Scholarship Recruits

[Norm Peterson]

I'm sure I'm going to miss some so please help add to my list and I'll edit as needed.  Also, if you know any of their prep ratings, I'll throw that in there as well.

 

2014:

 

Natalie Romeo  5'7" guard  (ESPN #55; Full Court Press #27)

Jasmine Cincore  5'8" guard

Chandler Smith  6'0" guard  (ESPN #62)

Kaylee Page  6'2"  forward (ESPN #42; Full Court Press #48)

Derrien Washington 6'2" forward

Anya Kalenta  6'3" forward

 

2015:

 

Maddie Simon 6'1" guard

Lanie Page  6'2" forward  (ESPN #36; Prospect Nation #71)

Rachel Blackburn  6'3" forward (Prospect Nation #70)

Jessica Shepard  6'4" forward  (ESPN #3; Prospect Nation #4)

[kansashusker]

By my count you got them all listed.  Blackburn is in Prospect Nations top 60. 

[Norm Peterson]

OK, thanks.

[Silverbacked1]

Plus what we have as leaders on this team to teach the new ones this year, who then, can teach the next year.

Once all the cogs get clicking the future of Husker Women's Basketball could be a really, really good.

[Norm Peterson]

Based on what we have committed in these two classes (and the reason I wanted to lay it out graphically) it would appear the area of greatest need to fill out the '15 class would be another backcourt player.  Unless we have two more spots for '15, I'm not sure how Connie has room for a Tyler Johnson.  They have lots of size already committed.  They don't have an abundance of perimeter players, however. 

[kansashusker]

With an all conf. guard in Theroit who is a jr next year; and a guard as highly regarded as Natalie Romeo it is going to be hard to get another high quality pg for a couple years.  Kids of the caliber NU wants don't want to sit for a couple years.  I am guessing that cincore,chandler and the walk on are the 3rd-5th string pgs for a couple years (obviously cincore and chandler will also play some 2/3).  the mobile wings nu has like the pages, maddie simon, etc provide enough capable ball handling to provide some pressure release if a 3rd string pg needs help.  kind of like Hallie sample handled the ball a lot this year to take some pressure off Rachel always having to bring it up since Rachel needed to save energy with minimal subs and they needed Rachel to have a scoring role.

[kansashusker]

tyler Johnson is good enough that if she wants to come I would be surprised if nu doesn't take her still.  that said, my gut says she is a ku lien.

[Norm Peterson]

kansashusker, using your logic about Theriot and Romeo, why would another big want to come in and sit behind ... lots of girls.  Hard to even name them all.  Just looking at the distribution of positions among those who have committed to these last two classes, I still say it looks like we're more in need of backcourt help at this point than frontcourt help.  In these two classes, it appears we have commits from 4 players who would certainly fall in the 4 or 5 spot and several others who would be 3s or stretch 4s.

 

On the roster, signed or committed, we have (juniors on down): Kalenta, Havers, Washington, Page, Shepard and Blackburn, all of whom probably fit the label of "big."  If you add in the players who would qualify as wings or even stretch 4s, it leaves only 2 players in these two classes who are strictly backcourt players and none in the '15 class.  Certainly, Maddie Simon could be a backcourt player but she also has the length and athleticism to play the 3 at the next level.  So, if you're looking at what type of player to add to round out the '15 class, I still have a hard time seeing room for another "big."

[kansashusker]

Norm - honestly I would be surprised if they take anybody else this year so they have 4 scholarships left for the following year 2016.  Reality is, mostly likely in next year or two 1 or more will transfer also.  That is just the nature of high level d1.  the rotation won't exceed 8 1/2 kids most likely in conf. play.  that means 3-4 kids who came expecting to play next year won't get in much.  kids and their parents aren't patient in today's world and don't like to sit.  That said, if they get a talented kid whether it is a big or guard I think they would take one more and let it sort itself out. 

[HB]

kansashusker, using your logic about Theriot and Romeo, why would another big want to come in and sit behind ... lots of girls.  Hard to even name them all.  Just looking at the distribution of positions among those who have committed to these last two classes, I still say it looks like we're more in need of backcourt help at this point than frontcourt help.  In these two classes, it appears we have commits from 4 players who would certainly fall in the 4 or 5 spot and several others who would be 3s or stretch 4s.

 

On the roster, signed or committed, we have (juniors on down): Kalenta, Havers, Washington, Page, Shepard and Blackburn, all of whom probably fit the label of "big."  If you add in the players who would qualify as wings or even stretch 4s, it leaves only 2 players in these two classes who are strictly backcourt players and none in the '15 class.  Certainly, Maddie Simon could be a backcourt player but she also has the length and athleticism to play the 3 at the next level.  So, if you're looking at what type of player to add to round out the '15 class, I still have a hard time seeing room for another "big."

Didn't Simon play a lot of point at Pius? Connie likes tall points and guards who can play the 1-3. I haven't heard much on where they project Simon to play but I thought some point was mentioned; perhaps Row 6 can comment on this.

