Former South Florida guard Alexis Givands left the women’s basketball team Jan. 1 because she felt she was “not respected as a basketball player” by her coaches. Givands, who transferred to USF last fall, said it was her decision to leave.

“I know the abilities that I’m capable of and they didn’t,” she said. “If I’m not happy on the court, my coach should be there … to push me harder. I didn’t feel that
was happening.”

Givands insisted she had no problems with her teammates.

“I really didn’t have any issues with the team,” she said. “We were all friends.”

Givands did not travel with the team Jan. 3 for a game at Marquette. She said she told Fernandez face-to-face that she had made her decision to leave South Florida beforehand.

“I just went up to him and told him,” she said. “I mean, he knew I had been unhappy. He did try to correct it. He’s a good person, and he tried to help me out, but it just grew to be something within myself.”

Givands, who averaged 6.9 points in 12 games, said she plans on playing basketball at the Division II level and has received interest from Clayton State and West Georgia. Fernandez did not return a phone call Monday.

USF lands three recruits
The South Florida football team may not play current national champions the Florida Gators for another two years. However, the Bulls one-upped UF in the recruiting game
this weekend.

Armwood High School senior defensive end Ryne Giddins, who’s rated as a four-star recruit on rivals.com, verbally committed Saturday to play at USF.

Giddins, listed as 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, chose the Bulls over schools including Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and Miami.

South Florida also gained verbal commitments from two other Florida high school players: South Broward offensive lineman Steven Jacques and Fort Pierce Westwood quarterback Isaac Virgin.

Jacques, at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, chose USF after he backed out of a commitment to Auburn.

Virgin, at 6-foot-4, 232 pounds, chose USF over Iowa State and Purdue.

Dyer heading to Germany
Former South Florida women’s soccer captain Jeannette Dyer left Tampa on Tuesday to continue her professional playing career in Germany.

Dyer, who graduated this fall, will have her board and transportation compensated for, as well as a stipend of 800 euros (about $1,100) a month playing for TSV Crailsheim of the German Women’s Bundesliga.

“It’s going to be a great experience,” Dyer said. “It’s going to be different, and it’s kind of weird to think I’ll be living on my own in Europe, but it’s exciting as well.”

The Bundesliga comprises 12 teams and is the top division for women’s soccer in Germany.

USF coach Denise Schilte-Brown played two seasons in the Bundesliga.

“It’s going to be a life-changing experience for (Dyer),” Schilte-Brown said. “When you actually go (to Europe), it’s really very empowering.”

Dyer, who started all 18 games for USF this past fall, chose Germany after receiving professional offers from teams in Holland, Iceland and Sweden.

She said Germany was the right fit.

“I’ve never been to Europe before, so it’s hard to mentally see what I’m going into,” she said. “The most nerve-racking thing is that I don’t know names or places. I think once I get off the plane it will hit me that I’m actually there.”