SycamoreSage
The Captain Level
Below is a brief capsule from the ISU press release on each of the Sycamore signees for the 2007 NCAA Early Signing Period.
DEJA MATTOX
Guard, 6-0
Maconaquah, Ind./Maconaquah
Averaged 25.1 ppg as a junior, which was good enough for fourth place in the IHSAA Statistical Rankings ... Hit 29 3-pointers during her junior season ... Was a member of the Indiana Junior All-Stars during the summer of 2007 ... Scored 16 points as the Indiana Junior All-Stars downed the Indiana All-Stars in double overtime ... Marked only the fourth time in 26 games in which the Juniors have defeated the Indiana All-Stars ... Scored a career-high 35 points against rival Mississinewa, plus scored 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds against Peru last season ... Has scored over 20 points in each of her team?s contests to start off her senior season ... Posted 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals in an 84-52 season-opening victory over Tipton ... Scored 20 and 22 points in back-to-back games against Mississinewa and Northfield ... 2007-08 Cover Selection for Rim and Hoop Magazine ... 2007-08 Class 3A Diamond Selection ... 2006-07 Class 3A Diamond Selection ... Plays for coach Stacy Broyles.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Deja's a scoring machine. Inside, outside, off the dribble; you name it, she can do it. She's very good at creating in the open floor. At 5'11", she gives us some much needed size on the perimeter. She has the ability to post up, as well as step out and knock down the "3". Her ball skills are solid and she's a good passer. Her length and athletic ability will be an asset in our pressing style of play.?
BRITTANY SCHOEN
Guard, 5-6
Elizabeth, Ind./South Central
Last name pronounced SHANE ... Averaged 23.6 ppg as a junior to rank eighth-best in the final IHSAA Statistical Rankings ... Has averaged at least 20 ppg in each of her first three seasons of high school basketball ... As a sophomore, led South Central High School to the IHSAA Class A State Championship Game, falling to Lafayette Central Catholic ... Scored 25 points in the semi-state win that same season over Attica ... Played both point guard and shooting guard for the Ohio Valley Storm AAU team this past summer in a national tournament at Orlando, Fla., where she was named an All-American ... Entered the season with 1,755 career points scored ... Scored 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers, in the season opening victory over Charlestown and followed that up with 24 points against Springs Valley ... Scored 40 points against Jeffersonville earlier this season ... 2007-08 Cover Selection for Rim and Hoop Magazine ... 2007-08 Class A Diamond Selection ... 2006-07 Class A Diamond Selection ...Coached by Randall Schoen.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Brittany's a true scorer. She has deep range and a quick release. She also has the ability to create a shot for herself off the dribble, as well as get to the basket. Her footwork is good and she has a nice step back jumper. Her father is her coach and she has three brothers that all played college ball. Needless to say her basketball IQ is pretty high.?
AMANDA PEDRO
Forward, 6-0
Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers
Member of the Indiana?s Finest AAU Team ... Three-year starter at Luers High School ... Averaged 10.2 points as well as 9.8 rebounds per game as a junior ... Converted 72% of her free throws and shot 48% from the field ... Multi-sport star who has lettered in softball, volleyball and basketball ... Named All-Conference in 05-06 ... Luers won conference and IHSAA State Championship in 05-06 ... Was an honorable mention all-state selection as a sophomore ... Named all-conference for a second time as a junior, while team repeated as conference champions ... Also named all-area and IHSAA All-State last season ... Earned the IHSAA Student-Athlete Role Model Award as a senior ... Last season, took home her team?s Most Valuable Player honor and Hustle Award as well as the Mental Attitude Honor ... Won the Luers Hustle Award as a freshman and was the team?s MVP and Hustle Award winner as a sophomore ... Started off her senior season by scoring 23 points in a 61-42 victory over Angola ... Scored 26 points and tallied 10 rebounds plus eight assists and six steals against No. 1 South Bend Washington ... 2007-08 Diamond Selection ... 2006-07 Class 3A Diamond Selection ... Oldest of six children ... Coached by Greg Friend.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Amanda is an athletic, versatile 3-4 player. She has the ability to play with her back to the basket, as well as step out and shoot the "3". In our system, she should create match up problems. If you put a guard on her she can post her up. If you put a post player on her she can take them outside the three or put it on the floor and get to the basket. She's played for one of the best high school programs in Indiana, Bishop Luers, so her understanding of the game is very good."
