Sometimes when highlighting student athletes who are currently making their mark I refrain from mentioning their siblings or parents who preceded their success with outstanding prep careers of their own. But I could not resist when I realized that two former prep stars were carrying on their parent’s legacies at the collegiate level after starring in high school.
During the 1980s Donald West and Carl West were student-athletes to be reckoned with. This past season it was Donald West’s daughter Isabell West and Carl West’s daughter Carley West who were the two to be reckoned with as members of the Iowa Central Community College women’s basketball team.
Isabell West and her cousin Carley West helped to accomplish one of the best seasons in school history, making it all the way to the NJCAA Division II Women’s basketball Championship tournament last month.
Isabell West, a 6’1” forward who starred at Shakopee High School, averaged 18.8 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. Carley West, a 5’10” freshman and former standout guard at Woodbury High School, chipped in with a 10.3 scoring average.
Isabell West was recently named an All-American as well.
Both were instrumental in leading ICCC to the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship in Hickory, North Carolina last month, losing 63-60 to Johnson County Community College in the quarterfinals.
Oh yeah!
As a reader you might be wondering about the West legacy as it relates to Donald West and Carl West.
Donald West broke onto the scene as a junior at St. Paul Como Park during the 1983-84 season and led the Cougars in scoring with a 15.4 points-per-game average. After following in 1984 with a 19.9 average his senior season, Donald went on to an outstanding collegiate career at Southwest Minnesota State University.
Carl West starred as a wide receiver for St. Paul Central’s football team, helping them win City Conference championships in 1987 and 1988 and graduating in 1989.
Both teams finished undefeated in City Conference play.
Family legacies are meant to continue. Isabell West and Carley West are continuing the legacy.
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