PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bourrage, Houston make college choices official
With the paperwork officially filed, two Davenport North High School basketball stars are looking forward to focusing on the hardwood for the upcoming girls basketball season.
Journey Houston and Divine Bourrage signed their NCAA Division I National Letters of Intent on Wednesday afternoon during a ceremony in the North High School Gym — Houston to the University of Iowa and Bourrage to Louisiana State University.
Both had previously made their commitments to those schools, so their final piece of the recruiting puzzle was not a mystery. It was a mere formality for both in finishing up the process.
Still, that proved to be a relief for both.
"This seems so real now," Bourrage said after a long day of crossing T's and dotting I's. "Mosier (North athletic director Jeremy) was talking and I almost cried."
When addressing the gathered family and friends, Mosier mentioned not only how good the two are at basketball but how great they are for the school and the community with all of the attention they create with their considerable skills.
That included Bourrage winning the 2023-24 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year honor. A new banner hangs in the North Gym commemorating that accomplishment.
North coach Paul Rucker was also glad to drop his team-first approach for the day.
"Usually, we are about team and not individuals," said Rucker, who led the Wildcats to an undefeated Mississippi Athletic Conference title last season even with Houston missing the final part of the run to a knee injury. "Today, it's about these two fantastic individuals."
For Houston, the start of the 2024-25 season is another milestone above and beyond inking with the Hawkeyes.
It also marks her return to the court after surgery and a lengthy rehab that cost her this summer's AAU season.
"After about eight months, I worked real hard to get back to where I was before," the still 17-year-old Houston said. "I'm going to prove myself this season, and hopefully we can accomplish winning the state championship."
While the 22-3 Wildcats closed out the 18-0 MAC campaign without Houston last winter, their quest for a state title ended with a 71-65 Class 4A quarterfinal loss to Cedar Falls in Des Moines.
Both say that a return trip to "The Well" is on top of their to-do list. The quest for a state title is next on the list.
"That's our goal," Houston said of a state championship.
Her personal goal was to be ready for her senior season, and it appears as if that mission has been accomplished.
"I wouldn't say I'm 100%, but I've been working real hard," Houston said. "I've had some hiccups, just like with any other injury, but I continue to push myself, and I'll eventually be back to where I was."
She's also looking forward to where she will be — with the Hawkeyes in a year from now. She said that her early verbal commitment never wavered with the Hawkeyes going through a coaching change. After two straight national title-game appearances, Lisa Bluder stepped into retirement, allowing assistant coach Jan Jensen to move up a seat.
"Bluder is a great coach," said Houston, who said she has watched Iowa practices under Jensen and didn't see a huge difference. "But it didn't really change much for me because Jan was always a big part of my recruiting process. I had just as much of a connection with her as I did with Bluder. It really isn't that much of a change."
What will change this season with both is the atmosphere in gyms when they play — and after games. No longer will coaches be pounding on their doors, visiting them at games, dropping text messages or calling.
Both admitted they are looking forward to being able to focus on basketball.
"I can just focus on my team and my teammates and make sure that I'm there for them," Bourrage said. "It was a lot of stress. Every game, I always had college coaches calling me, and they would get mad if I didn't answer the phone."
As of Wednesday, each has just one college coaching staff to answer to now.
"I was really excited to do it," Houston said of having her signing day. "A lot of people asked if I was nervous, but I worked my whole life to get here, so this is a happy moment for me."
sports writer/golf editor
