Tuesday, April 14, 1998

WNBA invites
former Wahine

Kendis Leeburg Paris
will get a tryout with the new
Detroit Shock

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Finishing school was her priority when Kendis Leeburg Paris was invited to try out for a Women's National Basketball Association team a year ago after completing her collegiate eligibility.

However, Greg Williams, an assistant coach with the Utah Starzz in 1997, didn't forget the former University of Hawaii 6-foot-3 Wahine center.

Williams, now an assistant with the Detroit Shock, kept telling UH assistant coach George Wolfe of his interest in having Paris try out for the Shock, an expansion team starting its first season in June.

The result was a second opportunity to play professional basketball for Paris, who was recently married. She accepted an invitation to participate in Detroit's open tryout May 1-2.

"For me it isn't about making it or not making it. It's about going up and giving it everything I've got," Paris said "That's what I would regret most if I don't. I'm excited to go do that, lay it all out on the line."

Paris didn't make up her mind to go to the tryout until this semester. She is student teaching at Manoa Elementary School and will graduate May 17 with a degree in elementary education.

She began running in January and the workouts have become serious the past two months with weight training, sprint work and more running.

"The basketball is still there. It didn't vanish, thank goodness," Paris said. "I've just got to keep doing what I've been doing to be ready. I need repetitions to get my skills and my shot ready."

After four years with the Wahine, Paris ranked among the top 10 on six all-time lists: second field goals made (545) and field goal percentage (.517), fourth in points (1,266) and field goals attempted (1,057), fifth in blocked shots (67) and eighth in rebounds (539).