Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
By Tom Archdeacon
To get to college basketball’s version of heaven — the NCAA Tournament — this Angel had to go through some hell.
The day before they left for Friday’s matchup with No. 4 seed Texas A&M on the Aggies’ home court in College Station, Texas, the Wright State women were in their team lounge at the Setzer Pavilion enjoying some laughs as they played a word game and ate barbecue.
Coach Katrina Merriweather looked around the room and finally focused on Angel Baker, her backup freshman point guard, who was sitting on a nearby couch.
“She has quite a story,” Merriweather said quietly.
“Her ‘brother’ was murdered… And she got caught up in a fight on the court as a sophomore and it cost her and her team the rest of the season. She really went through a lot.”
And how did Baker come through it?
“She’s the best freshman we’ve ever signed at Wright State,” Merriweather said without pause, even as Kim Demmings, the Raiders’ director of basketball operations and former star player, sat right across from her.
Demmings was a two-time Horizon League Player of the Year. Her 2,677 career points remain the most in school and league history. And it was just five years ago that she and Tay’ler Mingo led WSU to its only other berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“Kim and I have had this conversation,” Merriweather said. “Kim was a phenomenal, fluid jump shooter, but if we’re talking about just pure skill – someone who can handle the ball, pass, get to the rim, make a three, make a pull up, do every facet – that’s Angel.”
Although considered the “best” signee ever at WSU, Baker was purposely bypassed by several schools who once had her in their sights.
