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After the basketball season ended, Chrysti Noble would see her former player Sarah Rowe around the neighborhood, ball in hand.
The former Rockcastle County star would be shooting baskets or dribbling the ball around.
Those images made Noble want to look away.
“I was sad she wasn't going to play basketball anymore,” Noble said. “She was one of the best all-around players I'd ever coached in 18 years.”
Rowe, a 5-foot-10 swing player, couldn't find a good college fit for her, so she had decided to go to Eastern Kentucky as a regular student and give up on basketball.
But basketball found its way back to Rowe in the form of a discussion with Coach Matthew Mitchell.
Rowe, a four-year starter for the Rockets, will walk on at UK this season, Noble confirmed Tuesday.
“I was so tickled when UK showed interest in her,” Noble said.
When Mitchell was still a head coach at Morehead State, he had followed Rowe and expressed interest in her, but when he went on to UK, Morehead's new staff didn't stay in touch.
For the past three years, Rowe led the Rockets in nearly every statistical category. During her senior season, she averaged 20.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game. She also led Rockcastle County to the state tournament.
Noble said Rowe will need to improve her strength and work on her three-point shooting to play at the Southeastern Conference level, but the coach is confident her former player will keep improving.
“I know she'll work real hard for Coach Mitchell,” Noble said. “I know she'll contribute in whatever ways she can.”
As of now, Rowe will be the only freshman on UK's roster next season. The only other new face is junior college standout Jackie Sanders.
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