West Chester Native Excited to Represent USA in Pan American Games

West Chester native Shante Evans is primed and ready to proudly represent her country on the basketball floor when she competes in the Pan American Games later this week.

The Hofstra University women’s basketball star forward and former standout was to the 2011 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games Team in late September and will be suiting up in the international competition from Oct. 21-25.

Evans said three days before departing for Houston to practice with her USA teammates how excited she was to wear her country’s colors when the 2011 Pan American Games begin this Friday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“Wearing a USA across your chest, that means a lot,” said Evans, who as a sophomore for Hofstra last year ranked third in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in scoring, and second in rebounding. “So many top players get to play on that team so I’m very honored.”

In addition to the excitement of representing the USA, Evans is also hopeful that the experience going up against some of the top international players will prepare her well for the upcoming Hofstra season, which gets underway on Nov. 11 at Gonzaga. Evans added to her laundry list of accolades last week when she was named to the preseason first team All-CAA team by College Sports Madness.

“You get to play against other countries that sometimes use their professional teams so the play will be at a different level,” said Evans, who last year earned Associated Press All-America honors with Hofstra in addition to being named first team All-CAA. “Confidence wise it’s going to help me.”

For the upcoming Hofstra season, Evans said her main goal is for the Pride to capture its first CAA title and reach the NCAA Tournament. In her freshman season, Evans led Hofstra to the WNIT and last year the Pride went 19-12 but was denied a postseason bid.

However before Evans can begin to focus on her junior campaign with Hofstra, she will sport the red white and blue starting when the USA opens play in the Pan American Games on Friday against both Argentina and Puerto Rico.

“For her to have this dream come true, it overwhelms me with joy,” said Hofstra women’s basketball head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “I’m so excited for her.”