BRODHEAD - Carly Mohns recalls her start in basketball playing on a Brodhead traveling team in fourth grade.
Mohns, a 6-foot-1 senior at Brodhead, always wanted to play college basketball and she will get her opportunity after signing her national letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Iowa next year.
"Ever since I was little I always wanted to play in the Big Ten," Mohns said. "Being able to become an Iowa Hawkeye is a dream come true."
Mohns signed Wednesday, Nov. 13 with her parents Jim and Jenny Mohns as well as her older sister Mariah Mohns by her side.
"I didn't know what to expect," Mohns said. "Once I saw my family and all of my friends it was a really exciting moment. I'm glad I got to do it in front all of the people I love."
Mohns, averaged 14.8 points, 10.1 rebounds per game and 2.4 steals per game and shot 53 percent, will receive a full-ride scholarship to Iowa. She returned to the volleyball and basketball court last year after tearing her ACL. She helped lead the Cardinals to the state volleyball tournament in Green Bay this year. She was selected as a first-team Wisconsin Basketball Coaches all-state last year and was the Player of the Year in the Rock Valley South Conference last season.
She had six scholarship offers including the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Drake.
Mohns said she was recruited as a 3 or 4 forward position for the Hawkeyes.
"I can post up and go down low or I could be outside so I can shoot or drive to the basket," she said.
Mohns made a verbal commitment to Iowa in April and she signed during the early signing period on Wednesday.
"I had my ups and downs with all of the schools," she said of the recruiting process. "Once Iowa offered, it was kind of hard to say no."
Brodhead girls basketball coach Brad Pickett is in his fifth year and this is his fourth year coaching Mohns. Mohns started as a manager for the Brodhead basketball team when she was in middle school.
"You could see she had that ability to get to the next level," Pickett said. "When she expanded her game and started shooting from the outside and became more versatile, that is when she became a Division I basketball player."
Pickett said Mohns' work ethic is what separates her from many players.
"She is willing to continue to work on her game and shoot at her house," he said. "That is part of the reason our program is where it is. She drags the other girls with her and gets her teammates to do it, too."
Now, Mohns will turn her attention to the start of the season. Mohns scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a heartbreaking 56-48 overtime loss to Lodi in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal last year. For the Cardinals, who have won three straight Rock Valley Conference championships, it was their second straight loss in the sectional semifinal.
Mohns spent the offseason working on her shooting and ball handling.
"Once I go to Iowa, I know I will have to have those skills," she said.
The first practice for Brodhead isn't until Monday, Nov. 18 and they don't tip off the season until Dec. 2 at Monroe. However, she wants to make her final prep basketball season as memorable as her volleyball season.
"Hopefully, we can make it to Green Bay (state) like we did for volleyball," she said. "I really liked it up there for volleyball."
Mohns, a 6-foot-1 senior at Brodhead, always wanted to play college basketball and she will get her opportunity after signing her national letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Iowa next year.
"Ever since I was little I always wanted to play in the Big Ten," Mohns said. "Being able to become an Iowa Hawkeye is a dream come true."
Mohns signed Wednesday, Nov. 13 with her parents Jim and Jenny Mohns as well as her older sister Mariah Mohns by her side.
"I didn't know what to expect," Mohns said. "Once I saw my family and all of my friends it was a really exciting moment. I'm glad I got to do it in front all of the people I love."
Mohns, averaged 14.8 points, 10.1 rebounds per game and 2.4 steals per game and shot 53 percent, will receive a full-ride scholarship to Iowa. She returned to the volleyball and basketball court last year after tearing her ACL. She helped lead the Cardinals to the state volleyball tournament in Green Bay this year. She was selected as a first-team Wisconsin Basketball Coaches all-state last year and was the Player of the Year in the Rock Valley South Conference last season.
She had six scholarship offers including the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Drake.
Mohns said she was recruited as a 3 or 4 forward position for the Hawkeyes.
"I can post up and go down low or I could be outside so I can shoot or drive to the basket," she said.
Mohns made a verbal commitment to Iowa in April and she signed during the early signing period on Wednesday.
"I had my ups and downs with all of the schools," she said of the recruiting process. "Once Iowa offered, it was kind of hard to say no."
Brodhead girls basketball coach Brad Pickett is in his fifth year and this is his fourth year coaching Mohns. Mohns started as a manager for the Brodhead basketball team when she was in middle school.
"You could see she had that ability to get to the next level," Pickett said. "When she expanded her game and started shooting from the outside and became more versatile, that is when she became a Division I basketball player."
Pickett said Mohns' work ethic is what separates her from many players.
"She is willing to continue to work on her game and shoot at her house," he said. "That is part of the reason our program is where it is. She drags the other girls with her and gets her teammates to do it, too."
Now, Mohns will turn her attention to the start of the season. Mohns scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a heartbreaking 56-48 overtime loss to Lodi in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal last year. For the Cardinals, who have won three straight Rock Valley Conference championships, it was their second straight loss in the sectional semifinal.
Mohns spent the offseason working on her shooting and ball handling.
"Once I go to Iowa, I know I will have to have those skills," she said.
The first practice for Brodhead isn't until Monday, Nov. 18 and they don't tip off the season until Dec. 2 at Monroe. However, she wants to make her final prep basketball season as memorable as her volleyball season.
"Hopefully, we can make it to Green Bay (state) like we did for volleyball," she said. "I really liked it up there for volleyball."
