National signing day is big for Cherokee's Isabella Therien
There were times, Isabella Therien confesses, when the recruiting process got to her. "I can't lie," she said. "I had my moments when I would go home at night, and I would get pretty emotional. It can be stressful."
There were times, Isabella Therien confesses, when the recruiting process got to her.
"I can't lie," she said. "I had my moments when I would go home at night, and I would get pretty emotional. It can be stressful."
On Wednesday afternoon, Therien will be at the center of a long table at Cherokee High School, surrounded by friends and family as she signs a national letter of intent to play Division I basketball at Loyola (Md.).
The moment will have an air of triumph for Therien, who didn't commit until the summer before her senior year.
Therien, a 6-foot forward, is a gifted athlete, to be sure. But she's a bit of a throwback.
She doesn't stand out for flashy athleticism or size or speed. Therien is tough. She's a gamer, the hardest- working player on her team.
She's not shy about pointing out the parallels between herself and her father, Chris Therien, one of the best defensemen ever to wear a Flyers uniform.
Chris Therien was a bruiser, and he was known for elevating his game in big moments. It's something to which NHL greats such as Jaromir Jagr can attest.
Isabella takes after her father. Her best traits aren't necessarily conducive to an AAU or showcase setting.
In other words, the recruiting process for Therien required a bit of salesmanship and a lot of time and effort.
"It can feel like a business," she said.
And like a business, it carries its share of uncertainty.
"The hardest part is making sure you don't feel overwhelmed," she said.
Of course, that's another area in which her father came in handy. The recruiting process can carry a lot of unwanted noise for a teenage girl also focused on schoolwork and practice with her various sports teams. Therien was also a standout defender on the Cherokee girls' soccer team.
But luckily for her, dealing with outside noise happens to be a basic element of being a professional athlete - particularly in Philadelphia, where such noise can be deafening.
"Any question I had, I knew I could always go to my dad," Isabella said. "Both of my parents were so great throughout this whole process.
"But the biggest thing for my dad was always preparation. He always says that if you stay focused on working hard and always being prepared, then everything else becomes easier to handle."
Therien's bond with her family helped influence her decision to stay relatively close to home. She chose Loyola over other Northeast colleges such as Seton Hall, Boston University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
"I love the area. I love the coaches," she said of Loyola. "When I visited, I just knew it was the place for me."
It's the place where she'll live out one of her biggest dreams.
Things might have been much easier for Therien if she had chosen to play Division III or Division II basketball. But that's not how she's wired.
And that's what will make Wednesday so sweet for the senior.
She'll be accomplishing one of her biggest goals, and she'll be surrounded by the people who helped her get there.
"It hasn't been easy, but the work has paid off. And that's the best feeling," Therien said. "I'm grateful for everyone who has been a part of it. My dad, my mom, my coaches and teammates, everyone. It's a great accomplishment. But I'm really happy it's over."