Of all the 13 players on the LSU women’s basketball roster, perhaps no one is more excited about an afternoon practice than Scholanda Hoston.
After missing all of last season due to personal reasons, the 5-foot-10 sophomore from Miami officially returned to the squad on Oct. 18 when the team opened practice. She said stepping on the court for the first practice was a little emotional, but very exciting.
“I couldn’t wait; I’m glad to be back,” Hoston said. “Before [the first] practice started, coach [Bob] Starkey gave me a big hug and welcomed me back. Once practice started though, all that stopped and it was down to business.”
Hoston, now married and with a baby, said missing last season was hard, especially with the team having so much success and finishing 30-4.
“It was hard watching every game, especially the ones they lost, and knowing that I could have contributed,” Hoston said.
Hoston was fourth on the team with a 10.6 points per game scoring average in her freshman season in 2002, when she was Scholanda Dorrell. Hoston still is familiar with coach Sue Gunter’s offense, and Gunter said having Hoston on the team gives everyone a tremendous confidence boost.
“The thing that means the most to us this year is her enthusiasm,” Gunter said. “Having missed a year, there’s an excitement there about her and it’s contagious.”
Gunter said Hoston worked extremely hard to come back to the team, particularly during summer workouts, and her work ethic has rubbed off on other players.
“From the time we started four-player workouts in the fall, she had already worked herself into shape,” Gunter said. “By the time we started practice on Oct. 18, it was like she never missed a step.”
Hoston said she stayed around the team even during her pregnancy, and has developed a good relationship with her teammates. She credited that along with her familiarity with the offense as key factors to her success after rejoining the team.
“There was nothing different,” Hoston said of getting back on the court. “We have an offense where it’s up to the players to adjust and make reads. I love this offense because it makes you think and it makes the defense think. You don’t have anything set – it’s all just whatever comes.”
Gunter said Hoston having other responsibilities has helped her transition back onto the court.
“I think it’s been a real settling fact for her,” Gunter said. “Initially, I don’t think there ever was any question that she would not come back. Suddenly, when you’ve got a husband, a child and a family to be concerned about, things can be different.
“It was important for her to come back and get her degree. That’s been her goal and she’s back and ready to go.”
Hoston played in 29 games her freshman year, and scored a career-best 22 points in her collegiate debut against Grambling on Nov. 20, 2001.
Because of injuries to post players Wendlyn Jones and Crystal White, Gunter plans on playing Hoston at the power forward position this year instead of at shooting guard.
Hoston said she feels comfortable replacing Jones, her best friend on the team, and thinks she can cause some matchup problems against slower players.
“I’m not going to be a traditional post player that just sits on the block,” Hoston said. “I can cause a lot of people some problems with my quickness. I can take some post players off the dribble.”
With four freshmen on the team, Gunter said she has looked to Hoston to be a boost to those players.
“Scholanda is the kind of kid that has a real maternal instinct,” Gunter said. “She just seems to reach out to kids and she’s a real source of strength for our freshmen and for everybody. She’s always been that way.”
Gunter said Hoston is the type of go-to, versatile player that every coach loves to have.
“She’s not afraid of taking a big shot,” Gunter said. “She loves to play the game. She’s not afraid to lay it on the line. It’s not just scoring. It could be a steal or a rebound – it’s the intangible things.”