Team receives national attention with recruits

By Purdue Sports Information

The Purdue women’s basketball program signed five players to National Letters of Intent during the NCAA’s early-signing period, which began last Wednesday.

The class already has garnered national recognition. Analyst Joe Smith of the Women’s Basketball News Service has Purdue’s Class of 2006 ranked fourth, behind Duke, Connecticut and Arkansas.

Purdue coach Kristy Curry thinks this talented quintet will help solidify Purdue as one of the top programs in the nation.

"This is an impact-type class," Curry said. "These five players bring lots of versatility and give us depth at every position. We are very proud of how well we did in the state of Indiana, but we also are very excited by the fact that we signed national-caliber players, regardless of where they’re from."

Carol Duncan, a native of Nappanee, Ind., averaged 17.3 points and 11.1 rebounds as a junior at NorthWood High School. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds as a sophomore. As a freshman, Duncan played on the Panthers’ Class 3A state championship-winning team.

Sabrina Keys, a Fairfield, Calif., native, averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds as a junior at Berkeley High School. She earned honorable mention All-America honors from Street & Smith’s, was named first team all-state and led Berkeley to a runner-up finish in the CIF state tournament. Keys, a 6-foot-1 forward, is ranked No. 91 by All-Star Girls Report, a prospect scouting service for college coaches.

Ashley Mays, a 5-foot-7 guard from Indianapolis, averaged 22 points and seven rebounds as a junior at Warren Central High School. A Nike All-America camp participant, honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith’s and Indiana Junior All-Star, Mays is ranked No. 87 by All-Star Girls Report.

Missy Taylor, a native of Connersville, Ind., averaged 21.8 points and 9.8 rebounds as a junior at Connersville High School. She earned honorable mention All-America recognition from Street & Smith’s and was named to the Indiana Junior All-Star team. During the summer of 2001, Taylor competed at Nike All-America Camp and earned AAU All-America honors. The 6-foot-2 forward is ranked No. 53 by All-Star Girls Report.

Indianapolis’ Sharika Webb averaged 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a junior at Cathedral High School, which went 27-1 and won the Class 3A state title in 2001. The 5-foot-8 guard was an Indiana Junior All-Star last season and participated in the Nike All-America Camp last summer. She has played in three consecutive state championship games, including the 1999 contest against Duncan’s NorthWood team.

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Team receives national attention with recruits

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