Published: 2/19/2007
Author: Bob_Richards
© Old Gold Free Press Columnists
Ohio prospect visits continueA couple possible recruiting targets were seen behind the Purdue bench for the Michigan State game. Being in Phoenix for the past week, we can only speculate at the identities of all the players. But descriptions point to two of the players being junior guard Amber Stokes of Gahanna Lincoln (OH) and possibly 6'2 junior post Maxine Ohakim of Columbus DeSales (OH).
Stokes is a midseason transfer from DeSales to Gahanna Lincoln, as OHSAA rules allow an immediate one-time eligibility exception for transfers from a private school to a player's "home" school. Amber Stokes followed her sister to DeSales, but once sister Laurel graduated, the younger Stokes wanted to transfer home to finish school with her childhood friends. Stokes was averaging 19 points per game for DeSales before the transfer, and last season helped DeSales to a Division II Regional Final. Stokes also runs track, and placed fourth in the state in the 400-meter dash.
Stokes started at point guard for DeSales since her freshman year. She averaged 14.1 points as a sophomore. Stokes' father is former Ohio State all-american Ronnie Stokes. Ohio State is on her list, as well as Purdue, Louisville, Penn State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa and Vanderbilt.
Maxine Ohakim is a 6'2 post who averaged 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds as a sophomore and was named preseason second team All-Division II this season. She is one of Ohio's top junior post prospects, and has the triple-threat of being big, strong and able to run the floor.
Honors
Sophomore Kelly Faris has been named to the National Christian Schools Athletic Association girls varsity volleyball all-american third team. Faris, who is a high Division I recruit in basketball and a target of Sharon Versyp for 2009, had 485 kills, 604 digs, 122 blocks and 91 aces last season, and helped lead the Eagles to a 30-5 record.
Brebeuf senior Ta'Shia Phillips has been selected to play in the WBCA All-America Game on March 31 in Cleveland as part of Final Four activities.
Hooparazzi
Photo of 2009 target Emilee Harmon - ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Ramblings
"I know if I see a shot, I can make it." -- Emilee Harmon, a Pickering Central (OH) sophomore player of interest to Purdue, assessing her offense.
Big Ten Recruiting
Players from the class of 2008 are starting to make commitments, and the current unofficial count of 2008 players committed stands at 47. The Big Ten recently received a couple from 2008 players, plus we add a Michigan State commitment for 2007.
Michigan State adds a 2007 player in Kalisha Keane, a 6'1 wing from Canada. She played for Sinclair Secondary in Ajax, Ontario in the Durham Region League as a junior, transferring to Westdale as a senior. Keane led Team Canada this past summer at the 2006 FIBA Americas Under-20 Championships with 12 points and 5.3 rebounds. Keane is ranked 34th in her class by All Star Girls Report.
Hannah Draxten, a 6'0 junior scoring guard from Fergus Falls (MN), has committed to Lisa Bluder's Iowa squad. Draxten was the first 2008 player from Minnesota's North Tartan AAU program to commit to a Big Ten program, the most recent being Jackie Voigt who pledged to Minnesota. She also played with the Minnesota Elite program that sent teammate Kiara Buford to Minnesota. As a sophomore, Draxten averaged 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game. Draxten also had offers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Drake and North Dakota State.
Wisconsin has pulled another player out of the Chicago Hoops Express program. The latest being 6'2 junior power forward Anya Covington of Edwardsville (IL), who averages 17 points and 11 boards per game. Covington chose Wisconsin over interest in St. Louis and Illinois.
READ MORE: Big Ten Recruiting: Commitments
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