Bright lights not quite as bright for Wiles

BY BRIAN T. SMITH

BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Johnson City, Tenn. – The bright lights don’t seem as bright this year to TaRonda Wiles. The big games look smaller. And the jitters, butterflies and nervous worry that once felt like a necessary part of Division I basketball have disappeared.

Wiles, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard from Danville, Va., played in 24 games for the ETSU Bucs in 2006-07, averaging 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per outing.

And while she was a big part of an ETSU team which finished 20-12 (14-4 Atlantic Sun) and made a first-round appearance in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, Wiles admitted her freshman season was a bit of a blur.

"It definitely took me a while to get used to everything," Wiles said. "Just being on a college team and playing in big games was a change at first."

But Wiles’ trial by fire also had its advantages.

She was one of 13 Bucs who set school records in steals (388) and made 3-pointers (177), tied an ETSU record with 14 consecutive victories, and helped the Bucs make the school’s second-ever postseason appearance.

Moreover, ETSU posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 1998-2000 run.

"I think I grew up a lot last year," Wiles said. "I learned a lot and got a lot of things out of the way. Now, I can just go out there and have fun and play basketball."

That’s exactly what Lady Bucs coach Karen Kemp wants to hear.

"TaRonda is very, very talented," Kemp said. "She might be the best athlete on our whole team. She can do a lot of things really well and I can see her becoming a leader on this team as she gets older."

Thankfully for Wiles, Michele DeVault has got the leadership role covered.

DeVault, a 5-foot-11 senior guard/forward, posted big numbers last season, starting all 32 of ETSU’s games while averaging 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.5 assists per game.

Just 167 points away from becoming the 15th player in Lady Bucs history to score 1,000 points, DeVault will be the key cog in an ETSU machine that should compete for the A-Sun title and make a run for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

"She’s a great player, and she’s very competitive," Kemp said. "She can do so many things for us on the court, and I think she has the drive you need to always keep improving."

Aiding Wiles and DeVault will be 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Siarre Evans.

Evans had a breakout game in the Bucs’ 90-73 season-opening loss to Western Kentucky on Nov. 9, scoring a team-high 22 points (8-of-11 shooting) while grabbing 10 rebounds.

Evans, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, was named the A-Sun freshman player of the year last season, and Kemp expects her to blossom this year.

"She worked really hard all summer and I think people are going to enjoy watching her play," Kemp said. "She brings a shooter’s touch to our team and she’s also not afraid to get under the glass and fight for loose balls."

As for the Bucs as a whole, look for ETSU to run, run, run. The Lady Bucs return nine players from last year’s team, and Kemp feels like the squad is confident and talented enough to push the agenda.

"That’s the way I like to play," Kemp said. "Sometimes you can’t do it, because you just don’t have the talent or the kind of team you need. But I think we do this year. And I know our girls are looking forward to it."

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