By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Emma Chapman enjoyed her time at Kansas State, but made the decision to transfer to Washburn University prior to last season, a move the 6-foot-3 senior forward said she continues to feel better and better about both on and off the basketball court.
Former Kansas State player Emma Chapman has made a smooth transition to Washburn, averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Ichabods. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I think I just needed a change of pace,'' Chapman said. "I needed a different environment and just a better fit for me. And then academically I needed a smaller classroom, more personal professors.''
The move to Topeka also got Chapman an hour closer to her home in Columbia, Mo., which she said is a big bonus.
"That's amazing,'' she said. "That hour makes a huge difference when you're driving like three hours compared to four, and my dad and mom really love it, too, because they can make it to almost every game.''
The move has also paid off from a basketball standpoint, with Chapman seeing more action than she has since starring at Highman High from 2015-2019.
Chapman averaged 5.7 minutes a game in 22 appearances at Kansas State in the 2019-2020 season before opting out of the '20-'21 campaign.
After taking that full season off, Chapman eased back into the game last season at WU, playing an average of 6.8 minutes in 22 games and scoring a season-high five points against Fort Hays State.
Chapman has moved into a sigificant role for Lora Westling's 3-4 Ichabods this season, playing 19.6 minutes a game with three starts while averaging 7.0 points (fourth on the team) and 5.3 rebounds (second on the team).
Chapman, who has scored 10 points twice and grabbed 13 rebounds against Rockhurst, said she continues to feel more and more comfortable on the court.
"I don't think I really realized the impact of taking a year off of playing in truly a competitive game,'' Chapman said. "But getting to be around Coach Wes all the time and really getting more comfortable in her system has been really good for me. I think as a team we're all going up and it's the same with me.
"I feel like I just want to keep doing better and do what coach is asking for and what our team needs. As long as I'm helping my teammates and we're playing together as a team then I'll be happy about that.''
Westling, whose Ichabods will play a 1:30 p.m. MIAA game on Saturday at Rogers State, is happy with the steps she has seen out of Chapman since taking over the program this season.
"I'm honestly thrilled with the progress she's making and she's doing the work to do it,'' Westling said. "I think part of it when we first came in was getting her excited about basketball and about the progression of skill development she needed to be able to compete in this league.
"She's got great touch, she's really mobile, she's got all the tools. Now we're just trying to put them together and I see the progress. I told her to just be patient. It's never going to be instant gratification when you're talking about development, but I think that she's doing a lot of great things and is going to continue to improve.''
For Chapman's part, she knows the decision to come to Washburn was a great one for her.
"Absolutely, without a doubt,'' she said. "I'm at home, I love it here. I'm really thankful for my time at K-State but I'm so glad that I'm here.''
