Ankeny senior Jadyn Filling really likes Central College.
So much, in fact, that she now has a nickname for the town where Central is located.
She calls it Pelladise.
“I love the size at Central the most,” said Filling, who verbally committed on Tuesday to play for the Dutch women’s basketball program. “I had my first visit in August and have been back about every month for pickup games, a football game, a basketball game, scholarship stuff, and other reasons. Just always trying to find another reason to go back to ‘Pelladise’. I’ve also developed friendships with a few girls from the team, and I know I am welcomed already.
“It’s just an overall great environment to be in for the next four years,” she added.
Filling helped the Hawkettes to a 16-7 record this season. It was the most wins for the program since the split into two high schools.
Filling started 19 of the 23 games and averaged 5.3 points while shooting a team-best 39.1 percent from 3-point range (27-of-69). She received all-conference honorable mention after helping Ankeny to a share of the CIML Iowa Conference crown.
Filling said she picked Central over Northern Iowa.
“I wouldn’t have played at UNI, but they were still in my top two,” she said. “After the season ended I had a call with Grand View, but they weren’t on my horizon for too long because I was already pretty set on Central.”
The 5-foot-6 guard admitted, though, that it wasn’t an easy decision.
“My family and I have had numerous conversations about the pros and cons for both Central and UNI,” she said. “But to me, the pros at Central outweighed it all and I have nothing but excitement when I think of my final college decision.”