The team Next Year

**cmoore_23** · 03-25-2008, 02:38 PM

i have noticed alot of talk about what the team will be like next year and alot of talk on who Bill brings in as far as recruiting.. well i had posted a little bit on one of the threads but decided to move it here....along with more info

Iowa State
Coach Bill Fennelly on his class of Ashley Arlen (Cascade, Iowa), Whitney Williams (Ft. Worth, Texas) and Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.):
"For us, recruiting is about finding young people who fit the culture of Iowa State and our basketball program. The three players we signed will all bring with them a commitment on and off the court to help continue the tradition of our program. ... We felt Ashley was the best player in the 2008 class in Iowa. She is a great athlete who has a very competitive mentality. We will need a great deal of help in the post in the years ahead and this is a great start for us. Being from the hometown of (ISU men’s basketball) Coach McDermott is an added bonus. ... Whitney can play either guard spot. She understands the game very well and can impact the game in a variety of ways, whether it is her three-point shooting or her ball handling. Coming from Texas, she has played against great competition her whole life. ... Lex is a prototypical point guard. She plays the game the way we like to play it and does a great job of making those around her better. I think she has a great shot to be Miss Basketball in South Dakota (this season)."

'08 Coaches Comments | HoopGurlz
btw this is from November

just did a quick search and saw that alexis was named SD gatorade player of the year
Sports : Making her mark - Capital Journal Pierre, SD newspaper since 1881

Alexis avg
18pts 7 assists 4 rebounds and 5 steals a game

Ashley Arlen was first team 2A here in Iowa

i can not find that much on Whitney.. just a couple things saying she is coming here...

My point is, Bill knows what he is doing, and is not only bringing in girls that fit the system but he is bringing in girls who will fit the school

Oh and with all 3 of them coming in and you throw in the rest of the team coming back.. we should be pretty good.. also dont forgot players like Lightbourne..Florzac.. and even Mosman.. all have potential...

**bos** · 03-25-2008, 02:42 PM

I know its not always popular, but I like how ISU recruits. They recruit people who fit the program, the culture, and are hardworking reliable people. It doesnt necessarily translate to immediate wins, but it will get there. It seems to ISU, its about the student first, sport second where alot of schools make it about the sport first and are willing to get any dirty deeder to fill the role and win now. I know we have had our share of issues with players, but all in all it seems like we are big on character.

**IcSyU** · 03-25-2008, 02:47 PM

I'd rather have a bunch of respectful young women who represent the university well and are a good team than a bunch of thugs who don't care about the image of the university and win a ton of games.

**cycloneman003** · 03-25-2008, 03:12 PM

the team should be solid next year, defintely better than this year, with wieben and ross, and everyone else is coming back.... could be a contender for the big 12

**PolkCityClone** · 03-25-2008, 07:12 PM

I like how Bill recruits. He has a solid history of recruit several attractive players each year. I am willing to lose a few more games if it means I don't have to watch the Paris hosses on the floor.

**Cysister** · 03-25-2008, 07:14 PM

Here is some information on Whitney. NCHBC

Her home school team just defended their national title.

**cmoore_23** · 03-25-2008, 07:20 PM

nice find.. and i think it was state title.. but a big one none the least as they are 6A in texas and she was mvp.. pretty sweet

**Cysister** · 03-25-2008, 07:31 PM

Actually it is the National Home School Basketball Championships. It is held in Oklahoma. Whitney is home schooled. I think it was Coach Steyer who saw her playing AAU ball for Texas and when they started recruiting her they discovered that she was also home schooled. http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3216859/

**cmoore_23** · 03-25-2008, 07:32 PM

ok i see it now.. thanks

**83Clone** · 03-25-2008, 07:51 PM

Don't women's programs have the same 13 scholarship limit that men's programs have?

I wasn't a math major, but I count 12 players on this year's roster, and I am not aware of any of them being walk ons.

If Ross gets a medical redshirt, that means 12 returning players, even if she doesn't, it's 11

With 3 incoming recruits that leaves 14 or 15 players. Does anybody have the scholarship-ology?

**jakemcilroy** · 03-25-2008, 08:08 PM

Women's basketball gets 15 scholarships unlike the 13 men's bb gets. This is the major factor behind the greater parity in men's basketball than women's. Those extra two scholarship players REALLY impact recruiting. UConn and Tennessee have scholarship players at roster spot 14 & 15 that could be starting at Big 10 and some Big 12 schools. Further, Iowa and ISU have players at roster spot 14 & 15 that could be starters or impact players at Missouri Valley programs like Drake and UNI...etc, etc. Most Division I college coaches (except at very high major programs) would like to move to 13 scholarships like the men...however, it'll never happen because of Title IX.

**isucy86** · 03-25-2008, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by jakemcilroy

Women's basketball gets 15 scholarships unlike the 13 men's bb gets.

I've heard Fennelly talk & I believe he mentioned he only had 15 scholarship players 1x during his time at ISU. I got the feeling he feels 15 players is too many to keep everyone happy & not needed from a practice perspective.

**CyBobby** · 03-26-2008, 08:27 AM

I think the womens bball team will be much improved next year...Is Tocara Ross coming back on a medical redshirt or is she moving on?

Question of trivial importance: Can anyone on this board remember the womens coach was before Fennelly and her record when she left Ames??