In two seasons at LSU, guard Seimone Augustus has averaged 17.1points and with an overall .895 shooting percentage in leading thewomen’s basketball team to two NCAA tournament appearances,including a bid to last year’s Final Four.
Augustus, from Baton Rouge, chose to stay close to home inplaying for LSU. Yet now, another Baton Rouge native has stepped inwith aspirations of helping LSU earn its first ever nationaltitle.
Quianna Chaney, a freshman from Southern Lab, elected to come toLSU after being recruited by national powers Duke and LouisianaTech. According to Chaney, or “Q,” staying close tohome to play basketball was an important influence in her decisionto attend LSU.
“For one, [LSU] was close to home,” Chaney said.”And I liked their program. I got along with the players andthe coaches.”
As a senior at Southern Lab, Chaney averaged 21 points and 6.7points, earning McDonald’s All-American honors.
After being recruited by Louisiana Tech since her sophomoreyear, Chaney said she caught on with LSU after last season’sFinal Four appearance.
“I had an idea that I wanted to [come to LSU] after I sawthem in the Final Four,” Chaney said. “Afterwhile, therecruiting process took over and I had a good idea of where Iwanted to go.”
Playing against the fellow Baton Rouge native Augustus in highschool, Chaney was able to keep in touch with current LSU playerswhile deciding what school she wanted to attend.
“I played against Seimone some,” Chaney said.”And I talked to Tameka [Johnson] from time totime.”
According to coach Pokey Chatman, players like Augustus play animportant role in recruiting within Baton Rouge.
“[Seimone’s presence] has to influence[recruits],” Chatman said. “[Quianna] realized thecommunity following when Seimone decided to stay here, and thesethings are a bonus for us.”
Aside from wanting to stay close to home, Chaney said she LSUwas the place for her.
“I knew I would fit in,” Chaney said. “AtLouisiana Tech, I was going to play the point, but I wanted to be ashooter. So after I talked to Seimone, I figured I would be a goodfit with the program.”
According to Chaney, shooting is something she’s donesince she was a child, relating her early beginnings of basketballto taking a picture when she was two.
With a number of toys in which to choose from, Chaney said herlove for basketball stems from what toy she decided to take herpicture with.
“When I had all the toys, I chose the basketball,”Chaney said. “My mom told me that ever since then, she knew Iwas going to play basketball.”
And now, with years of basketball under her belt, Chaney hasestablished herself as a dominant three-point shooter.
Yet according to Chatman, it is Chaney’s abilities awayfrom the outside shot that make her special.
“When most kids have that type of range, that’s allthey do,” Chatman said. “What’s special about Qis her amazing ability to finish. She can finish her shot intraffic, and that’s what Seimone is really goodat.”
With a highly-recruited freshman joining a team that finishedjust one game from the national title last season, Chatman saidChaney will make significant contributions to this year’steam.
“When you have a freshman coming in to a team that’sestablished, you’re not as intimidated,” Chatman said.”It tells me a lot as a coach that I’ll be able tostick her [in the game] somewhere down the line.”
The Lady Tigers take on Everyone’s Internet Tuesday nightin the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, but will be without Chaneyand two other teammates, who are suspended for team ruleviolations.