Checking in on local standouts playing Division I basketball

Chad Lindskog
Evansville
There are 15 Evansville-area natives playing Division I college basketball.

EVANSVILLE — One month into the college basketball season, it’s time to check in on the 15 locals in Division I.

In alphabetical order. All statistics through Dec. 11.

Tyra Buss

Tyra Buss, Indiana, is one of two seniors and leads the Hoosiers in points, steals, assists and minutes. The Mount Carmel (Illinois) High School graduate is 22nd across all of D-I in points per game (20.9) and was a unanimous preseason all-Big Ten selection.

Ernie Duncan

Ernie Duncan, Vermont, nearly made a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime at Kentucky last month, but is still averaging 11.7 points and leads the team in made 3-pointers (26) as a redshirt junior from Harrison.

Everett Duncan

Everett Duncan, Vermont, used a redshirt last year, but has started all 11 games as a redshirt sophomore and is averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds.

More:A Duncan dream team nearing reality at Vermont

Errin Hodges

Errin Hodges, Northern Illinois, has played in seven of the Huskies’ eight games as a true freshman out of Central High School but is only averaging 9.3 minutes per outing. She has scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. 

More:Central's Errin Hodges flips to Northern Illinois

JaQuan Lyle

JaQuan Lyle, New Mexico, is currently redshirting after transferring from Ohio State. The Lobos also have a transfer from Connecticut to keep him company. Next year will be the Bosse product's last of eligibility.

Maura Muensterman

Maura Muensterman, Belmont, was finally healthy again and made eight starts while averaging 9.6 points and 2.9 rebounds, but she has been sidelined the last two games for a stress fracture. Muensterman, a redshirt junior from Mater Dei, played just three games last year, sat out the year before and only saw action in 14 games during her freshman year at Indiana.

Jack Nunge

Jack Nunge, Iowahas made a smooth transition from Castle to Iowa, in part because he's 6-foot-11. Nunge is averaging 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11 games. He’s already made four starts and leads the Hawkeyes in steals (11).

Zion Sanders

Zion Sanders, Iowa, had few scholarship offers after suffering a knee injury before her senior year at Central, so she walked onto the Iowa women’s team this summer. She has played 25 minutes over seven games.

Zuri Sanders

Zuri Sanders, Texas Tech, is Zion’s older sister and also attended Central. She hasn’t started any of the seven games she’s played for the Raiders (3-5). She’s averaging 2.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12 minutes per game.

More:Sanders missed part of last season while recovering from a torn ACL

Jaelan Sanford

Jaelan Sanford, Toledo, is making a case for all-Mid-American Conference recognition as a junior. He’s second on the team with 16.0 points per game along with 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds. He also leads the Rockets in minutes played through nine games.

Tori Schickel

Tori Schickel,Butler, is averaging a double-double as a junior. The Mater Dei product has started all 10 games and is producing 16.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per outing. She also has 12 of the team’s 23 blocks.

More:Mater Dei alum Schickel shines through Butler's struggles

Blake Simmons

Blake Simmons, Evansville,missed all of last season with an injury, but leads the Aces in minutes played and is averaging 11.1 points in 10 starts. The Castle product is now a senior and has helped lead the Aces to an 8-2 record.

Dru Smith

Dru Smith, Evansville, is the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for his recent aggressive play. Smith, a sophomore from Reitz, leads the country in three-point percentage at 64.1 percent and is averaging 12.4 points and a team-high 5.5 assists.

Emily Sullivan

Emily Sullivan, North Carolina, has seen limited action in five games as a reserve to start her sophomore season because she's been battling an illness. Sullivan, a 6-4 Memorial graduate, is averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.6 minutes.

More:Sullivan traveled the world and met the President as a freshman

Jackie Young

Jackie Young, Notre Dame, has played a key role for the second-ranked Fighting Irish by averaging 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds — both of those marks are second on the team. She has started all 10 games, of which Notre Dame has only lost to No. 1 UConn.

More:It took some time for Young to find her niche last season

DIVISION II

Although there are roughly two dozen others playing across all lower ranks of college basketball, a few are standing out on their Division II teams.

Rasheide Bell, Kentucky Wesleyan: After making the jump from JUCO, the Central graduate has battled through the Panthers' tumultuous start with a team-best 13.9 points in addition to 3.5 assists per outing.

Adam Eberhard

Adam Eberhard, Bellarmine: The Memorial product leads the No. 3-ranked Knights with team highs of 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds to start his junior year.

More:Memorial grad Eberhard a rising star at Bellarmine

Alex Stein

Alex Stein, Southern Indiana, is steadily climbing the program’s all-time scoring list and most likely will be in the top five by the end of his junior season. The Reitz grad leads USI with 17.3 points per game. His longtime teammate Nate Hansen has added 14.0 points per game despite starting just two of his six outings.