Published: January 09, 2009 07:12 pm         

NEW: ISU women receive second commitment for 2010 class

TERRE HAUTE — Most people make resolutions on New Year’s Day.

Decatur Central guard Anna Munn took the opportunity to make a verbal commitment to play women’s basketball at Indiana State.

“A couple days before New Years Day, we were planning on going to the game [against Drake], and I told my dad I wanted to commit, I was ready,” Munn said this week. “After the game, [the ISU players] applauded me. They were really excited.”

The 5-foot-10 Munn became coach Jim Wiedie’s first recruit from the Indianapolis metropolitan area and the second of his 2010 freshman class, joining point guard Nikki Gunning of Howell, Mich. ISU will have one more scholarship available for that incoming class.

Munn, a junior, is averaging 18.5 points through 14 games. She has made 45 of approximately 100 3-point attempts, DC coach Dave Cupp said. She’s also averaging 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Munn spurned offers from Ball State, Butler and IPFW. She also visited Iowa.

It was clear to Munn that she was a high priority of the Sycamores’ coaching staff.

“I saw [assistant] coach [Clint] Weddle, if not coach [Melanie] Boeglin at all my AAU games. At the end of my games, I sort of looked for them because they were always there,” said Munn, who plays AAU for the Indiana Flight and captained the team to a 15U state title and fifth-place national finish.

Munn and her family visited ISU for the first time in August.

“After last couple visits, they made it really clear that I would fit in at their program. They welcomed me as if I’d played there for two years. Coach Wiedie said he wasn’t going to push me into anything, and that he’d back me up no matter what my decision was. No pressure there. I’m happy to be a Sycamore.”

A three-year starter for Decatur Central, Munn has stepped up her scoring this season after averaging 12 points as a freshman and sophomore. She’s the complete package, Cupp said.

“She’s the epitome of the style that they play. She can do so many things on the floor,” Cupp said. “He’ll ask her to do a lot of the same things, as far as handle the ball and shoot it. On my team, there’s times she’s got to play the 4-5 position. She’s had to develop her inside game a little bit. That makes her harder to guard. She can go by anybody.”

The Hawks were 10-4 heading into Friday’s Mid-State Conference game against Martinsville, but Munn’s team has suffered some adversity of late, losing a starter to an ACL tear and another to a fractured elbow.

“Coach Cupp has told me, not just because of all the things we’ve been facing, that I had to step up my game,” Munn said. “Even if I don’t score 20 points, I still have to step up on defense. That’s what coach has been pushing me to do, just work on my overall game.”

Munn was a second-team All-Marion County performer as a sophomore, but a summer of hard work has made her even more dominant.

“She’s become a lot more confident player,” Cupp said. “It’s rebounding, ballhandling, shooting and defending. She’s become such a good defender.”

AAU coach Gregg Mason observed several Big Ten teams become interested in Munn during the summer.

“She’s got a deadly 3-point shot, and has a finger-roll drive to the basket like a guy,” Mason said. “She’s very strong. She makes the kids around her better as well.”

Munn has no doubt ISU is a good fit, whether on the court or with her future major in physical therapy.

“I really like the fast-paced game they play,” Munn said. “Coach Wiedie’s a good coach, yells when he needs to yell, and compliments when he needs to compliment. … And they have a good program [for physical therapy].”

Gunning can sign a national letter-of-intent during the fall of this year.