Last week, the Bowling Green women’s basketball team announced the signings of five new players to national letters of intent.
The program is emerging as a force in the Mid-American Conference after finishing 21-10 last season and this class should only bring more talent to an already strong team.
Part of the reason for the Falcons’ recent success has been bringing in players that could contribute right away. Last season saw four of their top six scorers arise from their freshman class. BG head coach Curt Miller is hoping this class is no different.
“We don’t ever try to recruit role players,” Miller said. “We recruit players that can play right away and I think we got that with this class.”
With an abundance of talent in the post and at the forward position, the team is looking to fill in some talent at the guard position. The Falcons have solid players in the backcourt right now, but they are still trying to do the impossible in filling the void left by the graduation of Stefanie Wenzel and Lindsay Austin. That void will become even bigger when Tene Lewis graduates at the end of this year.
That is where Jasmine McCall and DePrice Taylor come in.
McCall averaged 16 points, six rebounds and four steals per game in her junior year at the Detroit Media and Communications high school. She is currently rated as the No. 15 player in the state of Michigan by the Michigan high school basketball scouting service.
Right behind McCall in the rankings of that scouting service is Taylor, who is rated as the No. 16 senior in the state.
“Two people we’re really excited about helping us immediately are Jasmine McCall and DePrice Taylor,” Miller said. “There’s two players that can play right away.”
Joining this duo in the backcourt is Lindsey Goldberry, who averaged eight points, four assists and three steals per game last season playing for Chaminade-Julienne high school in Dayton. The team made it to the state finals this past March before bowing out in the second round. She also has had success playing and winning on her AAU team, the Dayton Hoopsters.
“What can I say other than she’s a big winner,” Miller said. “She just wins no matter where she’s at.”
But it’s not all guards in this class.
Forwards Jessica McKenzie and Morgan Groover should provide the team with some strength in the post. Groover is a tough post player with the ability to score around the hoop.
McKenzie on the other hand can do just about whatever is asked of her. She averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per contest while playing for West Muskingum high school, where she earned first-team all-Ohio honors in Div. III.
“She’s a real good get,” Miller said. “She’s arguably the best player in southern Ohio. She’s an explosive player and she should be a great one-two punch with Ali Mann.”
Now the only thing the Falcons can do is wait for next season, to see what these players can really do. Hopefully the team can wait that long.
