Amarillo College Ranger

Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Front Page

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of Brenda Rush Leah Rush, daughter of AC academic adviser Brenda Rush, stands next to a poster in Lynn Library publicizing her draft selection by the WNBA. Leah Rush, is the first Amarillo Independent School District alumni to receive the honor. The poster was anonymously created and placed near Brenda Rush's office. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Oklahoma Athletic Department [Click to enlarge]

For Leah Rush's past Amarillo High School teammate, Emily Brister, it doesn't come as much of a surprise.

"I always knew that Leah would make it to the WNBA," said Brister, a current West Texas A&M Basketball player. "She is so driven that nothing is impossible for her."

Leah, daughter of Amarillo College academic adviser Brenda Rush, was invited to the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp along with 49 other top women's college basketball players, at Cleveland State University on March 30-31. Leah was selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the third round of the WNBA draft as the 28th overall pick on April 4, becoming the first Amarillo Independent School District athlete drafted by the WNBA.

"I love basketball," Leah said. "So I am just really excited to have the opportunity to continue my career at the next level."

Leah was a four-year varsity basketball player for the Amarillo High Lady Sandies and one of the top players at the University of Oklahoma. She is the 12th leading scorer in OU history with 1,427 points, seventh in highest free throw percentage (.795), fourth in offensive rebounds (233), 10th in defensive rebounds (421), seventh in minutes played (3,464) and seventh in blocks (60).

Brenda said she noticed her daughter's talent at a young age.

"She got her talent from God," Brenda said. "She's been playing games for a very long time; the more athletic and more physical, the better."

Brenda found out her daughter was selected by the Phoenix Mercury while watching the WNBA draft on her computer during her lunch hour.

Brenda said her daughter's journey has been a progression from one chapter to the next and that it has involved a lot of prayer. As Leah is finishing up one chapter, we see the next unfolding," Brenda Rush said. "This is her life, not ours, but we are enjoying it with her."

While most students have a while to get settled into their jobs after college, Leah is in a hurry to tie up all the loose ends of her college career in order to begin her professional one. She has to leave for rookie orientation in New York before the semester is over, and from there she will head to Phoenix for training camp, which will start April 22.

Amid the chaos, Leah still had time to do a little research on the Mercury organization.

"Phoenix is going to be a great place for me," she said. "They play an up-tempo game, which I'll fit into well. I look forward to being a part of the Mercury."

Brister said it is Leah's hard work, hustle and dedication that will help her be successful at the professional level.

"Her work ethic is unbelievable," Brister said. "She almost was kicked out every day by the janitors because they had to close the gym."

Leah's work and perseverance as a "gym rat" definitely has paid off.

"I set out to be the best ball player that I could be, and that has resulted in opportunities to continue my career," she said.

No matter where Leah Rush's career takes her in the future, she already has an amazing list of achievements.

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