Banner Year for Washington

With only three states producing more HoopGurlz National Hot 100 prospects, the state of Washington had an extraordinary 2007 class.

SEATTLE, Wash. – Angie Bjorklund and Alex Montgomery, both of whom were chosen as preseason All-Americans, lead a parade of senior girl’s basketball players from the state of Washington appearing in national rankings and ratings released by HoopGurlz.com.

Bjorklund, a 6-foot guard at University High School in Spokane, Wash., is No. 2 overall in the website’s national ranking of the top prospects in the Class of 2007, while Montgomery, a 6-1 wing at Lincoln High in Tacoma, Wash., is 15th. Both received HoopGurlz’s highest rating of five stars. Bjorklund, who has committed to Tennessee, was named first team All-American by HoopGurlz and Montgomery, who has verbaled to Georgia Tech, was named to the third team.

UW commit Sarah Morton

Both are among 17 players from the state of Washington identified by HoopGurlz.com as having committed to Division I programs (see list at end of release). All are expected to sign National Letters of Intent during the fall signing period, Nov. 8-15.

Based in Seattle, Wash., HoopGurlz.com is the only independent news organization that covers high-school girl’s basketball and ranks prospects for college women’s basketball on a national basis. The site recently became the official content and selection partner of the Gatorade Player of the Year program for girl’s basketball in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Joining Bjorklund and Montgomery in the HoopGurlz Hot 100 are Christina Nzekwe (No. 32) and Regina Rogers (No. 43) of Seattle’s Chief Sealth High School, Courtney Vandersloot (No. 64) of Kentwood High School and Sarah Morton (No. 66) of Monroe High School. All four were rated by HoopGurlz as four-star prospects. Vandersloot has given a verbal commitment to attend Gonzaga while Morton has committed to Washington.

Katelan Redmon of Spokane, Wash., and another Washington commit, was ranked 104th by HoopGurlz.com and rated as a three-star prospect.

The state of Washington tied with Texas as the fourth-highest producers of Hot 100 prospects. California led with 15, followed by Illinois with 10 and Georgia with eight.

"The fact that we are based in the state of Washington gives us more familiarity with these girls, but is not the reason why there are so many Washington kids included in our rankings," said Glenn Nelson, publisher of HoopGurlz.com and editor-in-chief of Scout.com, the network on which his website resides. "These all are kids discussed with much enthusiasm by major college coaches, scouting services and club and high-school coaches around the country. We’re certainly not the only ones who think they are special."

UW commit Mackenzie Argens

Chris Hansen, National Director of Scouting for HoopGurlz and Scout.com, called Washington’s 2007 class "among the very best in the country."

"Bjorklund is the best shooter in the country," Hansen said. "A three-pointer is like a layup for her, and she’ll be one of the keys to USA Basketball’s hopes at the world championships next year. And the rest of the country tried all summer to stop Alex Montgomery, but could not. She just blew up on the club circuit this year.

"A lot of people consider Vandersloot a steal for Gonzaga and Morton the same for the Huskies. Then you can’t forget that Chief Sealth had three kids go to Pac-10 schools, that the Huskies also have a commitment from Mackenzie Argens (Roosevelt) and that Brittany Eskridge (Jackson) verbaled to Oregon State, Stephanie Wilber (Auburn Riverside) is committed to Arizona State and Chanieka Williams (Garfield) is going to Syracuse. That’s a lot of talent from one little state headed to major Division I programs."

Last year, two Washington athletes – Heather Bowman of Lewis and Clark (now at Gonzaga) and Julie Futch of Auburn Riverside (now at Oregon State) – were ranked among HoopGurlz.com’s preseason Top 50 for the class of 2006. Bowman and Sara Mosiman of King’s (now at Washington) were ranked among HoopGurlz.com’s final national top 50 for 2006.

"Last year’s class had a lot of depth – we counted 24 Division I signings among Washington players," Nelson said. "This year’s has more elite-level athletes than we’ve seen in a long time. Part of me thinks it’s a shame they didn’t all play on the same club team. We traveled the country the past year, and have seen all the top teams from all over the nation. This group could compete with the best of them."

The University of Washington recruited a class that includes three players ranked in the HoopGurlz National Hot 100, with a fourth at No. 104. According to a statistical analysis that will be posted later today, the Huskies ranked from 10th to 12th in the country, according to various criteria.

Click Here for University of Washington Commitments

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Washington Girls Committed to DI Schools
(As of Nov. 8, 2006)

Mackenzie Argens, Roosevelt HS (Washington)
Angie Bjorklund, Chief Sealth HS (Tennessee)
Amanda Best, Woodinville HS (New Mexico)
Brittany Eskridge, Jackson HS (Oregon State)
Nia Jackson, Chief Sealth HS (Oregon)
Cydney Knight, Pasco HS (Utah)
Alex Montgomery, Lincoln HS (Georgia Tech)
Nikki Nelson, Chewelah HS (New Mexico)
Christina Nzekwe, Chief Sealth HS (UCLA)
Katelan Redmon, Lewis & Clark HS (Washington)
Regina Rogers, Chief Sealth HS (UCLA)
Sarah Morton, Monroe HS (Washington)
Sarah Strand, King’s HS (Montana State)
Courtney Vandersloot, Kentwood HS (Gonzaga)
Stephanie Wilber, Auburn-Riverside HS (Arizona State)
Chanieka Williams, Garfield HS (Syracuse)
Coriann Wood, Connell HS (BYU)

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