Bowling Green, Mo. isn't the first place recruiters look to find big-time, front-court basketball prospects, but it's where Anne Marie Hartung calls home. The 6-foot-3 forward isn't a household name outside of the state of Missouri, as of yet, but with her verbal commitment to Gail Goestenkors and the University of Texas on Thursday, she's added a second state to her fan club.
Hartung was being recruited by nearly every Big 12 school and several from other major conferences. She made unofficial visits to Kansas State, Kentucky, Missouri, Missouri State. Her final stop was Austin, Texas.
For Hartung, the Business School at Texas was a big reason why she chose the Longhorns. She found many of the things she was looking for at Kansas State as well but, Hartung said, "Everything was just a little bit bigger and a little bit better at Texas."
"The people are great," Hartung added, "from the academic counselor to the players."
Coaches continued calling and trying to schedule unofficial visits and some college coaches even tried to fly out and see a practice or work out. However, Hartung and her family felt so strongly about Texas after her unofficial visit, that they decided to commit now because they didn't want those programs to waste their money.
The agile forward will complement 2009 McDonald's All-American Cokie Reed. Both are athletic and capable of playing the high or low post effectively. This gives the program at least three athletic, versatile front court players when you include freshman Ashley Gayle.
Hartung's journey has been similar to two other Missouri natives and their quests to college basketball: Alina Vornenko and Taber Spani. All three played for club teams outside of their home state.
"There really aren't any club teams in Missouri," Hartung said, "and I want to prove my skills and play against the best."
Voronenko (Smithton, Mo.), who is currently a freshman at Kansas State played for a club team in California, the NorCal Elite. Spani (Lees Summit, Mo.) played for the Missouri Eclipse until her junior year, when she went out of state to find a club team. After a terrific showing in May at the Nike Regional Skills Academy in Houston, she was asked to play for the Cy-Fair Shock club team in Houston. She went on to have a tremendous summer and ultimately was selected as a 2009 McDonald's All-American.
Hartung played her last club season with Mike Walker's Showtime Hoops, which is based in California. However, this spring and summer Hartung will also play for the same Cy-Fair program.
But before that, she will play for her high school team, Bowling Green. They need three wins to make it to the AAA State Championships. Friday night they play for a district championship.