[Norm Peterson]

If I had to guess watching Pius at State, Simon is their best overall player but she'd also be about their best option at almost any position. In other words, they could play her at the 1, 2, 3 or 4, and she'd be the best at that position as well as their best player overall. They play her at the point because she can handle it but also because that puts the ball in her hands the most. And she's the player they most want to have touch the ball, which is not to say that point is where she projects at the next level.

 

She's long and very athletic.  She's a legit 6'2" in height with long arms and decent speed and quickness.  I haven't seen her a lot but I haven't seen her show Romeo's ability to drive or distribute.  She's a good shooter, but she needs more than a little space to get her shot off from outside.  She has a rare combination of length and athleticism, which makes her an upper D1 prospect.  But from a skills perspective, that's still developing and I'm not sure anyone can really predict where she'll fit at the college level.

[Row6Seat10]

I think Maddie will be playing the 2 guard I think they've got her figured in to be playing where they thought Tvrdy or Sadie would have been playing had they still been here. In two years I see Theriot and Romeo both as starters with Natalie at the point and Rachel playing the two. You then have Jasmine Cincore coming off the bench and Chandler Smith coming off the bench along with Simon each getting ample playing time at the one and two.

 

I'm not sure just what Emily Wood will bring but I've been hearing she's a good three point shooter and if you can shoot it you will see the floor. Plus the fact a player like her will give it a 110% wanting to make an impact. And don't forget Kaylee Page could also play the point or 2 spot as that's what she's played her entire career. I'm not sure where Esther fits into the picture yet but she'll do anything to help out.  I think the time where a player gets 36-39 minutes a game is history.

 

We will be loaded on the wing and forwards spots as Jessica, and both Page girls will most likely anchor down those spots. All three of these women will get lots of minutes. I'm thinking they might have Allie Havers as a forward and a center. The center spot will be between four players Havers, Rachel Blackburn, Darrien Washington, and Anya Kalenta. Washington is big, strong and athletic don't be surprised she develops into a really good player. And Rachel B will be out to make a name for herself as a freshmen.

 

The 2016 class NU will most likely be looking for some guards. And maybe another wing.

[HuskerFan86]

Wow things are looking so good for the future!

I was a little worried when we missed out on Chatrice White and Kianna Ibis, but I think it is safe to say that Kaylee Page + Lanie Page + Rachel Blackburn (kansas package) >> Chatrice + Kianna. And we still get plenty of local flavor with Shephard and Simon!

These most recent classes, Connie is almost outrecruiting John Cook! I think the same level of national sucess is also on the way for her program...

[DocSadler]

kansashusker, using your logic about Theriot and Romeo, why would another big want to come in and sit behind ... lots of girls.  Hard to even name them all.  Just looking at the distribution of positions among those who have committed to these last two classes, I still say it looks like we're more in need of backcourt help at this point than frontcourt help.  In these two classes, it appears we have commits from 4 players who would certainly fall in the 4 or 5 spot and several others who would be 3s or stretch 4s. On the roster, signed or committed, we have (juniors on down): Kalenta, Havers, Washington, Page, Shepard and Blackburn, all of whom probably fit the label of "big."  If you add in the players who would qualify as wings or even stretch 4s, it leaves only 2 players in these two classes who are strictly backcourt players and none in the '15 class.  Certainly, Maddie Simon could be a backcourt player but she also has the length and athleticism to play the 3 at the next level.  So, if you're looking at what type of player to add to round out the '15 class, I still have a hard time seeing room for another "big."

Didn't Simon play a lot of point at Pius? Connie likes tall points and guards who can play the 1-3. I haven't heard much on where they project Simon to play but I thought some point was mentioned; perhaps Row 6 can comment on this.

This is correct. Connie wants tall, athletic guards who can run the floor and play the 1-3 positions. Any of the 3 guards can push the ball or run the secondary break offense. Norm Peterson the 2 & 3 spots are interchangeable on offense with the bodies we have coming in.

To answer your question Maddie plays point guard on her summer AAU team also but was recruited to play wing for NU. She does not have the post game of an Emily Cady type

[DocSadler]

I'm sure I'm going to miss some so please help add to my list and I'll edit as needed.  Also, if you know any of their prep ratings, I'll throw that in there as well.

 

2014:

 

Natalie Romeo  5'7" guard  (ESPN #55; Full Court Press #27)

Jasmine Cincore  5'8" guard

Chandler Smith  6'0" guard  (ESPN #62)

Kaylee Page  6'2"  forward (ESPN #42; Full Court Press #48)

Derrien Washington 6'2" forward

Anya Kalenta  6'3" forward

 

2015:

 

Maddie Simon 6'1" guard

Lanie Page  6'2" forward  (ESPN #36; Prospect Nation #71)

Rachel Blackburn  6'3" forward (Prospect Nation #70)

Jessica Shepard  6'4" forward  (ESPN #3; Prospect Nation #4)

http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/158/class/2015

ESPNW also shows each girls rank by position in their class which I think is cool

Jess- #1 Forward

Lanie- #8 Wing

Rachel- #10 Post

Maddie- #16 guard