When Asya Bussie and Akeema Richards signed with West Virginia last week, it was a potentially great basketball combination brought together first on the Maryland Magic Amateur Athletic Union team in the summer of 2006.

Bussie, a 6-foot-5 center for Seton Keough, and Richards, a 5-foot-8 guard for Western, were All-Metro first-team selections last season. Each has already scored more than 1,000 career points heading into her senior season.

Playing together on the same AAU team showed glimmers of the chemistry that should shine through during their four years as Mountaineers. Each can complement the other.

While Bussie can be dominating in the paint at both ends and can also run the floor, Richards loves to drive to the hoop and can also whip off some terrific passes.

“There is so much potential,” said Seton Keough coach Jackie Boswell, who coached both girls with the Magic.

“Akeema knows how to score and the good thing about having a 6-foot-5 kid down there is she can clean up whenever she misses,” said Boswell. “I see them being a good defensive duo as well. I don’t know West Virginia’s style, but we were able to trap with those kids and let Asya get the steal.”

The two visited West Virginia together and are looking forward to playing together.

“It was fun playing with her,” said Bussie. “She was the point guard and she knows how to get the ball in to the post.”

Both girls said it would be nice to have someone they know on campus when they get there -- both on the court and off.

“Since we’ve played together, we do have some kind of chemistry,” said Richards. “She’s big. She can handle the passes in there, and I guess it makes it more comfortable for me. I really don’t know anybody else there.”

While both girls like the basketball program, they were also happy with the way the school fits into their career plans. Both are planning to go into the medical field.

Bussie said she wants to be a dentist and West Virginia has a dental school. Richards plans to become a pediatrician and said she liked that there is a children’s hospital on the campus.

-- Katherine Dunn

Top photo courtesy of Laura Bisceglia: Asya Bussie (left) is shown with Seton Keough coach Jackie Boswell.

Bottom photo courtesy of Sandra Jones: Akeema Richards (right) signs a letter of intent to play for West Virginia as her parents, Debra (left) and Anderson, watch.