WBB Recruiting

[1972Shocker]

Grad transfer Jeniah Thompson is heading to Southern Illinois which is about 10 miles from her home town. Sounds like a good move for Jeniah. Good chance she will get quite bit more playing time and it will be very close to home.

[1972Shocker]

Not sure what's left in the portal. Over the last 3 years 60% to 65% of the D-1 entrants into the portal either transferred to another NCAA school or withdrew from the portal (and presumably stayed at their current school). Of those about 80% end up at D-1 programs.

This year there are 1,381 D-1 players who have entered the portal. So based on past trends you would expect around 830 to 900 players to transfer to another NCAA school or to stay put with 80% or around 665 to 720 of those ending up at D-1 programs.

So far 750 players have transferred to another D-1 program or have withdrawn from the portal.

In addition, 40 players have moved up from lower levels (excluding jucos) to D-1 this year. Last year that total was 59.

So based on past trends there may not a lot left in he portal, especially if you are looking to fill specific needs.

[1972Shocker]

Looking over the transfer portal results so far for AAC schools I am not seeing anything real positive for the conference. Memphis looks ike that added some size to their roster. UTSA addes a 6-4 transfer from Mississippi State. Tulsa added a couple of players from TCU but lost the AAC Player of the Year. Overall, I see it as a net negative for the AAC although not a disaster by any means.

A couple other observations:

The Shockers' leading scorer and rebounder, 6-0 Dani Abies, is transferring to the Miami Hurricane. Miami also added 6-5 player from Notre Dame and a 6-3 player from Michigan in addition to returning a 6-3, 6-4, and 6-5 player from last season. Perhaps Dani was wanting to get out of the paint and play a small forward/wing position.

After the first year of her rerturn to UTEP Coach Keitha Adams looks like she has a major rebuild on her hands. Her top 2 scorers and rebounders completed their elitibility this past season and 7 other players are in the tcransfer portal. However, only 3 of those has committed to other schools at this point so maybe a couple will choose to stay at UTEP. If not, Keitha will be losing her top 5 scorers and top 4 rebounders. So far UTEP has not signed any players out of the portal. Perhaps and indication Keitha will try to reload exclusively with international players and jucos.

Jacie Hoyt got off to a good start in her first season at Okie State going 21-12 (10-8) the most wins ever by a 1st year head coach. However, this past season her team slumped to 14-16 (7-11). In addition to losing 2 players using up eligibility Okie State has 7 players in the portal all of whom have found new schools. She has added 5 players from the portal so far including a 6-5 grad transfer from Rhode Island who averaged 7.0 PPG and 4.6 RPG and a grad transfer guard from Virginia who averaged 5.0/4.0 over the last 2 years as a Cavalier. She has also signed 3 freshman. It will be interesting to see how that team fairs in the Big 12 next year. With the exception of the 6-5 player from Rhode Island her 202-25 rosrter looks a bit undersized by Big 12 standards.

[1972Shocker]

Ambah Kowcun will be playing her final year of college basketball at Eastern Kentucky. So that eliminates any chance of Ambah and Raissa Nsabua, who is transferring to Robert Morris returning to the Shockers. It remains to be seen if Coach Nooner will use his final 2 scholarships or just go with the 13 players he has.

[SubGod22]

You want more size? Nooner delivers more size.

Eagle - Wichita State women's basketball adds one of the tallest players in the country

One of the tallest players in women’s college basketball will be suiting up for Wichita State next season.

Aicha Ndour, a 6-foot-6 graduate transfer who played the last two seasons at Illinois, announced her verbal commitment to the Shockers on Wednesday. Coach Terry Nooner cannot publicly comment on his latest addition to WSU’s 2024 recruiting class until Ndour signs financial aid paperwork.

Ndour is believed to be the tallest player in WSU women’s basketball history, although rosters before 2006 are unavailable online. In the past two decades, the tallest player at WSU has been 6-foot-5 Diamond Forrest, who averaged 0.4 points and 0.6 rebounds for the 2019-20 team.

A native of Senegal, Ndour has represented her country at the international level and helped the Senegal National Team win a silver medal in the 2023 FIBA AfroBasket.

[WstateU]

You want more size? Nooner delivers more size.

Eagle - Wichita State women's basketball adds one of the tallest players in the country

I believe Theresa Dreiling was 6’-6”…

[1972Shocker]

You want more size? Nooner delivers more size.

