GrizBBIsKing
Well-known member
Below is from www.montanagrizzlies.com
Just Announced this morning.
Lady Griz lose 4 seniors and already lost Dvera Tolbert. Selvig should have two more recruits in next springs signing period. Or maybe economic downturn is going to leave lady Griz with a roster of only 13 next year (maybe, but I doubt it - I like the idea of saving some scholarships for spring).
But, we finely have Selvig's take on each of the three previously verballed players.
Just Announced this morning.
Lady Griz lose 4 seniors and already lost Dvera Tolbert. Selvig should have two more recruits in next springs signing period. Or maybe economic downturn is going to leave lady Griz with a roster of only 13 next year (maybe, but I doubt it - I like the idea of saving some scholarships for spring).
But, we finely have Selvig's take on each of the three previously verballed players.
Lady Griz sign three to NLIs
by: Joel Carlson of UM Sports Information
Friday, 11/14/2008
University of Montana women’s basketball coach Robin Selvig announced Friday that Katie Baker, Kenzie De Boer and Alyssa Smith have all signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Lady Griz program next year.
Baker, from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is a senior at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, De Boer, from Lynden, Wash., is a senior at Lynden Christian School, and Smith, from Monroe, Wash., is a senior at Archbishop Murphy High School.
Baker, a 6-0 forward, attends school and played volleyball at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy but plays basketball at Lake City High. She was named the Idaho Gatorade Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year as both a sophomore and junior. She was the Inland Empire League Newcomer of the Year in 2006 and the league’s MVP as a sophomore and junior.
Baker led the Timberwolves to the 2007 Idaho Class 5A state title as a sophomore. As a junior she averaged 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.
A 3.8 student at CDA Charter Academy, a college preparatory school, Baker is a three-year member of the honor roll and was a 2008 Idaho High School Activities Association Interscholastic Star nominee.
“I wanted a program where I could make the most of my career,” Baker said about her choice. “God has blessed me with great coaches to this point of my career, and that was a tradition I wanted to continue in college. Coach Selvig and his staff not only have years of success to back it up, but when I went on my visit, they were so honest and real. Their hearts belong to Montana basketball, and that inspired me to want to play for them.
“So many girls long for the chance to play for Coach Selvig, so I consider it a privilege to continue my career under his coaching.
“I love the Northwest, and I want to finish my career with no regrets. Everyone thinks the grass is greener somewhere else farther away, but Montana is perfect. My parents can still see me play, plus I think the team can do some damage in the post-season, and I would love to be a part of that.”
“Katie is a great all-around player,” Selvig said. “She has size and is an effective player around the basket. On top of that she has perimeter skills to go with her size. She is very active and intelligent defensively, which is something else I really like about her. And she’s a great person and student.”
De Boer, who is also a standout soccer player, is a 5-11 wing player who has been a starter for the Lyncs since her freshman season. LCS has won 79 games the last three years and has finished no worse than third at the state tournament.
De Boer, a four-year starter, scored 27 goals for the Lynden Christian soccer team in the fall, a total that led the Northwest Conference.
De Boer was a member of LCS’s 2008 Washington Class 1A girls’ basketball state championship team that finished the season with a 29-0 record. Slowed by mono during the season, De Boer still averaged 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game while shooting a conference-best 83 percent from the free throw line. She wrapped up the season by being named to the all-state tournament team.
De Boer averaged 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals per game as a sophomore after averaging 10 points per game as a freshman.
The Lyncs went 26-2 in 2007 and placed third at the Class 1A state tournament and finished 24-3 in 2006 and placed second at the Class 2A state tournament. De Boer was named second team all-state tournament in 2007.
“I chose Montana for many reason, but the main one was I wanted to be in a winning program,” De Boer said. “My high school team has lost only five games in three years, and I want to be in a program where I can continue to have that kind of success.
“And I really want to make the NCAA tournament. I know Montana will give me the best opportunity for that.
“I love the girls on the team, I really like the coaching staff and the support from the town is amazing. It is just a good atmosphere to be in. I’m excited to be a part of that.”
“Kenzie is another really good student and kid out of a very successful program,” Selvig said. “What I really like about Kenzie is that she has size and athleticism to go along with her perimeter skills. She could have the ability to play the point in college.”
Smith, who was also a three-year varsity volleyball player, is a 6-0 forward. She earned honorable mention Cascade Conference honors as a freshman, first team all-league honors as a sophomore and was the Cascade Conference MVP as a junior after averaging 10 points and nine rebounds per game and leading the Wildcats to a 14-0 league record and their first conference title.
She was a member of Archbishop Murphy’s team that went to the 2006 Washington Class 2A state tournament and will be a team captain this winter for the third time.
Smith, who’s been a recipient of the Cascade Conference sportsmanship award, has maintained academic honors since her freshman year and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“My key motivation for signing with Montana was the successful history of the program,” Smith said. “I want to be a part of a program that has a history of going to the NCAA tournament and playing in front of huge crowds. Coach Selvig and the coaching staff have built a dynasty in the Big Sky Conference and the fans show their support. You can tell they really appreciate the hard work and passion the players put into the game.
“I was sold for other reasons as well. I want to be a physical therapist and the school has a great PT program. My mom grew up in Butte and my grandparents and most of my mom’s family still live there. Missoula is a laid-back community that really felt like home. And I played AAU with Sarah Ena a few years ago and really respect her character. She really helped me through the recruiting process and couldn’t hide how much she loves it at Montana.
“I am really looking forward to playing for Coach Selvig and his assistants. I bought into everything the team is trying to accomplish and feel lucky and honored to be a part of it. I’m anxious to learn from them and become the best basketball player that I can be.”
“Alyssa is another really good all-around player and a very intelligent player,” Selvig said. “She’s got size to be effective around the basket, and she can shoot it from the perimeter. She comes from really good high school and summer programs.”
Montana, which opens its regular season Sunday afternoon against Wyoming, will graduate four seniors after the 2008-09 season: Tamara Guardipee, Britney Lohman, Mandy Morales and Sonya Rogers.
“The nice thing about this group is that they are all versatile players that we could use in a number of different ways,” Selvig said. “They are talented, outstanding people and students and kids that love the game of basketball. They all play in the summer on good teams to go along with their good high school programs.
“This is a really good signing group.”
