Early last week Avri Weeks got the news that she had been named to the Class 3A Girls All State first team. This award was not a surprise at all to the Lady Redskins faithful that has watched her career since grade school.
This is the award that puts the 2021 season to rest and points to the future. The future for Weeks will include moving on to SOSU and following the Lady Redskin pipeline to Durant. It is a campus that knows the Weeks’ name. She will join her brother, RJ Weeks, who is also with the Savage Storm basketball program.
Her legacy at eighteen years old is about being a Lady Redskin. Take a look at these stats:
• 1461 Points
• 866 Rebounds
• 240 steals
• 117 assists
To keep these figures in context, remember that her junior year was almost completely wiped out by injury. So, these numbers are really about three- and one-half seasons. She would easily have had a 1500 point and 1000 rebound total had she not missed those games. These numbers contributed to 78 wins in that four-year span.
I had a chance to sit and talk to her in Coach Chad Rumers’ office March 30, 2021. She said she is happy that she will no longer be facing double or triple teams.
She said she is “6ft ¾” in bare feet.” Did you run in a track meet last week? “Yes, the first time since my freshman year.” How did that work out for you? “Won the high jump and ran the relays.”
If you were a referee and calling a game for Coach Rumer, would you call a technical foul on him? “Yes, if he needed it,” she laughed as she answered.
Do you think about your legacy? “Yes” she admitted. She and her brother, RJ, have between them six state tournament appearances. She has a runner up trophy and he has a championship.
Speaking of family legacy, SOSU would be wise to keep their eye on sister Dylan who is currently a fourth grader at KES. She and Avri are clones of each other.
Who did you love to play against? “Plainview” she said, eyes lighting up. Who did you hate to play against? “I didn’t hate any one team but, I didn’t enjoy playing Latta this year, they had three girls my size that could all play.”
What about the injury [junior] season? She exhaled and sat back in her seat, “it was hard, I didn’t realize it would be so hard, the rehab. I didn’t think it was that bad, until I saw the doctor, I still didn’t think about having surgery.”
On a more pleasant note, what do you like to do in your spare time? “During the season, there is no spare time, but I like to lift, and I like to take pictures.”
Do you like to read? “I like science fiction.”
Last question, what about academics, are you valedictorian? “ Yes, Emi [O”Steen, her cousin and teammate] and I are tied, 4.0”. I am not surprised at all. Good luck Avri Weeks.