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PODCAST: Tori Jankoska on WNBA Draft, Michigan State and World University Games

By Howard Megdal

Mar 06 2016: Michigan State Spartans guard Tori Jankoska (1) makes the pass to Michigan State Spartans forward Aerial Powers (23) during the Women's Big Ten Tournament Championship game between Maryland State vs Michigan at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Maryland defeated Michigan State 60-44. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
Mar 06 2016: Michigan State Spartans guard Tori Jankoska (1) makes the pass to Michigan State Spartans forward Aerial Powers (23) during the Women's Big Ten Tournament Championship game between Maryland State vs Michigan at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Maryland defeated Michigan State 60-44. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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Host Howard Megdal (Summitthoops.com) is joined by Tori Jankoska. The multifaceted guard talks about her life growing up at the center of the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry, what the experience of getting drafted in the first round and then cut in rapid succession feels like, and the plan ahead to play for Brenda Frese in the World University Games, professionally in Poland and perhaps follow in Suzy Merchant’s footsteps.

Jankoska managed to complete her senior season at Michigan State by leading the Spartans into the NCAA tournament, serving as the team’s primary ball handler, leading scorer, not to mention perimeter defensive stopper and effective rebounder to boot.

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Most important? She felt like she had a chance to play for Merchant, which she said was a bigger motivating factor than even her senior season itself or the chance to play at the next level.

And let’s not forget that final game at Michigan: 28 points, the team leader in rebounds, assists and steals to quiet the largest crowd for women’s basketball in Crisler Arena history. Hearing Jankoska describe that rivalry alone is a highlight of this one.

Terrific insight into what it means to be a women’s collegiate basketball star in 2017. Listen to the full podcast here:

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