Former Seaman standout Anna Becker returns to Kansas with Drake

LAWRENCE, Kan. (WIBW) - Former Seaman High School standout Anna Becker returned to northeast Kansas this week with Drake women’s basketball.

“I kind of knew it was in the works and that it could be happening and then once it was official, I was ecstatic,” Becker told 13 SPORTS. “It was awesome.”

The former Viking made an immediate impact in her first season with the Bulldogs, starting all 32 games as a freshman and earning Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team honors.

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“When you talk about Anna Becker, you talk about versatility,” Drake head coach Allison Pohlman said of Becker’s game and fit with the Bulldog. “She’s able to score in a number of different ways.”

“It’s a very free flowing offense and it’s fun basketball, so I like that,” Becker added.

Before making the move to Des Moines, Becker established herself at Seaman, where she was known for her competitive drive and team-first mentality.

“She always had that drive to be better,” Seaman head coach Matt Tinsley told 13 SPORTS. “She’s a great teammate. It wasn’t about personal stats for her. She just wanted to win. She’s a winner and I’m happy for her.”

While her basketball career has taken her to Iowa, Becker said the experience she had growing up in Topeka helped shape her, both on and off the court.

“Topeka kids, we were hard and when we play, it’s with a lot of effort,” Becker said. “I had some great teams in high school, not only just in basketball, but also in other sports, soccer, cross country. It’s just a testament to the support and the people around us.”