Dreaming of Divison I

By Jeff Brodeur
brodeurj@mytjnow.com

Photo courtesy of Winthrop Athletics.Since high school, Diana Choibekova has striven for a higher standard. As a senior in Baruch College Campus high school, the guard from New York City, NY shot 86 percent from the foul line en route to a NYC PSAL Division A City Championship. But that doesn’t stop Choibekova from wondering what could have happen if her small school (only 438 students) were playing in the next division up.

“The years I was there, we had the best kids,” she said. “We had the quality to be in [AA].”

The team’s high school MVP had carved out a name for herself in the Big Apple, but struggled to attract offers from the next level. Kean University (Division III) was the only serious offer Choibekova was given.

“My old AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) coach was a friend with the coach I went to play for a recruitment camp,” she said. “They really liked me, but she was the only one looking at me.”

Choibekova wasn’t convinced. She wasn’t looking to dominate at a lower level. She wanted to fight against tougher opposition.

“I always wanted to play against better competition,” she said. “I felt like I should play D-I because that’s where it’s all at.”

There was only one way to get another crack at a top-level college. The business administration major signed with junior college side Daytona State College, in order to transfer after her sophomore year to a more attractive school. The 17 and a half hour drive didn’t faze Choibekova who “really didn’t want to go home.”

But a change of scenery didn’t translate into immediate success. The pressure of putting together a good JUCO resume hampered Choibekova’s play in her freshman year.

“I was kind of worried about it in my freshman year, I didn’t play too well,” she said. “I kind of wanted to quit towards winter.”

Instead of giving in, Choibekova dug deep. After all, she strove for a higher standard.

Last October, the Florida Community College Activities Association predicted Daytona State to finish 9th out of 10 schools in their conference. By year’s end, the Falcons were celebrating as Mid-Florida Conference co- Champions.

“After a while, I just got it together,” Choibekova said. “I wasn’t worried about getting recruited as much, until then I just wanted to play and get better and see what happened after. I don’t think anyone thought we could do what we did.”

One person did. That person was one of Choibekova’s coaches at Daytona State, Christena Hamilton. When Hamilton was sought by D-I Winthrop in early May, Choibekova was already ready to make another move, this time to Rock Hill, S.C.

“[Hamilton] was with me both of my years there, I was actually her first recruit,” she said.

Choibekova is head coach Marlene Stollings’ first recruit, too.

“I am extremely excited to have Diana as my first ever signee at Winthrop,” Stollings said. “Diana brings a high level of basketball intelligence and a very good offensive skill set. Her ability to contribute from outside the arc and run the floor in transition will be immediate assets to our program.”

Choibekova will need to show her skills quickly for a Winthrop squad that struggled at home last year (6-10 in 2010) and showed little strength in conference matchups (5-11). But she has shown the ability to pull up her bootstraps for the team.

In 2010, against Hillsborough Community College, Daytona State trailed by seven points with 30 seconds to go. The Falcons, with Choibekova at the helm, recovered those points before going on to beat the Hawks in the season’s first conference game.

“When it comes down to it, I tend to get it done,” said Choibekova. “I’m the closer.”