Tara Murray
A break out season last year put college basketball in America on the radar for Indiana Bodley.
The South Morang teenager, who had been playing for the Whittlesea Pacers, found her groove as the side’s starting point guard.
Leading the youth league women’s division 2 competition in points per game after having a growth spurt and more court time, the question of going to college came up.
“It never really came into question until last year when I had a really good season,” she said.
“I was always small and never really was an impact player. Being nominated for both leading scorer and MVP and getting the leading scorer of the league was when it was set into stone that I had the potential to go to college to play the game I love.
“Talking to the family about it and they were talking about college and whether that was something that I wanted to do.
“Once it was mentioned, it was something that I wanted to do and it’s been on mind since.”
Bodley spoke to a couple of colleges via Zoom before signing with division 1 school the University of Louisiana Lafayette.
She said the university seemed to be the right fit.
“To have an opportunity to develop my game and take it to the next level is something I’m most looking forward to,” she said.
“I’m also keen to explore the states and to gain some new experiences and meet some new people.
“After the chat with coaches on Zoom, I felt really comfortable and it just felt like a perfect fit.
“I was really impressed with their facilities and resources. The team looked like a family and that’s what I’m all about.
“I just felt like it was where I would most benefit from as a player and from an education side of things.”
Bodley said she was one of five new signees for next season for the side. She said she was hoping to take her game to the next level.
“I will gain knowledge from the coaches which I never have had in my life and that’s super exciting.
“Also playing with my team and versing the best players in the division 1 league will definitely up my game and is exactly what I want out of this experience.
“Apart from the basketball side, I think I will gain some independence and grow as a person which is a major part of the college experience too.”
Like everyone else, her sporting career was put on hold this season with no sport in Victoria due to COVID-19.
She said it was difficult not being able to hit the court.
“It was really hard,” she said.
“It was different with school and stuff, as basketball used to be my break. It would have helped me more with college applications and game tape and improved my game.”
Bodley doesn’t head leave for college until August next year when the next season and school year start.
She’ll play a season of basketball in Australia before she heads to the US.
The college journey caps off a basketball career that started when she was in under-8s, with both her parents involved in the sport.
She’s hoping it continues after college.
“Obviously the aim is to play professionally,” she said. “Whether it be the WNBA, WNBL or even play overseas.
“My mum played in the WNBL and the idea of following in her footsteps is something that really excites me. To say that mum and I both played would be surreal.”
