Tonight’s WBB Tipoff Just Got Better; Booker Receives Immediate Eligibility
November 25, 2020 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball tipoff at Milwaukee tonight just got better as junior guard Essence Booker received an NCAA waiver to be immediately eligible for the 2020-21 season.
"I'm really excited for Essence and appreciate all of Ryne Hillenberg's work towards making this possible," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said.
Booker, a 5-foot-8 guard, comes to Ball State after spending the last two seasons at the University of Nevada. She was one of the Wolfpack's top players last season, earning All-Mountain West honorable mention recognition and Mountain West Player of the Week accolades (Nov. 11). She started 30 games while leading Nevada in scoring (12.5 points per game) and total assists (73). Booker scored in doubles figures 21 times last season, including a stretch of 12 games in a row from Jan. 18-Feb. 27. She ended the year with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.2-to-1. Successful on and off the court, Booker was Mountain West Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Mountain West All-Academic Team while playing in 30 games as a true freshman. She owns 557 career points and will have two years of eligibility remaining at Ball State.
Prior to Nevada, Booker was a four-time letterwinner at Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas, where she claimed three second-team all-state honors and two first-team all-conference selections. Booker was named first-team all-region her freshman year while being voted the most valuable player for her conference. She was also selected three times to the Las Vegas Sun Super Seven. Booker helped the Grizzlies to a state title in 2015 and back-to-back conference championships in 2015 and 2016. She ended her career at Spring Valley averaging 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.3 steals per game. She was also a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State women's basketball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BSUCoachBrady and @BallStateWBB.
"I'm really excited for Essence and appreciate all of Ryne Hillenberg's work towards making this possible," Ball State head women's basketball coach Brady Sallee said.
Booker, a 5-foot-8 guard, comes to Ball State after spending the last two seasons at the University of Nevada. She was one of the Wolfpack's top players last season, earning All-Mountain West honorable mention recognition and Mountain West Player of the Week accolades (Nov. 11). She started 30 games while leading Nevada in scoring (12.5 points per game) and total assists (73). Booker scored in doubles figures 21 times last season, including a stretch of 12 games in a row from Jan. 18-Feb. 27. She ended the year with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.2-to-1. Successful on and off the court, Booker was Mountain West Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Mountain West All-Academic Team while playing in 30 games as a true freshman. She owns 557 career points and will have two years of eligibility remaining at Ball State.
Prior to Nevada, Booker was a four-time letterwinner at Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas, where she claimed three second-team all-state honors and two first-team all-conference selections. Booker was named first-team all-region her freshman year while being voted the most valuable player for her conference. She was also selected three times to the Las Vegas Sun Super Seven. Booker helped the Grizzlies to a state title in 2015 and back-to-back conference championships in 2015 and 2016. She ended her career at Spring Valley averaging 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.3 steals per game. She was also a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State women's basketball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BSUCoachBrady and @BallStateWBB.
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