Hobart senior Asia Donald was reminded that she leads the state in scoring.
The 5-foot-9 guard swelled with pride.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m happy when I see it. I know that my hard work is paying off.”
Long a prolific scorer, Donald has taken it to another level this season. She is averaging 30.3 points, which puts her on top statewide, according to MaxPreps. The Indiana State recruit also is averaging 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4.5 steals. She has scored at least 19 points and grabbed at least eight rebounds in every game for the Brickies (8-2).
Donald already was the program’s career scoring leader. She averaged 23.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals last season, when she was named an Indiana Junior All-Star.
Alaina Richter saw that performance as a Hobart assistant. Now she’s witnessing Donald’s exploits in her first season running the program.
“Just when you didn’t think she could get any better, she did,” Richter said. “She’s always putting in work. She’s obviously an incredible kid. I’m a first-year coach, and she’s made my life a lot easier.
“Asia’s just a kid who takes over games. She can honestly do it all. She can score at all three levels. She’s really stepped up on defense — not many girls can handle her on-ball defense. It earns her a lot of buckets playing defense. She’s really stepped up as a leader on this team. The girls really respect her and look up to her this year. I wish I had longer with her, but I don’t. So I’m just trying to make the most of it.”
The next stop for Donald will be at Indiana State. She also had an offer from new Division I member Southern Indiana.
“I feel like they gave me an opportunity, and it felt like home,” Donald said of Indiana State. “They can help me get better.”
Count Crown Point coach Chris Seibert as a believer in Donald’s ability and approach. He’s no stranger to working with star players, including the iconic duo of Jessica Carrothers, a freshman at Butler, and Lilly Stoddard, a freshman at Purdue.
“She’s a complete player that affects the game in so many ways,” Seibert said of Donald. “She’s one of the fastest players I’ve seen with her ability to defensive-rebound the ball and go coast to coast in transition. Asia also has a special ability to make all of her teammates better by drawing the defense and using her passing skill to create scoring opportunities for them.
“The success they’ve had on the court this season is a direct correlation to her making all of those around her better. She’s a matchup nightmare to prepare for because there are no weaknesses in her game. Overall, she’s a great player that plays the game the right way and will do whatever it takes to help her team win.”
Seibert has seen Donald in person multiple times over the past several seasons and watched a handful of games on film this season.
“The first thing that stands out to me is how much she’s continued to improve and grow as a player, and that has to be a direct reflection of her work ethic,” Seibert said. “She’s always been a tremendous athlete. But the improvements she’s made shooting the ball from the perimeter and on the defensive end are definitely evident.”
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Donald committed to Indiana State in October and signed in November during the early period. She could prove to be a steal for the Sycamores.
“Asia can flat-out score,” Indiana State coach Chad Killinger said in a news release. “She’s probably one of the best pure scorers in the state, but has flown a little under the radar as far as in-state recruits are concerned because she played for Example Sports over in the Chicago area.
“We got to watch her play quite a bit over the past two summers and came away impressed each time. She can play both guard spots and has the kind of speed and strength to create mismatch problems for her defender. She can shoot the 3 and attack the basket on the fast break in a manner that will allow her to fit into our style of play quickly.”
Richter, a 2017 Hobart graduate who played two seasons at Indiana Northwest, endorsed Donald’s decision.
“I’m really happy for her,” Richter said. “Obviously I want what’s best for Asia. She’s a bit of a quieter kid, so sometimes I wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted. But when she committed, I had a conversation with her, and she seemed very content. I just want her to be happy.
“I’m glad she’s staying close to home so we can go and watch her a little bit, take the team there to see her play. And I know her family’s happy about being able to see her play and have her so close to home. Not everybody has that opportunity. I’m excited about that.”
Donald is also excited about the rest of this season. The Brickies could be in position to register their first winning season since 2014-15, which is also the last time they won a sectional game. Donald credited Richter for being a catalyst.
“She sees something in us,” Donald said. “She’s helping us to succeed. We’ve been competing hard.”
Richter noted that even though Donald has gaudy statistics, she doesn’t focus on them. She has a burning desire to win.
“She gets the other girls involved in the game as well,” Richter said. “That’s what’s so impressive about her. I’ve realized we have a lot of talent on this team, not just Asia. The overall attitude from the girls and their work ethic, it’s fun to coach. It’s just trying to put all of those pieces together.
“She’s one that the girls can tell has put in the work, and she’s a person I would want my girls to try to be like as far as her work ethic. This year especially, she’s stepped up vocally as a leader, being positive and trying to bring her teammates up when we’re down or whatever it is. I’ve been really impressed with that from her this year too. I just really enjoy having Asia on the team. She’s awesome.”