By JARROD POTTER
SWAPPING the Rangers’ green-and-gold for a bit of Seminoles’ maroon for the next four years, Rachel Antoniadou is set to begin her NCAA basketball career at a high-ranking college.
Antoniadou, 18, from Ripplebrook, will spend her next four Australian summers overseas as she pursues a start for the Florida State University (FSU) women’s basketball team.
Having featured prominently for Victoria and Australia at a junior level as well as making her WNBL debut in the 2013/14 season, Antoniadou is ready to make the next step up and has all the credentials necessary to make a splash at the collegiate level.
She signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Seminoles and will head over to Florida later this year for pre-season training.
Her biggest choice was choosing between becoming a Seminole or a Cornhusker, but the up-tempo style of long-serving FSU coach Sue Semrau convinced Antoniadou to head south into college basketball.
“I chose Florida State because it was more suited to my style of game,” Antoniadou said.
“I was seriously considering the University of Nebraska, but after looking into it some more, I thought Florida State was a better fit for my personality and style of play.
“I would love to make it to an NCAA tournament – previously Florida State just this last year made it to the Elite Eight and finished seventh, so we’re pretty strong contenders for the next NCAA tournament and that’s definitely something I want to tick off.”
Antoniadou will be one of the first Australian players to join the Seminoles’ roster and she’s thrilled that “people are actually starting to come down and check us out” down under.
In an article on Seminoles.com, FSU coach Sue Semrau was thrilled to acquire a driven, skilful guard such as Antoniadou.
“I love the versatility and basketball IQ that Rachel brings to the court,” FSU head coach Sue Semrau said.
“She is a great fit for our system and our system is a great fit for her.
“Even more importantly, she is driven and passionate about the game and her teammates.
“She is a young woman with strong character and vision… we are thrilled that she has joined the Seminole family!”
Her Florida State side starts its 2015/16 Atlantic Coast Conference campaign in November.
