Commitment Lists Grow



Danielle O’Banion enjoyed a successful summer during her second year as the head coach at Kent State.

The 2014 recruiting classes are coming into focus, and over the next month we will review some of the programs that are enjoying the most success in the early going. Here is a quick look at some of the teams that have been making noise this summer, along with the perspective of All Star Girls Report analyst Bret McCormick. Each athlete is listed with their ASGR national ranking for 2014.

   Fresno State: Sara Porter, No. 176, 5-9, PG; Khalia Lark, No. 273, 5-11, PF.

    McCormick on the Bulldogs: “Porter is a great pickup for Fresno, and I think she will help immediately. She is very skilled and athletic, and she just has an excellent feel for the game. Lark is a good athlete who is a blue collar type of player.”

 

 

   North Dakota State: Taylor Thunstedt, No. 471, 5-8, PG; McKenna Happke, NR, 6-0, F; Olivia Baker, NR, 6-4, C.

    McCormick on the Bison: “Thunstedt and Happke both played for the Minnesota Metro Stars. Thunstedt is a fundamental floor leader who has all the tools. She can shoot the three, handle the ball and run the show. Happke is a lefty who is a true power forward with range out to 15 feet. Baker is an aggressive, strong post player who can score on the block. I think all three of these players will help boost the program.”

 

 

   Louisiana Tech: Tiara Davenport, No. 180, 5-11, WF; Tiffany Murdock, No. 185, 5-8, PG; Candice Williams, No. 369, 5-6, PG; Lashanda Green, JUCO, 5-8, PG.

    McCormick on the Lady Techsters: “Davenport is an inside-outside player who can put the ball on the floor. Murdock is an explosive combo guard who is good off the bounce, and she knows how to score. Williams is a true point guard out of Atlanta who is a smooth player with a good understanding of the game. Green is an Oklahoma product with excellent quickness. She can attack the basket and knock down the three.”

 

 

   Kent State: Kalyn Naddiyah Cross, NR, 5-4, PG; Madison Ridout, NR, 5-9, PG; Lydia Poe, NR, 6-3, C; Jordan Korinek, NR, 6-2, F; Tyra James, No. 472, 6-0, WF.

    McCormick on the Golden Flashes: “Kent State has five commitments already from the state of Ohio. Cross has quickness and strength, and she knows how to run a team. Ridout is a combo guard with good size. She can score and involve her teammates. Poe played on Ridout’s Jackson High School team in Ohio. Poe is a true low block player with size, strength and a good mentality for the paint. James is an athletic, attacking player who could play anywhere on the perimeter.”

 

 

   Bryant: Kathleen Everson, NR, 6-0, G; Ivory Bailey, NR, 5-7, G.

    McCormick on the Bulldogs: “They recently moved to Division I, and these two players should help their backcourt. Everson is a big, left-handed guard who can put it on the floor or shoot the three. Bailey is another versatile guard with a strong basketball IQ.”

 

 

   Idaho State: Juliet Jones, NR, 5-9, PG; Jenna Morch, NR, 6-2, C; Megan Hochstein, NR, 6-2, PF.

    McCormick on the Bengals: “Jones is a fundamentally sound, aggressive guard with deep three range. Morch can score inside and step out to 15 feet. Hochstein is another inside prospect who can score around the hoop, but she also has some nice skills out on the perimeter.”