Signing Day for 2015

[Row6Seat10]

The early November National Letter of Intent signing day is Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Huskers will sign 4 new recruits. As always there will be lots of articles written and other sources of information about our four newcomers. This is a thread where we can post stories or what have you about the newbies. Expected to sign is:

 

5 star Jessica Shepard 6'4 post

4 star Lanie Page 6'2 wing/post

4 star Rachel Blackburn 6'3 post

3 star Maddie Simon 6'2 guard

 

ESPN Hoopgurlz has this class rated at # 9

Prospect Nation has the Huskers sitting at #7

[Row6Seat10]

An A - Z Guide To A Signature Week  - ESPN-W

 

Y: Yori, as in Connie. The Cornhuskers are celebrating another star-studded class and didn't spend a whole lot of time on the road to do it. With two in-state prospects -- No. 3 Jessica Shepard and three-star prospect Maddie Simon -- and two from neighboring Kansas -- No. 82 Lanie Page and three-star prospect Rachel Blackburn -- the Huskers' class should be feeling right at home in Lincoln.

 

 

[Row6Seat10]

Why Senior Season Is So Special For Seven Elite Recruits   ESPN-W

 

Jessica Shepard, a 6-4 forward at Fremont (Nebraska) and the third-ranked prospect in the 2015 class, can't wait to get to college. She has long been committed to Nebraska and is eager to be tested at a higher level.

 

"It feels like senior year took forever to get here, especially since I committed so early," Shepard said. "Now that senior year is here, it's my last chance for high school basketball, and I want to make the most of it."

 

 

[Row6Seat10]

Here they are! You are looking at the 7th best recruiting class in the nation! HHC welcomes these fine ladies aboard!

 

 

l-r - Maddie Simon, Rachel Blackburn, Lanie Page, Jessica Shepard   #GBR #WINTHEDAY!

[KarlHessEatMy....]

Geesh I like the way our team is heading!!! We are going to be pretty darn good and a lot TALLER than most.

[Norm Peterson]

Here they are! You are looking at the 7th best recruiting class in the nation! HHC welcomes these fine ladies aboard!

 

 

l-r - Maddie Simon, Rachel Blackburn, Lanie Page, Jessica Shepard   #GBR #WINTHEDAY!

Jess looks to be clearly the tallest of the group.  The other three look about the same height.  So, I'd say 3 of 'em at 6'2" and Jess at around 6'4"? 

 

Good size.

 

Next class needs some speedster guards.

[huskerchode]

Simon is pretty quick. Not T Laudermill quick, but definitely above average. She does well in the 100 meter hurdles.

[Silverbacked1]

Welcome, now go have a fun and injury free senior season. Enjoy every minute of it because it will gone in a flash.

[redsteve]

Here they are! You are looking at the 7th best recruiting class in the nation! HHC welcomes these fine ladies aboard!

 

 

l-r - Maddie Simon, Rachel Blackburn, Lanie Page, Jessica Shepard   #GBR #WINTHEDAY!

 

Yea...I mentioned before that I thought I had seen Maddie in Denver last summer (there was a tourney going on there), and she looked taller than the 6' or 6-1 as advertised.  ...must be closer to 6-2 or so....

 

....in any event....great looking huskers of the future !

[Row6Seat10]

The third ranked recruit in the nation makes it official!! 

 

Welcome aboard Jessica!!  #GBR

 

[Row6Seat10]

It just keeps getting better!!

 

Welcome to Husker Nation, Lanie!!   #GBR

 

[Norm Peterson]

Does Jess seriously have 3 younger sisters?  Can you say pipeline?

[Row6Seat10]

What's our head coach think of this outstanding class?!

 

Jessica Shepard:

 

“It’s no secret that Jess is the youngest player I’ve ever offered a scholarship to as a head coach. We knew Jess was a very special player, even at a young age, and it feels like this day has taken a long time to arrive,” Yori said. “Jess has a rare combination of size, skill, athleticism, versatility and a high basketball IQ. She is a skilled ball-handler who has the ability to take defenders to the basket. She has spent most of her high school career being double- and triple-teamed, so she has become an outstanding passer with both vision and poise. She is also developing her three-point game to complement the other ways she can score.

 

 

“I chose Nebraska because I grew up in Nebraska and have always wanted to represent my school, community and state at the University playing for Coach Yori and the great staff,” Shepard said. “I committed to Coach Yori and the University of Nebraska prior to my freshman year in high school.”

