Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The entire recruiting process can be a difficult experience for high school athletes.

Inevitably the toughest aspect comes down to making a final decision.

That wasn’t the case for West Branch all-state guard Tatum Koenig.

Days after finishing up her junior year at West Branch, Koenig gave a verbal pledge to play basketball at Bradley University on Wednesday morning.

“It was just a no brainer, everything about it I just loved,” Koenig said. “It was an easy decision.”

Koenig visited the Peoria, Illinois school on Tuesday and didn’t waste any time making a decision.

After discussing the visit with her family on the two-hour drive home and again briefly on Wednesday morning she phoned Bradley coaches with her decision.

“I knew after the visit to Bradley that’s where I wanted to play and that’s where I wanted to be,” Koenig said. “It was a no brainer when I made the decision.”

The 5-foot-6 guard was one of the most productive players in Iowa last season as a junior.

One of only 15 players in the state to average at least 20 points per game, Koenig ranked fourth in Class 2A at 20 points per game.

Koenig ranked in the top 15 in 2A in both free throws and 3-pointers made and led West Branch with 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 steals, 3.3 assists per game.

According to Koenig, the Bradley coaches recruited her as a point guard but were impressed with ability to play away from the ball and fill either guard spot.

“They are recruiting me as a true point guard but they know I am very versatile and can play the one and two spots,” Koenig said. “That’s what they were looking for is a guard that can do other things beside handle the ball.”

Koenig was a first-team Class 2A all-state pick last year by the Iowa Girls Coaches association after helping West Branch to a 14-9 record.

She became the third player in West Branch history with 1,000 points last season and enters her senior season 55 points away from the school’s all-time scoring record.

“It’s definitely a lot of weight off my shoulders and I can’t wait to play my senior year,” Koenig said. “I love the game and I am just extremely excited to go play at Bradley.

Bradley was 12-19 last season under head coach Andrea Gorski including a 7-11 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.

“They have huge goals in mind and I am just excited to be able to be a part of that,” Koenig said.

Koenig said she chose Bradley over Eastern Illinois and had additional offers from Omaha and Western Illinois.

“Right away I could just tell that I could be myself around the coaches and they were going to treat me like family. I just felt so comfortable there and my family did too.”