Two of Kent State's incoming freshmen averaged double-doubles their senior year, but none of the team's five recruits made an all-state team.
Best numbers of the group came from 5-10 forward Monique Smith of San Diego, who averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. It was the second straight season she's averaged a double-double, and she was called the league's best player by the city's top prep writer. She was an all-county and all-section player; there were probably more teams in her section than in some states.
Amanda Sape, a 6-3 center from suburban Detroit, averaged 13 points and 9.9 rebounds on a team that went 20-2. She's a big, strong player who's also been a shot putter and discus thrower on the track team. She was all-state honorable mention two years running.
Kasey Toles, the sister of assistant coach Morgan Toles, made all-county and all-regional teams in Georgia. She averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists on a team that went to the state semifinals. She's a 5-9 guard.
Point guard Erin Thames of suburban Charlotte, N.C., is one of the hardest players to figure out. She was recruited seriously by four other Division I schools, including Rhode Island and Boston College. But her statistics are ordinary -- 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and just 1.4 assists.
Fifth recruit was just signed in April. She's 6-1 forward Kennedy Roberts-Rosser of Fairfield High School in Cincinnati. Her numbers aren't impressive -- 8 points and 4 rebounds. She's supposed to show good athleticism, but my guess is that she'll be a bit of a project.
All of the players' senior statistics are quite comparable to their junior years. The class impresses me less now than it did last summer, but it still looks better than Danny O'Banion's first class. Only one member of that class will graduate as a Flash. But she's Larissa Lurken, who just had what may be the best single season in Kent State history.
More on the recruits on the blog at
http://wbbflashes.com.