(Published Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:10:47 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
Gazette Staff
Some sound advice from her basketball coach has helped land a professional contract Down Under for Kelsey Duoss.
The 2003 Clinton High graduate signed a contract Wednesday afternoon to play for the Dandenong Jayco Rangers. Dandenong is just east of Melbourne, Australia, located in the southeast province of Victoria.
Duoss followed the advice of her UW-Stout coach, Mark Thomas, in making the decision.
"Coach told me that you can't play basketball forever, but you can always go back to school," Duoss said. "I'm 20 credits short of graduating, so I know I can go play in Australia and then come back and get my degree.
"I had other offers from Sweden and Portugal, among others, but Australia seemed like the perfect fit. I've always wanted to go there, and now I'll get that chance. They're paying for everything, so all I have to do is concentrate on basketball."
Duoss was a two-time WIAC Player of the Year and was twice selected to the NCAA Division III All-America team and to the first team of the D3hoops.com All-America team. She led the Blue Devils to third straight WIAC regular-season and tournament titles this past season, along with a third consecutive NCAA playoff appearance.
The Jayco Rangers are part of an eight-team league that begins play in October. Duoss will leave for Australia on Aug. 20 and hopes to be back in the United States in late February or early March.
"I'm really excited because I've heard so many good things about Victoria," Duoss said. "I'll be the only player on the team from the United States, but since they speak English down there, I won't have to worry about communicating.
"I've already talked to the head coach a couple of times, and I know the team is really looking forward to me coming down. And my parents (Andy and Vicky) are already planning on making the trip down to see me play."
