A 5-foot-11, slight-of-build freshman, Kansas University women’s basketball guard Monica Engelman had the ball in the left corner and drove into a sea of big bodies and sharpened elbows from the University of Texas. When the drive began, it seemed awfully much to expect of someone so young and relatively small. Without ever panicking, she banked it off the glass. It was as if Engelman grew on her way to the basket.

To know anything about the background of this Air Force brat is to know betting against her conquering a daunting challenge is not advisable.

Born at Travis Air Force Base in the San Francisco Bay area, she has lived in Germany, New Mexico, Texas and now Kansas. When Monica was 15, her mother learned she was being transferred to New Jersey. Marlene Engelman and her two daughters, Monica and Gwen, sat on the couch of their San Antonio home together and had a family meeting. Monica recalled the conversation.

“What would you think about staying here?” Marlene asked Monica.

“That’s crazy,” Monica answered. “Why would I want to stay here?”

Marlene had a feeling her daughter was in the perfect situation basketball-wise and didn’t want to gamble that she could duplicate that elsewhere. Basketball could be her ticket to a college education. Marlene told her the Harpers had offered to let Monica stay with them and asked Monica if she thought she could do it. She said she would give it a try.

“Mr. Charlie and Miss Lorraine, they were like second parents,” Monica said. “They took me in and loved me as one of their own. I was homesick being away from my mom and my sister, but I was still able to be part of a family.”

Charlie and Lorraine Harper’s daughter, CeCe Harper, signed a letter of intent with Kansas and will be reunited with Engelman next season. Monica said she talks on the phone with her mother daily. She said she starts every day by reading an inspirational text message from her surrogate dad, “Mr. Charlie,” her AAU coach in high school.

Harper, who has sons playing for Lamar University and UT-Permian Basin, said he has watched every one of Engelman’s games, either on television or the Internet. Seeing her develop as a player through the course of this season has not been unlike watching her deal with homesickness a few years ago.

“At first she was quiet, withdrawn,” Harper said. “We just sat down and talked and talked and talked and assured her she was fine and just needed to stay focused on her goal.”

As a freshman for KU, Engelman initially tried to fit in and deferred to more experienced players. Injuries necessitated she take a bigger role, and she has blossomed into a star.

Engelman hit two crucial three-pointers late in Saturday’s double-overtime loss to Texas. On another occasion, with the shot clock expiring, she was trapped on the baseline, but soared for a jumper. Swish. She finished with 22 points and six assists, both career highs.

She’s going to build quite a fan club during her time at Kansas.