Virginia's Schuye LaRue Announces Decision To Play Basketball In Europe
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May 25, 2001
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The University of Virginia’s Schuye LaRue announced today that she will not return for her junior season on the women’s basketball team. The sophomore post player will pursue a basketball career in Europe.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play pro basketball,” stated LaRue. “Now that I have this opportunity to play overseas I am going to take advantage of it. I had a lot of fun playing at Virginia on a great team with great teammates. Coach Ryan is like a second Mom to me and has put me in a position to be able to leave early and play pro basketball. If I had it all to do over again I would choose to go to Virginia.”
LaRue was named the 2000-01 Virginia Women’s Basketball Player of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) after leading the Cavaliers to an 18-14 record and their 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. She was Virginia’s top scorer (18.1 ppg) and rebounder (11.8) and led the nation in double-doubles with 23 during the 2000-01 season. She also led the Cavaliers in assists, steals, and blocks. LaRue earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference First-Team honors after leading the league in scoring and finishing second in rebounding. A Kodak District 2 All-American, she was named to the Women’s Basketball News Service All-America Fourth Team, and was one of three finalists for ESPN The Magazine’s Power Forward of the Year award.
“Schuye has been a tremendous asset to the Virginia program over the past two years,” said head coach Debbie Ryan. “I support her decision because I think that it is best for her and her family at this time, but I will continue to encourage her to finish her degree work during her professional career. Schuye was one of the finest players ever to play Virginia basketball. She was an exemplary player and teammate and we will definitely miss her.”
LaRue led the Cavaliers in scoring in 20 games during the 2000-01 season and was the top rebounder in 28 contests. The native of Washington, DC, became the 18th Virginia player to score 1,000 career points and finished with a total of 1,070 in only two seasons. She was the 10th Cavalier to register 500 rebounds and 1,000 points and finished her collegiate career with a total of 668 rebounds. LaRue established the Virginia record for most rebounds by a sophomore with 379 in 32 games. She tied the school record for rebounds in a game, registering 20 in the 78-66 loss to UC-Santa Barbara on December 28. The sophomore was named to the Preseason WNIT All-Tournament team after averaging 12.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in Virginia’s four games. She earned a number of preseason awards including being named as a Street & Smith Preseason All-American, a Preseason All-ACC selection, and a Naismith Player of the Year candidate.
As a freshman during the 1999-2000 season, LaRue led the Cavaliers in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg) and was named ACC Rookie of the Year. LaRue earned All-ACC Second-Team honors following the 1999-2000 season and was Virginia’s first freshman to be named a Kodak Honorable Mention All-American. She was also the first Virginia freshman since the 1982 season to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding.