Emily Waner

Position:
Guard
Height:
5-8
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Highlands Ranch, Colo.
High School:
ThunderRidge

Barry on Waner: “Emily is the only freshman that’s really ready to push for playing time right now. She will push Maria Billingsley at the point guard position. She pushes the ball up the floor, she’s a good outside shooter, she’s well-conditioned, she’s smart, she loves the game. She’s the most ready for Division I.”

This Season: Thanks in part to her very impressive fitness level, as well as a competitive prep career, Waner is expected to make an impact her first season in a Buffalo uniform. She was a serious three-point threat in high school, and has perhaps the quickest hands on the team on the defensive end of the floor. Waner should push incumbent point guard Maria Billingsley for big minutes.

High School: The most heralded Colorado prep player to attend CU since Britt Hartshorn, Waner’s senior year was one of the most impressive in the state. She led ThunderRidge to the 5A State Championship in her final season under Ron Burgin with a record of 23-1, averaging 17.8 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.6 spg and 3.1 rpg, shooting 63.2% from the floor and 52.4% from beyond the arc. She was named Denver Post Miss Basketball for all classifications, Joint Effort High School Player of the Year, 5A State Tournament MVP, Denver Post All-Colorado, Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado, 5A First Team All-State, First Team All-Continental League, was nominated as a McDonald’s All-American and a WBCA All-American, while earning Student Sports Magazine Honorable Mention All-American honors. She was the MVP of “The Show III” All-Star Showcase and made the Nike Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team. Waner was a Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado selection following her junior year, capping off a campaign that saw ThunderRidge advance to the state semifinals with a record of 21-3. Waner averaged 15.0 ppg, 5.9 apg, 3.4 spg and 3.5 rpg season her junior year, leading to a host of honors. She was named First Team All-State by the Rocky Mountain News, Honorable Mention All-State by the Denver Post, First Team All-Continental League and a 2002 Street & Smith’s Honorable Mention All-American. She participated in the 2002 Adidas All-America Camp, the 2002 USA Basketball Olympic Development Festival, “The Show” All-Star Game and was named the TRHS Hoopster of the Year. Waner lettered all four years at ThunderRidge, averaging 13.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg as a sophomore en route to a 17-5 record, and put up 7.6 ppg and 2.5 rpg as a freshman, helping TRHS to a 21-3 season. The Grizzlies were 2002 Continental League Champions, 2001 League Runners-up, 2000 Prairie League Champions, 2000 4A State Qualifiers and 2002 5A State Semifinalists. Her AAU team, the Colorado Hoopsters, were the 2001 Nike Cup Champions, 2002 U.S. Junior Nationals Runners-up, and 2002 Nike Cup Finalists. Waner holds the TRHS school records for single season three point shooting (49-140/35-percent), career points (1,262) and single season assists (143, 5.95 per game).

Off The Court: Emily Elizabeth Waner was born Feb. 5, 1985, and is the daughter of Tim and Jeanie Waner of Highlands Ranch. She has two younger siblings, sister Abby (17) and brother Alex (12), and is undecided on her major at Colorado. She was a four-time academic letterwinner at ThunderRidge, and graduated with a 4.039 grade point average, ranked 20th in a class of 383, earning valedictorian honors. She lists the biggest moment of her high school career as her team’s 2003 5A state championship. Waner’s hobbies include running, reading and art, specifically oil painting and drawing. As a senior she lettered in track and was a state qualifier in the open 400 meter dash, and she was named Homecoming Queen her senior year.