Update on the 2018 Recruits:

Donate To GopherHole
Some recruits may be apprehensive with Whalen's zero coaching experience. Maybe some schools recruiting Finau fully take advantage to point that out.

Coach Whalen will gain traction if she can take a team into the NCAA tournament after her first season. At this point, we don't really know how she'll do. We can only speculate.

But, she's won at every level. I think she'll be fine.
 

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lesila Finau is a Buff.
 

What becomes of the two 2018 open slots? In 2019, they have to replace four seniors.

So, they have three remaining 2018 commits after the Stewart and Finau decommitment:
1. Freshman Delanie Byrne-------Arvada CO--------6' 2" Forward, 3-Star 90.
2. Freshman Mercedes Staples---Centerville UT-----5' 10" Point Guard, 4-Star 95.
3. Junior Houfat Mahouchiza-----Marseille France---6' 1" Forward/Center.

IMHO, losing Stewart (3-Star 90) and Finau (3-Star 88) is NOT a disaster. There are a handful of espnW 3-Star players who have only given a verbal or have not yet declared.

http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/prospects/_/class/2018/status/0

http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/prospects/_/class/2018/status/1

Wouldn't it be nice if they can find highly rated grad transfer or decommitments? Are there any MN kids available? There is a 5-Star (Grade 96) player still available. Stephanie Soares, a 6' 6" Center from Pflugerville TX close Austin. She was home-schooled. I don't know what the issue with her is. http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/228895/stephanie-soares

Whalen is probably looking for two point guards for the remaining 2018 slots, but would not pass on a NCAA qualifier legitimate 5-Star player regardless of position. :cool02:

Not counting incoming Byrne, Mahouchiza, and Staples, they have three seniors, one RS senior, and four juniors on their current roster.
Bell, Kenisha-----------G, 5-9, RS SR, Minneapolis, Minn. (Marquette)
Bello, Kehinde----------F, 6-2, JR, Southfield, Mich. (Southfield-Lathrup)
Bello, Taiye-------------F, 6-2, JR, Southfield, Mich. (Southfield-Lathrup)
Brunson, Jasmine------G, 5-8, JR, Queens, N.Y. (Mary Louis Academy)
Garrido Perez, Irene---F, 6-1, SR, Granada, Spain (Wyoming CC)
Hubbard, Gadiva-------G, 5-9, JR, Virginia Beach, Va. (Princess Anne)
Kaposi, Palma----------F, 6-2, SR, Pecs, Hungary (University of Pecs)
Lamke, Annalese------C, 6-3, SR, Galesville, Wis. (Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau)
Pitts, Destiny----------G/F, 5-10, SO, Detroit, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)

For the 2019 class, so far they have :
Grace Cumming-----Des Moines IA--------6' 3" Center, 3-Star 90.
Sara Scalia----------Stillwater MN--------5' 10" Point Guard. (FIFY)
 


Who knows. There may be a few surprises coming the Gophers way in this year's incoming class.
 


Ignatius L Hoops said:
Lesila Finau is a Buff.
Click to expand...

Ouch! Especially considering Whalen gave her a visit. I guess everybody isn’t dying to play for Whalen as some surmised. Seems like the Gophers could turn back into a heavily Minnesotan team, which is alright with me as long as we get some of the better ones.
 

hungan1 said:
What becomes of the two 2018 open slots? In 2019, they have to replace four seniors.

So, they have three remaining 2018 commits after the Stewart and Finau decommitment:
1. Freshman Delanie Byrne-------Arvada CO--------6' 2" Forward, 3-Star 90.
2. Freshman Mercedes Staples---Centerville UT-----5' 10" Point Guard, 4-Star 95.
3. Junior Houfat Mahouchiza-----Marseille France---6' 1" Forward/Center.

IMHO, losing Stewart (3-Star 90) and Finau (3-Star 88) is NOT a disaster. There are a handful of espnW 3-Star players who have only given a verbal or have not yet declared.

http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/prospects/_/class/2018/status/0

http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/prospects/_/class/2018/status/1

Wouldn't it be nice if they can find highly rated grad transfer or decommitments? Are there any MN kids available? There is a 5-Star (Grade 96) player still available. Stephanie Soares, a 6' 6" Center from Pflugerville TX close Austin. She was home-schooled. I don't know what the issue with her is. http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/228895/stephanie-soares

Whalen is probably looking for two point guards for the remaining 2018 slots, but would not pass on a NCAA qualifier legitimate 5-Star player regardless of position. :cool02:

