Awut Alic is officially headed to DePaul University, making her Division I dream a reality that felt “pretty exciting” on Thursday, Nov. 12. This senior from Oshkosh North, a 1,000-point career scorer, committed back on July 28 after picking DePaul over Butler, Illinois State, Murray State, and Northern Illinois. What a move, right? Alic was literally in front of future Oshkosh North girls basketball players on “Meet the Spartans night” when she sealed the deal, a moment she admitted still hadn’t fully “hit” her.
From Sixth Grade Dream to Division I Reality
This wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment decision. Alic said playing Division I basketball was “always the goal when I was younger.” Her coach, Rick Leib, has seen the grind firsthand, coaching her since sixth grade. He recalls Alic “texting and always reaching out and saying, ‘Hey, can we get in the gym, can we get in the gym.’” That’s the kind of dedication you love to see, and it paid off big time. Leib was “super proud of her” when the decision came down, even mentioning “a lot of tears over the phone” last summer. Her junior year numbers tell the story of that hard work, too: she dropped 19.3 points, grabbed 6.1 rebounds, snatched 3.4 steals, and dished out 1.8 assists per game. She’s only the second Oshkosh North girls basketball player to sign D1, following Lori McGinnis, the 1991 Wisconsin Ms. Basketball. That’s some serious company to keep.
What’s Next for Alic and DePaul
DePaul snagged a player who clearly knows what it means to put in the effort. The university is located in Chicago, which is pretty close to home for Alic, and they play in the Big East. That conference is no joke, featuring powerhouses like UConn and Marquette, and it consistently sends multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Leib said Alic wanted “big-time college basketball” and loved the Big East for that very reason. The coach and the style of play at DePaul “fit her,” so she’s “super excited about that.” As she gets ready to kick off her senior year, Alic is focused on finishing strong, being a great leader for her teammates, and “uplifting the next generation.” She hopes she’s just the second of many more Spartans to make it to the Division I level. You’ve got to respect that kind of vision.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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