Recruiting class impresses coach
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/17/2009
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The highly-touted 2010 women’s basketball signing class has the current team excited.
Ranked No. 6 in the nation, the signing class includes two top candidates for Indiana’s Miss Basketball award, 5-foot-7 guard Courtney Moses (Sweetser/Oak Hill H.S.) and 6-foot forward Dee Dee Williams (Indianapolis/Ben Davis H.S.). The Boilers will also welcome transfers Drey Mingo from Maryland and Antoinette Howard from Florida State.
“We’re pleased that we have two incoming Indiana players,” coach Sharon Versyp said. “And with this recruiting class, Antoinette Howard and Drey Mingo are pretty much a part of this recruiting class. We’re very pleased with how we’re ranked.”
Williams is ranked 39th in the nation by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She chose Purdue over the numerous SEC and ACC schools also pursuing her.
“We want to let people know that the Big Ten gets athletes like that as well,” Versyp said. “I think she was like a hidden commodity. Everybody in the country was after her at such a young age because she has that prototype: 6’1”, long, lanky, can defend, is an incredible rebounder defensively and offensively. Our key is that she’s going to be one of the top defenders.”
Moses is ranked No. 35 by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and is expected to fill the void left by graduating senior FahKara Malone next season. She is a true point guard and Versyp said she loves to see the ball in her hands.
“You’ve got to have two great point guards, and for us FahKara’s been the key for our last four years, and with (freshman KK Houser) coming in,” Versyp said. “But with Courtney, it’s a different arsenal. Again, you have two point guards, which you guys are going to see a lot this year.
“But Courtney is amazing in the half court and open court. Her passing abilities and creating for her teammates are amazing. She’s got great body control and she’s a great scorer with the ball in her hand.”
The two transfers are able to practice with the team this year, but due to NCAA transfer rules have to sit out the 2009-2010 season. Freshman KK Houser is already impressed with their practice ethics.
“(Howard’s) our And-1 player right there,” Houser said. “She can create anything off the dribble and she’s amazing at that. And Drey’s one of the best post players and she works her butt off.”
The 2010 class is Versyp’s highest ranked class in the four years she’s been head coach at Purdue.