Women’s Basketball Inks Five Players For 2011-12 Season
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's basketball program has signed five players for the upcoming 2011-12 season, head coach Laurie Kelly announced Thursday. The recruiting class consists of four high school seniors and one junior college transfer, with four signees coming to NAU from California and one newcomer from Arizona. The five additions offset the loss of four graduated players following the 2010-11 campaign.
"I am really pleased with our class," said Kelly. "I like fact that we bring in some experience with some youth and I think this class gives us more depth at a lot of positions. They are all quality young ladies that are driven to succeed in the classroom as well as on the floor, so I look for this class to be competitive in playing for minutes along with the returners. "
The four incoming freshmen are already in Flagstaff taking summer courses and getting to know the campus and their teammates. Three of the four - Raven Anderson (Tempe, Ariz. – Chandler HS), Erikka Banks (Fresno, Calif. – Clovis East HS) and Chanel Smith (Oxnard, Calif. – Santa Clara HS) - are each 6' 0" or taller and have the ability to play the forward positions. The fourth freshman, Jasmine Sneed (Tarzana, Calif. – Sierra Canyon HS), will join the Lumberjacks as a point guard.
Paige Haines will join the NAU roster as a junior transfer from San Bernardino Valley College, where she is currently completing her AA degree. She was the Foothill Conference MVP last season and has two years of collegiate experience after beginning her collegiate career at Cal Poly Pamona, where she was a redshirt as a freshman.
"We bring in some diversity at the point guard position with two different types of players and we will have good balance at that position," added Kelly. "We've struggled to have a consistent go to player in the paint and our three new bigs will give us a lot of great options at the 4 and 5. We have a lot of veteran, experienced players coming back and I think it's going to be key to get the newcomers integrated into the team and the University."
Below are individual bios and quotes from Coach Kelly on the five recruits:
Raven Anderson 6-2 F Tempe, Ariz./Chandler
Coach Kelly on Raven:
"Raven gives us great size; She's a legitimate 6' 2" and she's a power player who is very strong around the rim and on the glass. We need a dominating presence inside and I feel that she has the ability to be that player for us."
Majoring in exercise science...Two year letter winner and starter in basketball at Chandler HS...Averaged 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game during senior season...Recorded 10 double-digit scoring games, including a 20 point game...Team went 24-6 overall and 10-0 in league play in 2010-11, advancing to the state championship game and finishing as the runner up...Ended the season ranked third in the state of Arizona by Max Preps...Daughter of Corey Anderson...One brother, Kason, and three sisters, Chellae, Kelcey and Pheobe...Stepmother, Christina, attended NAU.
Erikka Banks 6-0 F Fresno, Calif./Clovis East
Coach Kelly on Erikka:
"Erikka has the ability to play the 3 or 4 for us, as she can handle the ball and get up and down the floor. She has a lot of guard tendencies as well as having the ability to play inside and drive from the high post from the power forward position. She is strong on the glass and can give us a variety of options on the floor."
Majoring in biomedical science....Four-year letter winner, three-year starter and team captain in basketball at Clovis East HS...Named team MVP and best offensive player two years...Named 2011 Senior Girl Athlete of the Year by the Junior League of Fresno...Named to Fresno Bee Winter All-Star girls basketball first team in 2011...Played in USA Junior Nationals All-State competition in 2009...Team won Valley conference championship in double overtime over Clovis West in 2011...Daughter of Eric Banks Sr. and Kimberly Harvey...Two older brothers, Eric Jr. and Erin.
Paige Haynes 5-7 PG Riverside, Calif./San Bernardino Valley College
Coach Kelly on Paige:
"I look for Paige to bring in a great deal of experience and leadership and I feel that she can be an impact player for us right away. I like the fact that she's a scoring point guard in addition to her ball handling abilities. She can really run and affect the tempo and has deep three-point range. To be able to add scoring threat at the point position will be key for us."
Plans to major in communication or education....Two-year starter and team captain at San Bernardino Valley College...Team won Foothill conference championship in 2010 and 2011...Averaged 12 points, four assists and four rebounds per game...Two-time All-Foothill conference first team, league MVP in 2011...Third team all-state selection in 2010 and first team all-state selection in 2011...Four-year starter and letter winner, three-year team captain in basketball at Martin Luther King HS...Ivy league MVP in 2008, first team in 2007 and second team in 2006...Set Martin Luther King high school single season assist record with 129 as a senior...Daughter of Ollie Haynes...Three older brothers, Jamal, Kenneth and Deshawn.
Chanel Smith 6-1 F Oxnard, Calif./Santa Clara
Coach Kelly on Chanel:
"Chanel is a post player but reminds me a lot of (senior guard) Caty Huntington in that she is always playing 100 miles per hour. She has a unique ability in how hard she runs and how hard she rebounds. She is really strong on the glass and can play in our up-tempo style and really help us defensively. "
Major is undeclared...Two year letter winner in basketball at Channel Islands HS, two year letter winner in basketball at Santa Clara HS...Averaged 7.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game during senior season...Averaged 7.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game as a junior...2010-11 first team All-Ventura County , 2009-10 second team All-Ventura County, two time first team All-Frontier League selection...Named team defensive player of the year twice...Posted 11 double-digit scoring games and 11 double-digit rebounding games during senior season...Team won 2010-11 CIF championship...Daughter of Shawn and Randy Smith...Only child.
Jasmine Sneed 5-3 PG Tarzana, Calif./Sierra Canyon
Coach Kelly on Jasmine:
"Jasmine is small and very fast. A lot of similar players in the Big Sky have had great success and I expect that from her as well. She gets inside the lane really well and has a very strong handle. She is very aggressive defensively and she makes up for her size with hard work, intensity and speed. "
Majoring in health sciences-public health....Four year starter and letter winner, two-year team captain in basketball at Sierra Canyon HS...Averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game during high school career...Named team MVP and earned first team league and CIF honors...Team won the Alpha league title three seasons and also won a CIF state championship...Also competed in cross country for one season...Daughter of Nedra Sneed...One younger sister, Jordan.
