This is the final in a series of four posts on the Bobcat women’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

The Recruits

Tricia Binford will graduate /lose three players off of this year’s team, but will look to replace them with up to 7 new players. With veteran eight players returning, including redshirt Jannette Jackson it is quite clear that at least 3-4 of the new players will need to be ready to contribute next fall. Of the six player who have signed or committed, the two in my some what novice opinion that look to be freshman ready to go would be 5-9 guard / small forward Latisha Addams and 6-0 power forward Rachel Semansky. I do not know exactly why I feel this way, I get the feeling that these two players could end up being very special in the Bobcat program., in the way Perry was in 06-07, Strand in 07-08 and Bussey was last year. Nipping at their heels are 6-1 forward Ashley Albert and 6-4 center Chelsea Banis, and the only thing that separates these women from Adams and Semansky in my opinion, is that they may have a little bit more of a transition to make to the college game. Albert will be moving from guard to the forward spot in college and may have to adjust to a more physical game. For Banis, I have a built in prejudice, that true big girls usually need a little more time to adjust to college ball. The other two players 5-11 guard / forward Kelsey Roben and 5-7 point guard Ally Schmitt are a little bit of a mystery or wild card for me, because I don’t feel I have a good picture of them. Both come from nationally ranked teams, with multiple D-1 signies, and solid pedigrees, but modest stats if any. Schmitt is a pure point who I think may see playing time next year. She is not the dynamic point Perry is but is more of a floor general who can get everyone involved. Roben is a complete mystery, very modest junior stats on a very powerful team and then had to sit out this year when she blew out her knee. From what I do hear she has a rep as a deadly three point shooter, well coaches and plays solid defense.

As mentioned previously there is a chance that Binford could sign another athlete this spring. This though is not a guarantee, though. I do not think Binford has filled all of her scholarships ever since she has been at MSU. I asked a couple years ago about her 15 scholarships and she said she would fill all 15 if she found the right players, but she did not want to fill the scholarships for the sake of filling them. Once she fills scholarship it is committed for 4 years, she would rather hold the scholarship over until the following year and get the right player. Like I said though if she does sign another player, and again I no particular insight either way, my first guess would be she might look for another big (JC?), and secondly a point (JC?), these are the two areas that the Cats may need the most help next year and we look very solid at the 2 and 3.

The common factors, that almost all of these girls, -and most of Binford’s recruits the past couple of years, for that matter- is that they are very skilled basketball player, who can play multiple positions on the floor, can run the floor, and come from winning programs. Who eventually plays next year is really a crapshoot for me to try to predict, because they are all capable. No matter where they are right now this minute, the main factor that will play the biggest role next year may lay in who works the hardest between now and the start of practice, they are that close.