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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball coach Nancy Winstel announced Wednesday that she has signed three prep standouts for the 2009-10 season. They are: •Tara Benedict, a 6-foot-2 post player from Troy (Ohio) Christian High School. Benedict averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. She enters her senior year having scored more than 800 career points. •Jaimie Hamlet, a 5-7 guard from Glen Este High School. Hamlet averaged 15.3 ppg and 3.1 assists as a junior for the Trojans. She also earned All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference honors and was named All-Southwest Ohio. •Katie Kees, a 6-2 post player from Mercy High School in Cincinnati. Kees was named honorable mention All-Girls’ Greater Cincinnati League last season. As a junior, Kees averaged a team-leading 1.6 blocks per game and averaged 10 ppg. She also grabbed 6.7 rebounds per contest as the Bobcats posted a 17-5 record. “We feel very good about this recruiting class with Tara, Jaimie and Katie. We added much-needed size with Tara and Katie, and Jaimie is an outstanding guard,” Winstel said. “We were looking for post players in this class and signed two very good prospects in Tara and Katie. We lose Cassie Brannen after this season to graduation, and it was important to bring in size in this class.” Brannen, a 6-1 senior post player, is NKU’s all-time career leader in blocked shots (172) entering this season. She has also scored 957 career points and was named most outstanding player at the regional tournament last season. That made landing Benedict and Kees a top priority for the NKU coaching staff. “Tara is a very good offensive player, and she handles the ball for her team in high school,” Winstel said. “She is a good 3-point shooter, but she is also a post-oriented player who is going to help us. “Katie is an athletic post player who runs the floor very well. She is very good defensively and I think her potential is unlimited. Hamlet is a versatile guard with an excellent basketball IQ, according to Winstel. Her ability to play both the point and shooting guard made her a great fit for NKU. “Jaimie is the ultimate gym rat and a player who is always thinking on the court,” Winstel said. “She really pays attention to detail and is a player a coach loves to have on the team. She is also a very good scorer who can play the point.” NKU is the defending NCAA Division II national champion. The Norse are also ranked No. 1 nationally in the WBCA preseason poll. |
