(New Carlisle, IN) - Recent New Prairie graduate Maddie McSurley is living proof of the old Yogi Berra adage, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

 

McSurley has been a three-sport athlete since fourth grade. She particularly excelled in basketball as a four-year starter for the Lady Cougars. She registered 11 double-doubles her senior season. She was All-NIC Honorable mention twice and was selected to the All-La Porte County Team as a senior, as well as being an IBCA All-State honorable mention. McSurley also played in the North-South All-Star game in Indianapolis.

 

But by the start of her final season, she was a little burned out and wasn’t planning to compete in college. “Coming into my senior year, I decided that I was just going to finish out my high school sports,” she said. “Like, that was it. My body was completely worn down.”

 

Then a surprise scholarship offer from IU South Bend head coach Steve Bruce changed her mind. “After my graduation party on June 12, Coach Bruce had texted me and had asked if I could come visit, and he’d offer me a scholarship." The offer came as a shock to McSurley, since she had not promoted herself to college recruiters.

 

It also helped that one of New Prairie’s assistant coaches— Kyleigh Kubik, who herself played at IUSB— was making a move to the coaching staff there.

 

After touring IUSB’s facilities, McSurley felt it was meant to be. “There was just a moment where I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to do this. I know these people; I know how the program is. This is what I want to do.’”

 

McSurley snatched up the Titans’ last roster spot. And her basketball career… well, it ain’t over.