By Staff
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
PLYMOUTH — Though she’s getting ready to play at a much higher level of competition, that only makes Whitney Stokes raise her own expectations.
The former Plymouth High School standout, who is a three-time Washington Daily News Female Basketball Player of the Year, will continue her academic and athletic career at Elizabeth City State University. Stokes is looking to make a name for herself in the collegiate ranks immediately.
Stokes had offers to play at other schools. However, after much deliberation, Stokes settled on the Vikings.
ECSU went 21-10 overall and 16-4 in CIAA action last year en route to winning the CIAA Eastern Division championship.
Antionette Carr was named head coach of the Vikings in May.
Stokes helped Plymouth to a load of wins during her prep career, including a sectional championship last season. Plymouth, which finished with a 19-3 record last year, won four straight regular-season conference championships and three consecutive conference tournament titles.
The 5-7 guard averaged 27.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.2 steals per game her senior season. She was named to the 2006-07 Associated Press All-State Second Team as well as being named to the 2006-07 NCPreps.Com All-State Third Team.
Stokes said she’ll miss playing on Plymouth’s home court.
Stokes will have at least two fans follow her to Elizabeth City — parents Wesley and Diane Stokes.
Stokes, who had a 3.66 GPA at Plymouth, is getting an early taste of college life as she’s currently at school taking summer courses and working on her game.
This is just the next step in what Stokes hopes will help lead to her ultimate goal.
Then it will be time to raise those expectations once again.