Billy Carson knew he had a good point guard in Illyssa Vivo and the South Florida Lady Jaguars’ AAU coach had a plan to land her somewhere in the Division I women’s basketball ranks.
His plan ultimately took Vivo from sunny Broward County, Fla., to Vigo County. Carson confirmed that Vivo has made a verbal commitment to play basketball at Indiana State.
“Her getting [to Indiana State] was me doing some internet recruiting,” Carson said. “I put together a highlight video and sent it out to places I thought might be a good place for her. Indiana State bid on it, contacted me and we sent some more game tape. After they saw the game tape, they got excited.”
Vivo, who stands 5-foot-8, averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game for American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. She also shot 47.1 percent from 3-point range.
Vivo played on a 24-5 American Heritage team that made it to Florida’s Elite Eight. She played along side LSU recruit Bianca Lutley and Wake Forest recruit Sandra Garcia, both were bigs that Vivo was charged with feeding in the post.
“[The ISU coaching staff] came down, saw some practices and saw a game. They were very excited. Once the family made their visit there, they fell in love with the scenery of the campus and the environment when they came. They’ve been mulling it over for about a month or so before they made their choice,” said Carson, who said Vivo garnered interest from Western Kentucky and Mississippi, among others.
Carson praised Vivo’s ability to get to the basket, but was more effusive in praising her work ethic.
“One thing that hits you right off the bat is she’s a hard worker. She doesn’t take off one drill, that’s what impressed me most when she came into this program. She’ll run through a brick wall,” Carson said. “Everything is ‘yes coach’, ‘no coach’. She’s very coachable. She’s explosive off the dribble and can get to the rack against the bigs. She makes the game exciting.”
Vivo was not able to reached for comment in time for this story.
Vivo joins guards Nikki Gunning and Anna Munn in ISU’s 2010 recruiting class. As per NCAA rules, ISU’s coaching staff is not permitted to comment on recruits until they sign their letter of intent.
College
Florida guard says she'll play for ISU women's basketball
Illyssa Vivo averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 assists per game as senior
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ISU hurdler Swift becomes 5th Sycamore to make NCAAs
Indiana State sophomore Greggmar Swift became the second member of the men’s team and the fifth Sycamore overall to qualify for the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Finals at Drake University, placing second in the second heat of the 110 meter hurdle quarterfinals Saturday at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
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Lou Watson, former IU player and coach, dies at 88
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METRO ROUNDUP: ISU’s Pounds qualifies for NCAA Championships
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Rose’s Liz Evans wins fourth NCAA high jump title
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Indiana State throwers advance to NCAA championships
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MVP of the MVC: Lucas first Sycamore to earn Player of Year honors
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Sycamores try to catch Missouri Valley Conference tourney vibe
A Missouri Valley Conference championship season has bloomed for the Indiana State baseball team in 2012. The Sycamores have been dominant through most of the season.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: Subtle switch has fostered MVC baseball parity
When Indiana State was crowned as the regular season baseball champion of the Missouri Valley Conference last Thursday, it marked the fifth different regular season champion the league has had since 2005.
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ISU claims Missouri Valley Conference baseball title
Entering Thursday’s game against Indiana State, Missouri State starting pitcher Nick Petree had gone 72 1/3 innings without surrendering an earned run, an unofficial NCAA record.
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ISU baseball in familiar territory with MVC title on line
First place is there is for the taking for Indiana State's baseball team this weekend … so is redemption.
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A time for firsts: SMWC seniors have national title aspirations
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Win over SIU puts Sycamores in first place
As Indiana State’s baseball team tried to climb to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference mountain on Saturday against Southern Illinois, it stood to reason that the air would get more rarefied as they neared the summit.
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Major Clay takes fourth straight MVC high jump title
For the fourth straight year, Indiana State’s Major Clay will climb to the top spot on the awards podium as the Sycamore captured his fourth high jump championship at the 2012 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday.
The competition was conducted at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University. -
Edgewood takes Western Indiana Conference golf crown
Edgewood and senior Jackson Cowden took top honors in the Western Indiana Conference boys golf championship played Saturday at Idle Creek.
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North grad wins 10,000 at Big Ten Championships
Terre Haute North alumnus Zach Mayhew ran a Dan McClimon track record at the University of Wisconsin to win the 10,000 meters at the Big Ten Championships.
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Top-seeded Rose-Hulman falls in opener of HCAC Tournament
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ISU's Ort getting hot at right time for Sycamores
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Terre Haute native getting national attention as freshman for Kentucky
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Top seed, home field doesn’t guarantee Rose success
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Metro roundup: ISU’s Lucas honored by Missouri Valley again
For the fifth time in the last nine weeks, Indiana State junior catcher Jeremy Lucas has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
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Sycamores top Shockers in 10 innings in MVC series opener
If free baseball is what you want, Indiana State has what you need. For the sixth time in the span of a month, ISU’s series opener went extra innings.
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ISU starting pitchers in rhythm heading into Wichita State series
“Gettting into rhythm” is such an oft-used cliché in sports that it’s hard to hear the term and fight the urge to not let it enter one ear and escape another.
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ISU goes to well too many times
Perhaps the most unnecessary pursuit for a Wabash Valley sports fan during the now-completed weekend was watching the first few innings of nonconference college baseball between Indiana State and visiting Nebraska-Omaha.
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ISU baseball living on the edge
Indiana State’s baseball team got its game against Nebraska-Omaha in Saturday between morning and evening rain showers. But in the wake of another walk-off 3-2 victory against the struggling Mavericks, one might be forgiven if they felt the Sycamores are walking between the raindrops a bit.
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PREP ROUNDUP: North Central baseball improves to 10-2
North Central lost a 7-1 game to Vincennes Rivet, and then Nolan Kinnett pitched the Thunderbirds to victory, adding a double and three RBIs against Riverton Parke in a pair of high school baseball games on Saturday.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Jenkins, Goatee win inaugural Rush the Punter 5K
Steve Jenkins and TaPring Goatee were the 5K winners in the inaugural Rush the Punter event on Saturday at Fairbanks Park.
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Providing perspective: ISU’s vets have 2009 as window into 2012
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