The Brandon University Bobcats women's basketball team is pleased to announce the addition of four high-school recruits from right here in our region. Stephanie Hunter of Brandon, Kinsley Ransom of Boissevain, and Kailan and Keegan Robinson of Hamiota have all signed letters of intent to play for BU starting in the fall of 2013. Head Coach Novell Thomas is wrapping up his first full season at BU, and knows the importance of adding strong local players to a CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) roster.“Athletes in our area have a lot of options on where they can go to post-secondary school. It's great that these athletes feel BU is a good opportunity for them to follow their academic pursuits while playing the game they love,” says Thomas.
All four have recruits are bringing their high school careers to a close, and all four have earned some impressive individual accolades and team accomplishments.
Here's a break-down on the four recruits and what Coach Thomas has to say about them:
STEPHANIE HUNTER
Hunter helped the Crocus Plains High School Plainsmen to four Brandon City League Championships (two with the junior varsity team and two with the senior varsity team) over the course of her high-school career. This past she season averaged a double-double as team captain.
The 6-foot-2 post was also named to the AAAA graduating all-star team and was captain for Crocus' senior varsity volleyball team.
“Stephanie has an aggressive side to her which is needed at the CIS level, so ultimately we are pretty excited about having a local product like Stephanie on our team,” says Thomas.
“I expect her to use her height and length to help the team. We'll work on how to defend and be a force in the paint and then ultimately it's up to her to be able do the things we have asked her to do in order to contribute to the team.”
Her accomplishments are not limited to the gymnasium either, as Hunter has earned honour roll marks through each of her four years in high school.
KINSLEY RANSOM
Ransom is wrapping up a stellar career as a Boissevain Bronco in which she helped lead the school to three consecutive AA provincial championships, the first with the Bronco's JV team, the final two with the varsity team.
On top of helping her team to multiple titles, Ransom earned some impressive individual accolades as well, being named Manitoba AA female basketball player of the year last season, and making the provincial team in 2010.
She was also named Boissevain School's female athlete of the year in her grade 11 year.
“Kinsley first caught my attention at the Manitoba provincial team try-outs. She ended up not making the team, but then trained with our team over the summer and didn't look out of place at all,” says Thomas.
“I'm eager to see how Kinsley will transition to the next level. She has a tremendous upside and as long as her work ethic is there, and I'm pretty sure it will be, I think she will be a strong Bobcat.”
Ransom is a second generation Bobcat, as her dad Gord played hockey for Brandon University in the early 1990's.
KAILAN ROBINSON
Being twin siblings, Kailan and Keegan Robinson have obvious similarities in both the style of basketball they play and their careers to this point.
Both are 5-foot-10 perimeter players, and both have contributed to the success of the Hamiota Collegiate Huskies over the past few years.
Kailan helped the Huskies to a provincial A championship, earning all-star honours in the process.
“I saw Kailan play first and instantly I was amazed by how she could move,” says Thomas.
“She moves effortlessly. I'm not sure if she knows how athletic she actually is. Maybe she does, but she has natural athleticism that is very appealing to a coach.”
Kailan's contributions aren't limited to the basketball court either, as she was a medalist with Hamiota Collegiate's soccer, volleyball and hockey teams. She also ran cross-country and track, and was named her school's female athlete of the year for the 2011-12 season.
KEEGAN ROBINSON
Keegan's overall athleticism has garnered her success in multiple sports.
On top of being a member of the Huskies basketball team that captured the provincial A championship, she too was named to the A provincial all-star team.
She was also named the MBCA (Manitoba Basketball Coaches Association) A player of the year in her grade 11 season.
Keegan is also a two-time provincial A medalist with Hamiota's volleyball team, and was also named to the provincial all-star and graduating all-star teams.
“Keegan has demonstrated that she can shoot the ball well, and her athleticism is very impressive as well. I see her developing into a pesky defender who will be able to use her quickness to her advantage. Having an athletic player like Keegan will allow us to run an up-tempo style,” Thomas says of the 5-foot-10 combo guard/wing.
“Keegan and Kalian are competitors. They come from a hard-working family, so I'm looking forward to how they develop over their careers.”
The four local recruits were officially welcomed to Brandon University Athletics Thursday afternoon in BU's Healthy Living Centre, as coach Thomas presented them with their Bobcat uniforms.
All four will spend the summer training with the Bobcats before starting their first official training camps in August.