BIANCA JARRETT
Guard, 5-5
Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan
Named Honorable Mention All-State by the Chicago Sun-Times for her play last season at Zion Benton Township High School in Lake County, just north of Chicago ... Averaged 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.7 steals for the 24-7 Zee Bees in 06-07 ... Scored a career-best 36 points last season against conference rival Warren Township, adding eight rebounds and five assists ... Also played for The Future?s AAU Club Team ... Jarrett scored 26 points with nine assists and steals in a victory over Niles North ... Scored 14 points with nine assists against Libertyville ... Helped earn a victory for her team in the Deerfield Invite by hitting a pair of free throws to secure a 58-57 win ... Posted a triple double with 10 points, 10 assists and 10 steals against North Chicago to win the Deerfield Invite ... Will appear in five games over the weekend in the Whitney Young Invitational .. Coached by Sylvester ?Jimsie? Simmons.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Bianca is a lightning quick point guard who does a terrific job of pushing the ball in transition and attacking the rim. She's a true point guard with a scorer's mind set. She too is a player who can create of the dribble, as well as knock down the "3". As good as she is offensively; her main strength is her ability to defend. She takes tremendous pride in her defense. Her strength and speed will cause numerous problems for opposing point guards."
SHANNON THOMAS
Center, 6-4
Springboro, Ohio/Springboro
A First Team All-Great Western Ohio Conference selection as a junior ... Averaged 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 rebounds last season for Springboro High School, which was one of four new schools to join the GWOC in 06-07 ... Last season Springboro tied Miamisburg for the GWOC South Division title ... Her team won seven consecutive games to finish the regular season, including nine of their last ten ... Spent this past summer playing for the Dayton Lady Hoopstars AAU squad ... Her Springboro team is off to a 3-0 start this season ... Thomas posted 13 points and 10 rebounds in a season opening victory over Little Miami ... In her most recent game, Thomas scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a victory over Fairborn.
Coach Wiedie Says: "Shannon's a 6'4' center whose best basketball is still ahead of her. I think her upside is tremendous. She's a good athlete and she does a nice job of running the floor in transition. Right now her strength is playing with her back to the basket, but I foresee her being able to face up and step away from the basket. Defensively, she offers a presence inside and her length allows her to alter shots."
DEJA MATTOX
Guard, 6-0
Maconaquah, Ind./Maconaquah
Averaged 25.1 ppg as a junior, which was good enough for fourth place in the IHSAA Statistical Rankings ... Hit 29 3-pointers during her junior season ... Was a member of the Indiana Junior All-Stars during the summer of 2007 ... Scored 16 points as the Indiana Junior All-Stars downed the Indiana All-Stars in double overtime ... Marked only the fourth time in 26 games in which the Juniors have defeated the Indiana All-Stars ... Scored a career-high 35 points against rival Mississinewa, plus scored 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds against Peru last season ... Has scored over 20 points in each of her team?s contests to start off her senior season ... Posted 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals in an 84-52 season-opening victory over Tipton ... Scored 20 and 22 points in back-to-back games against Mississinewa and Northfield ... 2007-08 Cover Selection for Rim and Hoop Magazine ... 2007-08 Class 3A Diamond Selection ... 2006-07 Class 3A Diamond Selection ... Plays for coach Stacy Broyles.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Deja's a scoring machine. Inside, outside, off the dribble; you name it, she can do it. She's very good at creating in the open floor. At 5'11", she gives us some much needed size on the perimeter. She has the ability to post up, as well as step out and knock down the "3". Her ball skills are solid and she's a good passer. Her length and athletic ability will be an asset in our pressing style of play.?
BRITTANY SCHOEN
Guard, 5-6
Elizabeth, Ind./South Central
Last name pronounced SHANE ... Averaged 23.6 ppg as a junior to rank eighth-best in the final IHSAA Statistical Rankings ... Has averaged at least 20 ppg in each of her first three seasons of high school basketball ... As a sophomore, led South Central High School to the IHSAA Class A State Championship Game, falling to Lafayette Central Catholic ... Scored 25 points in the semi-state win that same season over Attica ... Played both point guard and shooting guard for the Ohio Valley Storm AAU team this past summer in a national tournament at Orlando, Fla., where she was named an All-American ... Entered the season with 1,755 career points scored ... Scored 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers, in the season opening victory over Charlestown and followed that up with 24 points against Springs Valley ... Scored 40 points against Jeffersonville earlier this season ... 2007-08 Cover Selection for Rim and Hoop Magazine ... 2007-08 Class A Diamond Selection ... 2006-07 Class A Diamond Selection ...Coached by Randall Schoen.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Brittany's a true scorer. She has deep range and a quick release. She also has the ability to create a shot for herself off the dribble, as well as get to the basket. Her footwork is good and she has a nice step back jumper. Her father is her coach and she has three brothers that all played college ball. Needless to say her basketball IQ is pretty high.?
