SE: Q&A with K-State WBB Freshman Guard, Frankfort Native Emilee Ebert

By Corbin McGuire

Emilee Ebert considers herself a "naturally flexible" person, which makes sense. She's had to be to get to where she's at, a growing part of K-State's rotation.

Ebert, who grew up less than an hour from Manhattan as a Frankfort native, was recruited late by K-State. Originally a Missouri State signee, Ebert changed course after the Lady Bears got a new coach. She jumped at an offer from K-State, the place she grew up watching Kendra Wecker and Co. build the program to new heights. Ebert, a three-sport high school star, signed with K-State in June.

The sudden changes kept coming, too.

Ebert suffered an injury that put her behind practice-wise. When she returned to full health, there were thoughts of redshirting her. She started running point guard for K-State's scout team. Then, the injury bug hit K-State's roster early in the non-conference schedule. So, plans changed.

Ebert's first regular season minutes came in K-State's trip to the Bahamas. She's played in all but one game since, including a season-high 20 minutes in her regular season Bramlage Coliseum debut, which included her first K-State points — a layup off a handoff from freshman Emma Chapman on the elbow.

As K-State (5-4) begins its final two-game stretch of non-conference play, highlighted by this Saturday's trip west to face No. 3 Oregon, Ebert sat down with K-State Sports Extra to talk about her transitions, among other things.

SE: Since I nearly misspelled your first name before this…is there a story behind Emilee and the way it's spelled?

EE: It's actually my dad's middle name and my mom's middle name put together. The first half is my dad and then they share the 'l' and then the double-e is my mom.

SE: Very cool. Considering there's five E's in your first and last name, do people just call you 'E?'

EE: All the time.

SE: What's your middle name?

EE: Rose. So, not the triple E. The double E (laughs).

SE: Growing up locally, what are some of your earliest K-State women's basketball memories?

EE: I remember always coming to the games and wanting to get a high five from Willie. That was always my number one goal. Then, just watching the games, I remember watching Kendra play.

SE: Can you take me through the moment you got the scholarship offer here?

EE: It was very surreal, just because this has always been what I've wanted. So, when my parents told me, my jaw just dropped. It was crazy.

SE: You've had a lot of sudden changes in the last six months, between the recruitment to being injured to it looking like you were going to redshirt, now you're not. Have you kind of gotten used to sudden changes and how bizarre has it all been?

EE: It was crazy there for a while. A lot of decisions to be made, but I'm really happy with where I am, the decisions that I have made, and I think my team and I are in a very good spot to continue to get better.

SE: What have you learned about yourself, or just life in general, throughout all of those changes?

EE: I really learned to be patient and look at both sides of things, the pros and the cons, and just kind of lay out both sides of everything.

SE: How would you describe the jump from 1A Kansas high school basketball to Power Five?

EE: Yeah, it's a lot different (laughs). Obviously, my league in high school was very competitive. I would give it the most competitive (respect) in the state, for sure. But, the game in general is so much faster and now there's a shot clock. There's a lot of changes, but I feel like I've adapted well, me and the other freshmen have adapted well. I think it's been a pretty easy transition.

SE: Have you had a 'this isn't high school basketball' moment? I'm sure there's been multiple, but is there one that stands out?

EE: Really, just when I got here in the summer and we started playing pick-up (games), just playing with my own teammates, I was, like, 'Yeah, this is definitely not high school basketball.' (laughs)

SE: What about the initial transition really surprised you? Has there been anything that you didn't expect?

EE: Not really. Practices were a lot different, just the tempo and the speed of practices. Everyone knew what was going on, so it was so much faster. There wasn't a lot of, like, stop-and-talk time. Everything moved pretty quickly, whereas in high school there was a lot of, from drill to drill, (time where) we'd stop and start.

SE: You were a three-sport athlete in high school, which one do you miss the most?

EE: Volleyball, for sure.

SE: What do you miss about volleyball?

EE: I was an outside (hitter), so just getting a kill and the excitement and the celebrations with your team were always so fun. I definitely miss that.

SE: Besides your talent, what was it about basketball that led it to become your main sport?

EE: Basketball has always been something that my dad and I really connected well through. Ever since I was really little, it's just something that my family, especially my dad and I, it's really important to us.

SE: How young did you start playing?

EE: Well, I had a ball in my hands since I was born, but I'd say the first time I played I was probably like in second grade.

SE: How do you feel like your background as a three-sport athlete has helped you transition at K-State?

EE: I feel like it's really helped my versatility. Just all aspects of the different sports kind of came together and help me in different aspects on the basketball court, for sure.

SE: Has there been any ways you feel like it's hindered you?

EE: It probably just took a toll on my body, never having an offseason or rest, really.

SE: OK, first regular season game in Bramlage. I know you played in the Bahamas, but what was that first game in Bramlage (against UIW) like?

EE: It was really exciting, just to finally step on the court and know that what I've worked for is happening. To get to play with my teammates, it was really exciting.

SE: What was your favorite moment from that game?

EE: Let me think…really, just checking in.

SE: And you'd never played in Bramlage before you got here, right? Not in any high school tournaments?

EE: Right, but my dad, when he was the (Frankfort High School) boys' coach, we had a couple state tournaments down here, and I was like his 'manager.' I had been there for games on the court, but (never played).

SE: I know being so close to home was obviously part of the reason you chose to come K-State, but now that you've been here, how comforting has that been, being close to family and friends?

EE: I love it. I wouldn't change it at all. I've been able to go home and catch a few of my sister's games and just see my younger siblings, and my family's constantly in Manhattan just for errands or appointments, stuff like that, so I constantly see them.

SE: What's your favorite thing about this team?

EE: This team, I feel like, could be really special. We have a lot of talent and I feel like we could go really far. We just have to keep working and getting better every day.

SE: As a true freshman, what comes to mind when you know you're going to play a top-five team like Oregon?

EE: I'm really excited for the opportunity. I think it's a really good game for us, as a team, to keep getting better. I'm just super excited about it.

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: Q&A with K-State WBB Freshman Guard, Frankfort Native Emilee Ebert

Players Mentioned

Emma Chapman

Emilee Ebert

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