Newlee adds three, Verlin one
The Idaho men and women’s basketball programs added some talent for the 2015-16 season as the early National Letter of Intent signing period started Wednesday. Women’s basketball coach Jon Newlee added three players, while men’s basketball coach Don Verlin signed one.
The three players joining the women’s basketball team next year are Taylor Pierce from La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California, Mikayla Ferenz from Walla Walla High School in Walla Walla, Washington and Sue Winger from Mead High School in Spokane.
“I think this is one of the best, if not the best class we have ever signed,” Newlee said. “All three players can come in and be impact players for us.”
Pierce has averaged 14.8 points per game and made 235 three-point- ers in 94 career games at La Costa Canyon High School. Last year, the 5-foot-7 guard help lead her team to its first state playoff appearance, ad- vancing to the quarterfinals.
Newlee said Pierce is one of the top 3-point shooters in the country and expects her to play both the point and shooting guard position.
Ferenz has started all three seasons of her high school career. The 5-foot-11 guard heads into her senior season with 927 career points at Walla Walla High School.
Winger stands at 6-foot-2 and started as a sophomore on the Mead team that went 25-1 and won the 4A Washington State Champion- ship where she scored 16 points in the title game. ESPN ranked her as one of the top 75 prospects in the country.
“With all three of these guys coming in we have added so much to our program,” Newlee said. “It is rare when you go after the top three players on your list and get all three. They are all excited to be Vandals.”
Tyler Brimhall is the lone player Don Verlin added thus far in the early signing period. Verlin said he’s known Brimhall since he was a kid and has been able to watch him grow on and off the court.
Brimhall was an all-state player at Logan High School in Logan, Utah. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard will be a four-year starter and averaged 17 points and 5.6 rebounds last year as a junior.
“Tyler has very good size for a shooting guard,” Verlin said. “He is an excellent shooter and really has improved his ability to finish at the rim … We are very excited for Tyler to be an Idaho Vandal.”
Cross country heads to regionals
The Idaho men’s and women’s cross country teams head to Stan- ford, California, for the NCAA Re- gional Meet Friday at the Stanford Golf Course. The race will feature some of the top Cross Country teams in the nation from Idaho, Washington, California, Oregon and Arizona. The Vandals are led by senior Cody Helbling on the men’s side and freshman Sierra Speiker on the women’s side. Helbling finished 14th at the Big Sky Championships in the men’s race while Speiker finished 13th in the women’s race.
“We’re absolutely ready for this weekend,” Idaho coach Travis Floeck said. “I feel they have a lot of momentum after running so well in the conference meet. Anytime a competitive team gets toward the end of the season they have to keep their energy and focus up and just be excited. I feel we’re very prepared and I expect them to do well.”