AMANDA PEDRO
Forward, 6-0
Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers
Member of the Indiana?s Finest AAU Team ... Three-year starter at Luers High School ... Averaged 10.2 points as well as 9.8 rebounds per game as a junior ... Converted 72% of her free throws and shot 48% from the field ... Multi-sport star who has lettered in softball, volleyball and basketball ... Named All-Conference in 05-06 ... Luers won conference and IHSAA State Championship in 05-06 ... Was an honorable mention all-state selection as a sophomore ... Named all-conference for a second time as a junior, while team repeated as conference champions ... Also named all-area and IHSAA All-State last season ... Earned the IHSAA Student-Athlete Role Model Award as a senior ... Last season, took home her team?s Most Valuable Player honor and Hustle Award as well as the Mental Attitude Honor ... Won the Luers Hustle Award as a freshman and was the team?s MVP and Hustle Award winner as a sophomore ... Started off her senior season by scoring 23 points in a 61-42 victory over Angola ... Scored 26 points and tallied 10 rebounds plus eight assists and six steals against No. 1 South Bend Washington ... 2007-08 Diamond Selection ... 2006-07 Class 3A Diamond Selection ... Oldest of six children ... Coached by Greg Friend.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Amanda is an athletic, versatile 3-4 player. She has the ability to play with her back to the basket, as well as step out and shoot the "3". In our system, she should create match up problems. If you put a guard on her she can post her up. If you put a post player on her she can take them outside the three or put it on the floor and get to the basket. She's played for one of the best high school programs in Indiana, Bishop Luers, so her understanding of the game is very good."
BIANCA JARRETT
Guard, 5-5
Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan
Named Honorable Mention All-State by the Chicago Sun-Times for her play last season at Zion Benton Township High School in Lake County, just north of Chicago ... Averaged 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.7 steals for the 24-7 Zee Bees in 06-07 ... Scored a career-best 36 points last season against conference rival Warren Township, adding eight rebounds and five assists ... Also played for The Future?s AAU Club Team ... Jarrett scored 26 points with nine assists and steals in a victory over Niles North ... Scored 14 points with nine assists against Libertyville ... Helped earn a victory for her team in the Deerfield Invite by hitting a pair of free throws to secure a 58-57 win ... Posted a triple double with 10 points, 10 assists and 10 steals against North Chicago to win the Deerfield Invite ... Will appear in five games over the weekend in the Whitney Young Invitational .. Coached by Sylvester ?Jimsie? Simmons.
Coach Wiedie Says: ?Bianca is a lightning quick point guard who does a terrific job of pushing the ball in transition and attacking the rim. She's a true point guard with a scorer's mind set. She too is a player who can create of the dribble, as well as knock down the "3". As good as she is offensively; her main strength is her ability to defend. She takes tremendous pride in her defense. Her strength and speed will cause numerous problems for opposing point guards."
SHANNON THOMAS
Center, 6-4
Springboro, Ohio/Springboro
A First Team All-Great Western Ohio Conference selection as a junior ... Averaged 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 rebounds last season for Springboro High School, which was one of four new schools to join the GWOC in 06-07 ... Last season Springboro tied Miamisburg for the GWOC South Division title ... Her team won seven consecutive games to finish the regular season, including nine of their last ten ... Spent this past summer playing for the Dayton Lady Hoopstars AAU squad ... Her Springboro team is off to a 3-0 start this season ... Thomas posted 13 points and 10 rebounds in a season opening victory over Little Miami ... In her most recent game, Thomas scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a victory over Fairborn.
Coach Wiedie Says: "Shannon's a 6'4' center whose best basketball is still ahead of her. I think her upside is tremendous. She's a good athlete and she does a nice job of running the floor in transition. Right now her strength is playing with her back to the basket, but I foresee her being able to face up and step away from the basket. Defensively, she offers a presence inside and her length allows her to alter shots."