 

 

Lanie Page:

 

“Lanie has great size to go along with an excellent skill-set that goes beyond her age,” Yori said. “She’s has good length, and she can score from the mid-range or shoot the three. She is a versatile athlete who has the potential to be able to play inside and outside for us. Lanie plays with an edge that I really loved during the recruiting process. We are thrilled she is a Husker.”

 

 

 

“I chose Nebraska because of the education, facilities, resources and the people in Lincoln are good Midwestern-type people, and those are the kind of people I love to be around,” Page said. “Everyone is so supportive and polite, and it’s just a great atmosphere.”

 

 

Rachel Blackburn:

 

“Husker fans are going to love Rachel because she represents what we’ve built our program on,” Yori said. “She’s tough, hard-working, skilled and is a great energy player. Rachel comes from a program where she has competed at a high level and has had great coaching. She’s been pushed at the high school level, so she understands the consistent effort that it will take to be successful at Nebraska. Rachel also has natural leadership qualities. She’s a mature young lady who plays with both passion and intelligence.”

 

 

 

“I chose Nebraska because of the success of the program and the fan base,” Blackburn said. “Family is very important to me, and I feel like the Nebraska coaches and players are a close-knit family.”

 

 

 

Maddie Simon:

 

“Since we first saw Maddie at our basketball camp when she was a freshman, she has improved some aspect of her game each time we’ve watched her,” Yori said. “She has developed into a very good passer and shooter who will fit well in our offensive system. Maddie can get out and run, drive in transition, hit mid-range jumpers and hit the three. She has been a three-sport star in high school, and we think that athleticism will translate into being a versatile defender for us. I think she is a recruiting steal, and we couldn’t be happier that she has decided to stay in Lincoln and play for the Huskers.”

 

 

“I love the coaches and players. The facilities and fan support for women’s basketball are also great, but most of all Lincoln is my hometown,” Simon said. “I have grown up watching and wanting to play here my whole life.”

 

 

 

http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=209763218

[Row6Seat10]

huskers.com has the bios of the new Huskers up now! Click on their name and it should take you to their bio.

 

    Lanie Page

 

   Maddie Simon

 

    Rachel Blackburn

 

   Jessica Shepard

 

 

 

[Row6Seat10]

Sore hand and all ain't gonna stop this girl from becoming a Husker!! Looks like two proud parents standing behind her. Rachel has two other teammates that signed with her today. Tyler Johnson is going to KU, Latashia Jones is going to Oklahoma St.

 

We welcome Rachel with open arms!  #GBR

 

[Row6Seat10]

Last but not least Maddie S got to sign her loi today. Maddie was interviewed by channel 8 tonight and you could tell this kid was excited!

 

Congratulations Maddie! #GBR

 

[Cazzie22]

Leavenworth Pioneers should be tough to beat this year!  Good looking group of Husker recruits.

Sore hand and all ain't gonna stop this girl from becoming a Husker!! Looks like two proud parents standing behind her. Rachel has two other teammates that signed with her today. Tyler Johnson is going to KU, Latashia Jones is going to Oklahoma St.

 

We welcome Rachel with open arms!  #GBR

 

[Row6Seat10]

Channel 10/11 in Lincoln has a video interview with Jessica Shepard just after she signed in the following link.

 

NU Women Lands Best Recruiting Class in Program History

[Row6Seat10]

NU women's basketball's facilities, success, notoriety bring in top recruits

 

The Daily Nebraskan looks into the recruiting success the Huskers have achieved these last few years.

 

Nebraska coach Connie Yori said there’s no question that recruiting has upgraded the last few years and there’s a number of reasons why the Jasmines and the Jessicas, the Kaylees and the Lanies, the Natalies and the Anyas are coming to join the Big Red.

 

 

Kaylee Page said she was amazed when she first saw the Husker locker room. “I was so excited and pumped up when I first saw it,” Page said.

 

 

The support from inside the athletic department isn’t the only support that attracted the blue-chip recruits to Nebraska. Lanie Page, a four-star recruit from Alma, Kansas, said Husker Nation played a big part in winning her commitment.

 

“I love coming to the games. All the fans are so supportive,” Page said. “After I signed (my letter of intent), I had three people stop me and say ‘Hey, congrats. We’re really excited to watch you next year.’”

 

 

(not to boast to much here, but I was one of the three)

 

Nebraska has had its share of success, but the last two classes from Nebraska could be a harbinger of things to come. To beat the best, you have to beat them in the living rooms and on the hardwood across the country. Nebraska is quickly gathering up the best to play in the scarlet and cream.