Not counting incoming Byrne, Mahouchiza, and Staples, they have three seniors, one RS senior, and four juniors on their current roster.
Bell, Kenisha-----------G, 5-9, RS SR, Minneapolis, Minn. (Marquette)
Bello, Kehinde----------F, 6-2, JR, Southfield, Mich. (Southfield-Lathrup)
Bello, Taiye-------------F, 6-2, JR, Southfield, Mich. (Southfield-Lathrup)
Brunson, Jasmine------G, 5-8, JR, Queens, N.Y. (Mary Louis Academy)
Garrido Perez, Irene---F, 6-1, SR, Granada, Spain (Wyoming CC)
Hubbard, Gadiva-------G, 5-9, JR, Virginia Beach, Va. (Princess Anne)
Kaposi, Palma----------F, 6-2, SR, Pecs, Hungary (University of Pecs)
Lamke, Annalese------C, 6-3, SR, Galesville, Wis. (Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau)
Pitts, Destiny----------G/F, 5-10, SO, Detroit, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)

For the 2019 class, so far they have :
Grace Cumming-----Des Moines IA--------6' 3" Center, 3-Star 90.
Click to expand...

Also 2019 Sara Scalia from Stillwater
 

http://www.buffzone.com/womensbaske...s-womens-basketball-adds-talented-point-guard

A bit more on Finau from the Colorado release:


A 5-foot-10 guard, Finau signed a letter of intent with Minnesota in November. When Gophers head coach Marlene Stollings left to take the job at Texas Tech in April, however, Finau's plans changed.

"I think she still liked Minnesota, but it just changes the complexion of your vision of what it was going to be," CU head coach JR Payne said. "But, she reopened her recruitment and she narrowed her recruitment very quickly."

Finau was released from her NLI at Minnesota, took an official visit to CU in late May and then visited Washington last weekend before choosing to play with the Buffs.
 

CU is pretty much one of the bottom feeders in the PAC, with a lot of very good teams. Have fun.
 



<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The freshmen have arrived. Yes this was in the Shemera Williams link; but Lindsay tweeted it out separately. I assume we will see an updated roster soon.
 

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

See, twitter isn't a waste of time.:eek:
 

Tomancova highlights:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YVCZDq5IlGM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

Needed size and had 3 open scholarships. Makes alot of sense to take a chance, but thats an interesting highlight video.
 



http://www.startribune.com/lindsay-whalen-adds-barbora-tomancova-to-gophers-staff/486173431/

“Barbora is someone who, as a staff, we have been watching for some time now,” Whalen told the U’s website. “Her versatility, length and skill for a post player are qualities we know will help our program. We are thrilled to have Barbora as a Golden Gopher.”

Tomancova averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She played for the 2017 FIBA U-18 team in the Women’s European Championship. Her season highlights include a 16-point game against Bosnia and 10 points versus Sweden.
 

Glad we added another post player, I was hoping for someone with a bit more height, but talent at the position is more important. Glad to have her join us! I like the international flavor to the team!
 

http://www.coogfans.com/t/c-o-18-es...its-to-houston-basketball-update-signed/12538

Former Gopher signee Jaidah Stewart signed with Houston last week.

Head Coach Ronald Hughey and his University of Houston women's basketball program has received a commitment from Jaidah Stewart (5'9" guard from Kirkwood Senior High School in Kirkwood, Missouri).

"My reasons for choosing UH was the city feeling I get at home," Stewart said. "I love their style of play. It's what I’ve played all my AAU years. The personable relationship with Coach Hughey. And, it just felt like the best decision for me and what I’m looking for."

Stewart is an athletic guard who can play both guard spots and can defend and play pressure defense.

She helped lead Kirkwood High School to a state championship this past season. Stewart scored 22 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in Kirkwood's 67-50 championship win.
 

http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=211786355

The announcement is from mid-January; but Jaidah Stewart transferred to former Badger HC Lisa Stone's Billikens. Stewart played in one game for Houston.


Saint Louis University women’s basketball coach Lisa Stone has announced the addition of 5-foot-9 combo guard Jaidah Stewart to the Billikens’ roster.

Stewart, a St. Louis-area native who returns following one semester at the University of Houston, becomes eligible at semester break next season and will have three-and-a-half years of eligibility remaining.

“We are extremely excited to welcome local All-State player Jaidah Stewart back home,” Stone said. “Jaidah is a top-rated guard who will be a very valuable perimeter player for us. She can score from all over the court and defend with great quickness.

“We welcome Jaidah into our Billiken family,” Stone said. “She is a great addition to our exciting young team. Go Billikens!”

Stewart was selected to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association All-State team for a third consecutive season after helping Kirkwood High School capture the 2018 Missouri Class 5 state championship and post a 28-3 record. She tallied 22 points and seven rebounds in the state title game.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom