Lourdes basketball star Simone Pelish commits to the University of Miami
There is a certain excitement for a young athlete that comes with being recruited early, the buzz and the cachet and the gratification in knowing some experts at the next level are vying for your services years before anything can be finalized.
There is also an accompanying pressure — to perform and validate that growing hype, to avoid the attention becoming overwhelming, and to do it all while gathering enough information to make an important decision about your future. Eventually.
“It’s a lot to think about and sometimes it’s stressful,” Simone Pelish said. “I kept putting it off like, ‘I don’t have to really start worrying about this until I’m a junior.’ And then time flies.”
It does. Because the kid who introduced herself to Dutchess County as a seventh-grade standout, seemingly destined for basketball stardom, now is readying for her senior year at Our Lady of Lourdes High School and beyond.
Anticipation had built for some time for this decision, and Pelish announced this month that she’ll be taking her talents to South Beach. Well, an area neighboring it.
The 6-foot guard has given a verbal commitment to play at the University of Miami, the selection ending a three-year college courtship during which the Poughkeepsie native received several Division I offers.
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“It’s definitely a weight off my shoulders and I’m excited,” the 17-year-old said. “Before you commit, you’re constantly thinking about it and feeling like you have to make a decision soon. Now, I feel great.”
Pelish was sold in April, visiting Miami for the first time when the university hosted her for three days. She was impressed by the campus and its athletic facilities, the five-star treatment she and her parents received, and the sophisticated training and body maintenance science that was advertised. The ambiance, she said, “felt right.”
Above all, though, was the comfort level with the coaching staff.
Assistant coach Josh Petersen made an impression last winter, attending a Lourdes game. “Traveling that far to a high school game showed how much I mattered to them," Pelish said.
“(Head coach) Katie Meier reminds me of my dad in her coaching," she continued. "She’s very honest and was even critical. She told me what I do well and what my weaknesses are, and I respect that.”
Despite being the obvious focus of opponents, Pelish last winter averaged 25.5 points with eight rebounds and shot 40% from three, leading a young Lourdes squad to the Section 9 Class AA final. She was named the Journal’s Player of the Year for a second straight season.
Pelish handles the ball well and has experience playing point guard. She can penetrate to create open looks for teammates and has the strength to finish through contact, which is complemented by her perimeter shooting. She has worked extensively to improve her quickness and made considerable strides last season as a defender.
"Teams key on her and she's gotta work hard to get hers, but she's still efficient," Warriors coach Al Viani said of Pelish facing double and triple teams. "She's got a great work ethic, and I can see her doing like Maddy (Siegrist) and just getting better each year."
Pelish is among the most coveted girls basketball players this area has produced in recent years, getting offers from schools including Ohio State, Clemson, Marist, Vanderbilt and Seton Hall.
She’ll follow in the footsteps of Siegrist (Villanova) and Ava Learn (Purdue), graduates of Lourdes in the last five years who went on to play for major Division I programs.
Tyler Lydon and Elijah Hughes both starred at Syracuse and were NBA draft picks, and Siegrist was selected third overall in the WNBA Draft in April. Nevertheless, the Mid Hudson Valley isn’t a region typically considered for its development of basketball talent.
“I think it’s cool,” Pelish said of helping draw attention to the area. “You don’t realize the significance until everyone says, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it.’ Then you think about how special it is.”
Pelish’s summer is dedicated to basketball, competing in tournaments with her AAU team, working out at NorthStar Sports in Poughkeepsie and training intently with skills coach Justin Cooper.
She insisted it won’t be difficult for her to stay focused on hoops and academics next year, despite Miami’s proximity to the beach and its reputed party atmosphere. “That’s not me,” she said. “I don’t even care about that stuff.”
Miami last season reached the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual champion LSU, and the Hurricanes are among the better teams nationally.
Pelish’s older brother, Jackson, attends the University of Tampa and she already was “leaning toward” choosing The U before the visit, so much so that she rooted for them in the tournament.
There was a conversation in their household during the Sweet Sixteen round when Miami faced Villanova, led by Siegrist, who is a family friend and mentor to Pelish.
“If ‘Nova won, I wouldn’t have been mad,” Pelish said. “But we wanted Maddy to do great, and to have Miami win.”
She got her wish then. And now, she’s got her college.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: College basketball: Lourdes' Simone Pelish verbally commits to Miami
