Amari Whiting makes debut post-ACL surgery

Whiting’s recovery has been kept quiet, but she played loud in the women’s basketball team’s first exhibition game against Westminister on Wednesday.

Whiting is a freshman from Burley Idaho, and the daughter of Coach Amber Whiting. Her senior season at Timpview High School came to a haltering stop when she tore her ACL in a pick-up game before her senior year. 

Amari Whiting missed coach Whiting’s first season, but she is back and better than ever. During the exhibition game at the Marriot Center against Westminister, Amari put up 10 points in her 21 min played, and the Cougars beat the Martlets in a 92-48 blowout. 

BYU was up 33-2 at the end of the first quarter, shutting out Westminster. The Martlets put up a bigger fight in the second quarter, but not enough to come even close to the Cougars. Whiting was two for five in field goals and one for three in 3-point field goals. The incredible shooter hit five of six of her free throws. 

“They did really good, I’ve just asked Amari to play your butt off on defense and get us in offense, and I love that she just kicks the ball, kicks the ball, kicks the ball because it makes it easy to get punch-passes inside.” Coach Whiting said.  

Coach Whiting “loves what [she] is seeing this year.” Three of the four shooters on the outside are new and ready to knock those shots down. There were a lot of jitters this year, and the Cougars were able to get those out before the exhibition game at the “closed-door scrimmage”. The team is meshing and feeling it out together according to Coach Whiting. 

Lauren Gustin, BYU forward says everyone wants to play and compete, even those on the bench. The Cougars are bringing it this year, and they are ready to take on Montana State on Tuesday, Nov. 7.