Kent State added its official announcement of its five fall commitments this morning, so we know quite a bit more than we did yesterday.
The new Flashes are:
Savannnah Neace is a 6-3 forward from St. Henry High School in Hebron, Ky.. which is across the river from Cincinnati. She was her team’s leading scorer (10.5 points per game) and rebounder (8.8 per game) and averaged 4.4 blocks per game. She had three triple-doubles. Kent State coach Danny O’Banion praised her versatility, saying she could score inside and outside.Her team had a 20-12 record last year.
Merissa Barber-Smith is a 6-3 center from La Follette High School in Madison, Wisc. She averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds per game last year was selected as one of the top 50 basketball players in Wisconsin. Her team reached the Wisconsin regional finals. O’Banion said her length and athleticism were reminiscent of current 6-4 senior Cici Shannon. Barber-Smith’s team team was 12-12 last season.
Taylor Parker is a 5-7 point guard from Cass Technical High School in Detroit. Last season she averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 steals, 3.4 assists 3.5 steals and 2.1 rebounds per game. Her team was 14-3 and runner-up in the Detroit City Championship the last two years. She was a third-team all-city selection.
Alexa Goiden is a 5-9 guard from Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh. She missed her junior year with a knee injury. As a sophomore, she averaged 8.9 points, 3.9 assets, 3.8 steals, 2.6 blocks and 7/9 rebounds and was considered one of the best sophomores in the area. O’Banion praised her “defensive tenacity” and “high basketball IQ” and called her a “prototypical ‘glue player.'”
Megan Carter is a 5-7 point guard from North Farmington High School outside Detroit. She averaged 16.7 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists per game as a junior. Her AAU coach called her “definitely one of the top two guards in the state in that class.”Her team was 10-10 and district runner-up last year. Like Golden, she has had knee problems; she tore an ACL twice. She was the Oakland Press 2013-14 Comeback Player of the Year.
Here’s the kentstatesports.com story.
Other MAC schools are announcing their recruiting classes. I’ve retweeted the ones I’ve seen (@wbbflashes) and will to do a wrap-up.