Women's Basketball Signs Four In Early Signing Period
11/11/2009 1:14:32 PM
Evansville Harrison High School high-scoring guard Khristian Hart, Wisconsin all-state wing Katie Ellerson (Muskego, Wis./Muskego), Alabama all-star post player Miranda Liles (Killen, Ala./Brooks) and Illinois standout center Hannah Weedman (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville) have all signed National Letters of Intent to continue their basketball careers at the University of Evansville, women’s basketball head coach Misty Murphy announced today.
“This incoming class will add good size to our lineup, but just because we are adding height, that does not mean that we will slow down at all in our transition-style of basketball,” said Murphy. “All four of these players are tremendous athletes, and they are all great fits for our fast-paced, transition-style of basketball that we play.
“Maybe equally as impressive as their athletic abilities though is their character. They are all excellent students and great citizens and will be great ambassadors for both our program and the University of Evansville.
“All four players come from great high school and A.A.U. programs which have traditions of success. All four are well-coached and fundamentally-sound players on the court, and I really have to credit my coaching staff of Mike Jacobsma, Jim Sexton, and Nicki Motto, because they did a great job of identifying players who really fit with the direction we want our program to go.”
Hart was named the Evansville Courier & Press All-Metro Player of the Year and earned Indiana Junior All-Star status this past year as a junior, while ranking among the state’s top 20 in scoring at over 20.6 points per game. She showed her explosiveness offensively during a one-week stretch in January in which she scored a career-high 40 points against Mater Dei High School, and followed that up with 31- and 36-point games later in the week. Hart also pitched in 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game for the Harrison Warriors, who she helped guide to the Class 4A Evansville Sectional title. Hart’s father, Ken, played basketball at Texas Christian University from 1979-83.
“Khristian is one of the quickest guards around,” said Murphy. “She has an extremely bright future at the college level as both a point guard and wing for us. Being from the Evansville community, it will also be great, because her family and friends will be able to see her grow at the college level.”
Ellerson is one of the top players in the state of Wisconsin, as she earned Sporting News Magazine Honorable Mention All-America honors this preseason. Ellerson was a first-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association as a junior, after averaging 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game to help lead Muskego High School to a perfect 16-0 mark in conference play and a Southeast Conference championship. She also has shined on the volleyball court for the Warriors, and was named second-team all-state this fall after helping Muskego to the state title. Ellerson is the daughter of former NFL running back Gary Ellerson.
“Katie will provide us with a big wing who is a very good rebounder and very good in transition,” said Murphy. “Katie is a tremendous athlete and is really solid in all phases of the game. She is also a great competitor and will add good size and length to our perimeter at 5’11.”
Liles is a 6’2 post player from Brooks High School in Killen, Alabama who earned Alabama All-Star status after averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last season for the Lions. Liles already ranks as the second-leading scorer and rebounder in Brooks High School history, and has been a two-time Class 4A first-team selection the last two years. Liles set a school single-game scoring record last year with a 42-point outing, while also posting four 20-rebound performances as a junior. Liles’ father, Darin, also played basketball in the Missouri Valley Conference, as he started his career at Indiana State in 1988.
“Miranda is great in transition because she can run the floor extremely well,” said Murphy. “She is a really good rebounder as well, who also has a very nice shooting touch facing the basket with three-point range. She will really fit in well with our transition game over the next four years.”
Weedman is the tallest of UE’s signees at 6’4 and has averaged a double-double throughout her high school career at Knoxville High School in western Illinois. Weedman, who ranks 45th among ESPNU HoopGurlz’s Top 100 rankings for the center position, has averaged over 14 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Blue Bullets as a soon-to-be four-year starter. She earned honorable mention all-state honors last season, while also rejecting a school-record 10 shots in a single-game. Weedman comes from an athletic family as well, as both of her parents played college basketball at Carl Sandburg College in Illinois.
“Hannah will give us a true low-post presence on both ends of the court over the next four years,” said Murphy. “Defensively, she will alter shots because of her size. Offensively, she can get up and down the court well, and is very skilled with her back to the basket.”