Freedom's Woodard commits to Georgetown basketball

By BILL WARD | TBO.com Published: October 14, 2012 Updated: October 14, 2012 - 12:30 PM

TAMPA Freedom senior Faith Woodard, the Tampa Tribune's two-time Female Athlete of the Year and an all-Hillsborough County performer in basketball and track and field, made a verbal commitment to Georgetown University following her visit to the historic school this weekend in Washington, D.C.

Woodard made the commitment to the Hoyas' basketball program, a member of the Big East Conference, after experiencing the school's Midnight Madness session Friday night. She said her decision was strongly influenced by the school's academic tradition and location, as well as the reputation of a basketball program that has produced many NBA players. Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the oldest Jesuit and Catholic university in the United States.

''I knew Georgetown was a great school and a great opportunity but coming up here and seeing the campusjust solidified everything I thought,'' Woodard said. ''I knew it was Georgetown and USF and it was a really, really tough decision but it came down to Georgetown and the education I can get here.''

''When I saw the Washington Monument, the White House, the memorials it was breathtaking. I'm saying to myself 'I'm in Washington, D.C., and the opportunities and connections you can make here are amazing.' I was so excited to be in the midst of that history, it pretty much sealed the deal for me. I'm extremely happy about my decision and relieved I've made it, too.''

The 6-foot-2 Woodard recently transferred to Freedom from Riverview. Last season at Riverview, Woodard was the Sharks' leading scorer and rebounder with 21 points and 11 boards per game. She had more than a dozen other Division offers besides Georgetown and USF, including the University of Southern California and the University of Central Florida.

After earning first team all-county honors in basketball, Woodard went straight to the track for Riverview. There, she qualified for the Class 4A state finals in four events. There, she won the high jump at 5-8 and placed sixth in 400-meter in 56.74 seconds. Woodard's father, Sterlin Woodard, says his daughter will compete in the high jump for the Hoyas' track team.

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Freedom's Woodard commits to Georgetown basketball