HAWAII GROWN REPORT
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Becky Hogue nearly quit playing basketball after six games with Loyola Marymount.
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Dream come true for Hogue
The Punahou graduate will get her wish when her parents watch her as a collegian for the first time
Becky Hogue has never played a college basketball game with her parents, Bob and Elaine, in attendance.
That will change tonight when the Columbia Lions take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in the opening game of the Paradise Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
One of Hogue's priorities after transferring to Columbia from Fullerton Community College last year was to approach Lions' head coach Paul Nixon with an idea.
"One of the first times I spoke with coach I told him that playing at home would be a dream come true for me," said Hogue (Punahou '05). "The way I presented it was to tell him I didn't think anyone would have any objections to going to Hawaii in the middle of winter.
"He said he would work on it, but that tournaments are hard to get into and you have to request in advance. Fortunately, I think a team dropped out and we were next on the list."
It will be her first game at UH since helping the Buffanblu complete a 26-0 season in the 2003 Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championship game with a win over Kahuku.
Hogue's path to Columbia started at Loyola Marymount, where things did not work out after she played in six games. A father-daughter talk convinced her not to give up college basketball.
"My father urged me to keep playing. He told me to get back on the horse and try again. He grew up about 10 minutes from Fullerton," Hogue said. "I'm so happy he made me try again. My year at Fullerton was one of the best years I've ever had. I gained a lot of perspective about school and basketball. It was fun again."
Hogue averaged 11.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the 21-9 Hornets, who advanced to the third round of the state tournament.
She began working on her next move soon after enrolling at Fullerton. Hogue contacted all eight Ivy League schools. Her experiences at Punahou, LMU and Fullerton led her to realize she was a student first and an athlete second.
"The Ivy League was a perfect place for a person like myself. I was ready to take a big leap and move across the country," Hogue said.
She had her dad send out the only tape available, from her junior year in high school. The then-Columbia coach called the day the tape arrived. Hogue visited the campus and committed right away.
"I had every intention of taking lots of visits, but I wanted to go to New York," Hogue said. "I haven't regretted it since. I love living here. It is exciting."
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
A good talk with her father, Bob, convinced Hogue to 'get back on the horse and try again.'
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A coaching change had Nixon arrive on campus soon after Hogue committed to the Lions, but he didn't get to meet her until individual workouts began last fall.
"Becky had multiple options and we were excited that she chose Columbia," Nixon said. "She was excited about getting a world-class education and continuing to play Division I basketball.
"My first impression of her was that she is a young woman who is very intense and competes hard. I was impressed with her overall skills."
Hogue earned the starting job at power forward for the Lions and was named most valuable player of the Contra Costa Times Classic last December.
Unfortunately, she suffered a herniated disc in the tournament and played in pain the rest of the season. Still, she averaged 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 27 games.
"Becky was leading (the) Ivy League in rebounding when she suffered the injury," Nixon said. "The longer the season went, the more pain she played with. I feel like she is full-go again."
Hogue rehabbed all summer. She says her back isn't perfect, but it is good enough for her to play a final season of college basketball.
Last year, she and senior center Sarah Beato were the only Columbia starters over 6 feet. This season, Hogue is playing alongside freshmen centers, 6-3 Chelsea Frazier and 6-2 Caitlin Stachon.
"The freshmen we brought in are girls who want to learn," Hogue said. "They all have good attitudes and are willing to accept criticism and suggestions. "They look to me as an experienced player and that means a lot to me. With the system we use, our posts interact a lot so it is imperative we have a good relationship with one another."
Nixon says Hogue is taking a leadership role and is not being afraid to be verbal when it is called for.
"Becky is the kind of player who has a team-first attitude. Her stance with me has been to accept whatever role I need her in," Nixon said. "She plays just as hard whether she starts or comes off the bench."
On the court, Nixon is looking for Hogue to score and rebound and to hold her own on defense.
"We look to her for an offensive presence. She has 3-point range, has nice face-up skills from the high post and can score with her back to the basket," Nixon said.
"She is playing with a freshman post this year and they are still learning how to play with one another."
Hogue has started two of the Lions' 10 games this year. She is averaging 17.2 minutes, 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
She will graduate in May with a degree in American Studies.
"My intention is to teach high school next year. I have applied all over the United States and Western Europe," said Hogue, who also has an application in at Punahou.
"Then, after a year or two of teaching, my plan is to go to law school."