NEW JERSEY - Whittemore Prescott senior Julie Janish holds up a Davenport University jersey after signing a letter of intent on Wednesday, Nov. 7, to play basketball for the Panthers starting with the 2008-09 season. She is pictured above with Davenport women’s basketball coach, Mark Youngs. - Photo by John Morris

W-P senior signs with Davenport
by John Morris

WHITTEMORE - Whittemore-Prescott senior Julie Janish signed a letter of intent last week to play basketball next year for Davenport University in Grand Rapids.

Janish, the daughter of Barb and Jeff Janish of Whittemore, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday, Nov. 7, with the nationally-ranked Panthers starting with the 2008-09 season.
The Davenport women’s basketball team enters this season ranked 12th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division 2 poll.

“It (signing the letter of intent) takes a lot of pressure off this season as I feel better knowing where I am going,” Janish said.

LETTER OF INTENT - With her parents, Jeff and Barb Janish, left, at her side, Whittemore-Prescott senior Julie Janish, second from right, signed a letter of intent last week to play basketball starting with the 2008-09 season at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. Also pictured is Davenport Coach Mark Youngs. - Photo by John Morris

Last season, Janish averaged 12.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 steals per game for the Lady Cardinal varsity basketball team. During her high school career, Janish averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game.

Janish, also last season, was named first team All-Conference and fourth team All-State through the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. She was named to the Academic All-State team.

Davenport Coach Mark Youngs said he first saw Janish at an all-state basketball camp in Midland.

“We’ve followed her for the past two years ever since,” he said. “She can score and she’s a creative player off the dribble. There’s not too many players who can do that.”

Youngs said the Panthers have four starters returning from last year’s Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championship team, but he will lose his shooting guard to graduation at the end of the season. That’s where his plans for Janish fit in.

Youngs made the three-hour drive from the University with his two assistant coaches, Kelly Wandel and Shannon Callaghan. Callaghan is a Bay City John Glenn graduate.

“I’m very happy,” Janish said. “I like (Davenport’s) coaching staff, the style they play and the size of the school.”

Youngs said the Panthers have four starters returning from last year’s Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championship team, but he will lose his shooting guard to graduation at the end of the season. That’s where his plans for Janish fit in.

Youngs made the three-hour drive from the University with his two assistant coaches, Kelly Wandel and Shannon Callaghan. Callaghan is a Bay City John Glenn graduate.

“I’m very happy,” Janish said. “I like (Davenport’s) coaching staff, the style they play and the size of the school.”