When Ciara Webb signs her national letter of intent to play for Towson University’s women’s basketball team Wednesday morning at Patterson High, it’ll be the crowning moment in a journey Kelley Bagdasarian didn’t think would take flight.
“I was expecting schools to recruit her from her freshman year,” said Bagdasarian, who’s in her 11th season as Patterson coach. “I guess we did a good of keeping her a secret.”
Wednesday marks the first day for high school seniors can sign a scholarship letter for baseball, basketball, lacrosse, softball and volleyball. The period concludes Nov. 17.
Webb could’ve easily been lured by temptation of playing for a bigger name school, but she loves being a part of the Kane Street campus community. The 5-foot-8 point guard has been determined to put Patterson on the local radar.
“I just feel like we’re the underdogs against the likes of the Westerns, Dunbars, Digital Harbors and the Citys,” said Webb. “We have something to prove. It gives me motivation to help my team get recognition against those big-name schools.”
Webb has made a name for herself at Patterson, averaging 19.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in her junior campaign. She’s ranked 44th nationally among point guards in the Class of 2011 by ESPN.
“From the first day she tried out as a freshman, we knew she had great potential college basketball player with us,” said Bagdasarian. “She was really raw but she definitely been the hardest-working athlete I’ve ever coached. If she didn’t know how to do something she would ask.”
Webb didn’t start playing organized basketball until her freshman year as soccer was originally Webb’s love. Her dad, Michael Sr., is a former Patterson standout and brother, Michael Jr., is a sophomore on the varsity.
“Basketball seemed to be the sport everyone played in the school or around the neighborhood,” said Webb who lives in the Highlandtown area. “It [basketball] was taken a lot of more seriously around the city [high school league].
Webb’s game progressed with the Baltimore Starz AAU program the last several seasons. She’s able to create off the dribble and find passing lanes to her teammates. Webb said she wants to improve her on defense and limiting turnovers.
Towson was the first school to offer Webb a scholarship. Webb said the Tigers were a constant for her on the AAU circuit.
As soon I got on campus, I imagined myself being a part of everything,” said Webb. “I attended the basketball camp and I thought I fit in right away. There was nothing I disliked.”
Bagdasarian said Webb can now focus on the remainder of senior season. Webb recently completed her fourth varsity soccer season and will play her fourth and final varsity softball in the spring.
“From the first week of tryouts, we knew we had something special,” said Bagdasarian. “If everything went according to plan, she’d be playing college basketball. Knock on wood, it has so far.”
Click here to see our complete list of Baltimore area high school commitments.
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(If you are an athlete signing a National Letter of Intent or making a verbal commitment, or the coach or parent of an athlete doing so, please share your news with VarsitySportsNetwork.com by submitting it to us, along with a photo if possible, to info@varsitysportsnetwork.com)
