Black College Sports Review:
Women s Hoops
Tyler Lands Top Recruits
By JAMES WRIGHT
Howard University women’s basket
ball coach Sandra Tyler bas a way of get
ting what she wants.
Her career at the elite black institution
has been marked by successes; winning an
unprecedented six titles in the history of
the MEAC, being the first MEAC school
in the women’s NCAA tournament, serv
ing as the first associate athletic director at
the school as a female.
However, her biggest achievement
was the signing of Denique Graves of
Philadelphia and Visa Ferrell of Sacra
mento, Ca. to her program. Both young
sters received national attention in regards
to what school they will play their college
basketball careers.
Graves is a 6’5” forward/guard/center
from University High in the City of Broth
erly Love. She was a pre-season Honor
able Mention by Street and Smith’s presti
gious basketball yearbook. She helped her
team capture the City Championship this
spring, gamering MVP honors. Other hon
ors include the Philadelphia Inquirer
Female Player of the year and a spot on
the Parade All-American list.
“Denique is great,” says Tyler.” She
can leap, rebound and will dunk the ball
when she comes to Howard. Team leader-
want to get a first-class education and play
competitive basketball, they should come
to Howard. Babysitting is not my thing,
but I will know that they will be in a sup
portive environment.”
Tyler did most of the background
recruiting herself. She scouted games,
consulted references, checked on grades,
and logged many hours on the phone talk
ing to the youngster, their parents, coach
es, teachers and friends.
“When you recruit a kid, you become
the institution in their mind. How you con
duct the process determines what they
think of you.”
Perhaps the biggest selling point came
when both Graves and Ferrell came to
Howard;s homecoming on Halloween.
They attended the game, talked to the
male athletes, administrators and instruc
tors. Graves visited the engineering center,
where she will spend most of the time.
Ferrell is undecided about a major at
press time.
“She came in my backyard and took
one of my children,” laughs Temple Head
Coach Charlene Curtis. “Denique had a
number of schools chasing her, Iowa,
Michigan, but Sandra had the hard sell and
that won out.”
“While I clearly want Denique here
with me at Temple, personally, I feel com
“When you recruit a kid, you
become the institution in their
mind. How you conduct the
process determines what they
think of you.”
— Sandra Tyler
ship is also one of her assets.”
Graves scored 1500 points during her
career at University High. She also partici
pated in the NIKE All-.\merican game in
Hampton, Va in mid-April.
Visa Ferrell, a 6’2” guard from Grant
Union High School, was a hot prospect.
She was on the All-City team in Sacra
mento, averaging 20 points a game with
12 rebounds. She holds an area records in
rebounds.
“Visa can play at the level of the rim
and is a tenacious rebounder,” says Tyler.
“She’s a standout player in a tough part of
the country to stand-out-Califomia.”
Both of these young women were
highly recruited by the leading women’s
basketball powers, such as Texas, Texas
Tech, Ohio State, and Maryland. Tyler,
realizing the competition was tough, used
Howard as a selling point.
“I told these youngsters that if they
May 1993 - Page
fortable with her at Howard.”
Joe McKeon, the coach at George
Washington in Washington believes that
Graves will put all of Washington
women’s basketball back in the map.
“She will make a big, big difference
in the program. It’s like if you had a
Rashed Wallace go to Howard instead of
the other schools. The publicity will be
there along with Tyler’s ability to bring
the best out of her players.”
“Howard will be the school to watch
in this area.”
“A lot of my colleagues were telling
both Denique and Visa that they made a
mistake by coming here,” says Tyler.
“'fhey were saying that she, Denique,
won’t be a Kodak All-American, or an
Olympian (participant in the 1996
Olympics). Visa was reminded that she
will be 3000 miles away from her family.”
“But both young ladies feel they
Howard, soon to be a senior will work with Denique Graves and Visa Farrell.
to come here and change the program
overnight,” remarks Tyler. “However,
with work, perseverance, and a little luck.
made the right decision,” beams Tyler.
Tyler’s 1992-1993 was a dismal 5-22
overall, 5-7 in the MEAc. Her record
stands at 165-195.
Nevertheless, she is optimistic.
“No 17 year old teenagers are going
we may go to the NCAA Championship
real soon.”
That's the next thing she wants.