ‘Wow I’m going to leave the school now because I wanted to play for that staff and that particular coach.’ ”
Georgetown and first-year coach Natasha Adair were there waiting after Belk reopened her recruitment. She committed on a visit to the Washington D.C. campus two weeks ago and recently signed her National Letter of Intent to be a Hoya. Belk picked Georgetown over the University of Central Florida, Clemson and Pittsburgh. The situation felt too good to be true for the All-Brooklyn first team selection by the Brooklyn Courier this season.
“It was like it was meant to be,” Belk said.
She felt comfortable with Adair and her staff and enjoyed the fact that the coaches and players were still getting to know each other. That along with Georgetown’s reputation for being a top academic school was too much to pass up. Belk joins a Georgetown program looking to rebuild in the Big East after an 11–21 season. She is happy to be part of a new beginning for everyone.
“They seemed to have a lot of chemistry,” Belk said. “They have a lot of jokes with each other. That really comforted me.
Adair being a forward herself during her playing days makes her someone Belk can really learn from. Belk averaged 8.3 points per game and 10.0 rebounds last season as she helped lead Nazareth to the Catholic Class AA title game. Adair sees Belk as an important part of Georgetown’s future.
“Yaz will be a strong force inside with her ability to finish around the rim,” Adair said. “She will help anchor our efforts towards a Big East Championship.”