By: Adam Tortelli ~Staff Writer~
Just weeks after their seasons officially ended, former Xavier basketball players continue to make strides off the court in their post-collegiate careers.
Former standout from the women’s team Ashley Wanniger was named the head women’s basketball coach for her alma mater, Colerain High School, where she graduated from in 2010.
As a Musketeer, Wanniger played for three different coaches (Kevin McGuff, Amy Waugh and recently-extended current head coach Brian Neal) and was a member of the most recent NCAA tournament team for Xavier women’s basketball as well as conference championship team of the Atlantic 10.
That team, led by then-head coach Kevin McGuff, made the round of 32 after going an astounding 14-0 in conference play.
Wanniger rounded out her career at Xavier with 753 career points, 283 rebounds and 116 assists, while also connecting on 146 three pointers, an elite clip that currently places her at eighth on the all-time record list.
On the men’s side, fan favorite Matt Stainbrook continues to build off his strong senior season just weeks after a disappointing defeat to Arizona in the Sweet 16.
The former center spent the end of last week turning heads at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where he dominated his opposition and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
This particular tournament — held in Portsmouth, Va. — is designed to give 64 of the nation’s superior college basketball seniors an opportunity to play before NBA scouts, general managers and other executives in an eightteam tournament.
Over the course of three days, Stainbrook averaged 15 points, two assists and over seven rebounds per game as well as connecting on an overpowering 73 percent of his shots.
Portsmouth marks Stainbrook’s second postseason event. On April 3, Stainbrook earned the honor of playing in the 2015 Reese’s Division I National Association of Basketball Coaches College All-Star game.
Xavier men’s basketball announced its 2015 award winners on April 14, in which Stainbrook earned the Lew Hirt Society Award for “standing out in some significant way,” as determined by the coaches.
Other award winners included Myles Davis claiming the Gordon E. Nead Award for his improvements, Jalen Reynolds taking home the Connie Brown Award for his relentless spirit, Dee Davis who earned the Skip Prosser Award for to his “untiring work ethic” and JP Macura was the recipient of the Ernest A. Staak Memorial Award for his continued “love of the game of basketball.”
