RebKell's Junkie Boards

[FrozenLVFan]

Following the mid-enrollee awards, I'm inaugurating the True Grit of the Year award, and giving it to Tiana Mangakahia of Syracuse.

For those who don't know her story, in June 2019, two months after a record-setting season at Syracuse, her 24th birthday, and being named to the Opals' preliminary Olympic roster, she discovered a breast lump which proved to be an invasive cancer.

Over the next 8 months, she underwent chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomies, and reconstructive surgery. She missed essentially all of her junior season, and after being declared cancer-free, she was cleared to return to practice only in February, just before COVID ended the season.

Tiana resumed playing this fall, Syracuse went 14-8, and although her production was down somewhat from previous years, she managed 11.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and a nation-leading 7.5 apg. While she has another year of eligibility left, she's opted to leave for a pro career. May her grit carry her onward.

https://cnycentral.com/sports/orange-zone/tiana-mangakahia-addresses-crowd-during-syracuses-annual-play-4-kay-game-against-pitt
https://www.sbnation.com/womens-ncaa-basketball/22290480/tiana-mangakahia-syracuse-breast-cancer-play4kay
https://www.syracuse.com/orangewomen/2021/02/tiana-mangakahia-says-shes-100-sure-shes-not-coming-back-to-syracuse-i-want-to-go-pro.html

[myrtle]

yes. good choice and good luck to Tiana.

[Phil]

I didn't know that story, thanks for sharing

[bucks4now]

Depending on how thing materialize, next year I hope it's Tori McCoy...

last I heard, she still is looking for a kidney.