In second part of my look at Montana States women’s basketball recruits we are going to look at the forwards and center. As it happens these also happens all of these women are Montana high school players, all of these girls also have the opportunity to play some significant minutes next year.


Ashley Albert is a 6-1 player from Hamilton she averaged just under 20 points and 11 rebounds this past year. She plays a guard position for Hamilton but will play the both forward spots for the Cats. When I saw her play she reminded me of current Bobcat Sara Strand but a little better 3 point shooter. A Griz / Hamilton friend of mine suggested she is more of a Lauren Cooper type, and I can definitely see that. She is a late bloomer and did not really did not get a lot of recruiting attention until this summer, when offer started flowing in. In any case she has very good ball skills, as she handles and passes as well as most guards, she could be a very difficult player to guard in college and could be prolific scorer for the Cats down the line.


Chelsea Banis from Fairfield is a 6-4 center who averaged around 17 points 8 rebounds (this is a rough estimate). Despite being from a class B school Banis has seen a lot of action out side the state in AAU ball, having played for a couple local and regional AAU team. Banis is a pretty good athlete who is all state in volleyball and track. I generally feel most big players need a year to adjust to the D-1, but I think Banis stands could fight her way into contributing right away. With Garcia and Hoefer graduating, there will be the opportunity. Banis is going to be holding down the middle for the Bobcats for quite some time the only question is how soon.


Rachel Semansky from Highwood averaged over 22 points 11 rebounds a game this year, but had some absolutely monstrous games in the play-offs and championship tournaments. She committed in January after an intense recruiting battle, but can not officially sign until the spring signing period. At 6-0, she is a great athlete and was also recruited as a volleyball and track athlete. She will play the power forward spot in college, and will bring a nice mixture of athleticism, quickness and strength. She can be a load down low for opposing players to guard. She is my pick to be the player who makes the biggest impact as a true freshman. Like Banis she plays the right position to make a quick impact. I also think, though, that her game and physicalness is ready made to step right into the Big Sky and make some noise.


As I said, think that anyone of these women could make an impact right away next year, but I do not think all three will. It will depend on who wants it more and who shows up this September in the best shape and ready to go. With Banis, Albert, Adams, Roban, and Schmidt signing last fall and Semansky committed to sign this April that gives Binford 6 signies so far this for next year and 8 returning players, Binford could sign one more player this spring if she chose. Historically Binford has not always filled all of her scholarships. I am told, it is not that she does not like to but more that she only fills her scholarship if she can find the “right players”. In any case I would guess if she does fill the 15th scholarship, the most obvious choice might be a JC big girl or possibly a point guard.