The Shocks could definitely use more size, although it would certainly be helpful if that size comes with some athleticism and basketball skills. Clearly she has been somewhat of a project in her first 4 years of college basketball and for a 6-6 player from a P-4 school to last this long in the portal makes me wonder about that.

I saw her listed in the portal and took a look at her stats and thought no thanks, we can do better with an athletic 6-2 to 6-3 player to bookend with 6-2 Maimouna Sissoko out of Cloud County. Realizing that might not be easy to find.

In her freshman year at Rutgers she played a grand total of 2 minutes. Fortunately, that was the Covid year so did not count against her eligibility.

She then transferred to the juco ranks, probably a good move to get more PT, at Northwest Florida State College where she average 4.7 MPG in 18 games with 1 start. She averaged 2.2 PPG and 1.7 RPG and had a total of 12 blocked shots. I guess 12 blocks in 84 minutes of playing time is not too bad.

In her 2 years at Illinois she played in a total of 32 games (only 9 games last year) averaging 4.3 MPG while averaging 1.5 PPG and 1.4 RPG and had a total of 9 blocked shots while shooting 3-12 from the free throw line.

So if all you wanted was size then you got that. Unfortunately, doesn't appear like the Shocks are getting much more than that. Maybe she can provide some rim protection, however, she doesn't seem to be a particularly adept shot blocker or rebounder. Perhaps she can be an adequate shot alterer. Maybe she will surprise me but based on her past seems like a low impact recruit.

[WstateU]

The Shocks could definitely use more size, although it would certainly be helpful if that size comes with some athleticism and basketball skills. Clearly she has been somewhat of a project in her first 4 years of college basketball and for a 6-6 player from a P-4 school to last this long in the portal makes me wonder about that.

I saw her listed in the portal and took a look at her stats and thought no thanks, we can do better with an athletic 6-2 to 6-3 player to bookend with 6-2 Maimouna Sissoko out of Cloud County. Realizing that might not be easy to find.

In her freshman year at Rutgers she played a grand total of 2 minutes. Fortunately, that was the Covid year so did not count against her eligibility.

She then transferred to the juco ranks, probably a good move to get more PT, at Northwest Florida State College where she average 4.7 MPG in 18 games with 1 start. She averaged 2.2 PPG and 1.7 RPG and had a total of 12 blocked shots. I guess 12 blocks in 84 minutes of playing time is not too bad.

In her 2 years at Illinois she played in a total of 32 games (only 9 games last year) averaging 4.3 MPG while averaging 1.5 PPG and 1.4 RPG and had a total of 9 blocked shots while shooting 3-12 from the free throw line.

So if all you wanted was size then you got that. Unfortunately, doesn't appear like the Shocks are getting much more than that. Maybe she can provide some rim protection, however, she doesn't seem to be a particularly adept shot blocker or rebounder. Perhaps she can be an adequate shot alterer. Maybe she will surprise me but based on her past seems like a low impact recruit.

Hey, it's all about looking good in the airports...

[1972Shocker]

Hey, it's all about looking good in the airports...

Or using up all your scholarships for Title IX purposes. I guess nothing to lose since we had a couple of open scholarships to use anyway and she is a 1-year player so that scholarship will be available again next year. Maybe she will find the smaller players in the AAC vs the Big 10 will allow her to contribute at a bit higher level. If nothing else we get a tall practice player to work against. She is at least as good and probably an upgrade from departing 6-4 freshman post Sophia Askew-Goncalves who is still in the portal.

[1972Shocker]

Nooner Completes 2024-25 Roster with Additions of Diomande, Ndour

Wichita State head women's basketball coach Terry Nooner finalized his 2024-25 roster with the signings of Fiona Diomande and Aicha Ndour.

"I am thrilled to complete our roster for the 2024-25 season," Nooner said. "Our staff made a concerted effort to improve our overall athleticism, toughness, scrappiness and tenacity at every position. We believe we have a deep roster and are excited to play a faster, more aggressive style of offense and defense."

Diomande, a Chevilly Larue, Paris, France native, joins Kiyleyah Parr as one of the Shockers' only two true freshmen. The guard played for Chartres Basket Feminin, the Ligue Feminine 2 2023-24 national champions.

"Fiona brings much-needed depth to our wing position," Nooner said. "She is a tough, athletic, and physical player who excels on both offense and defense. Fiona's size, speed, athleticism, and three-point shooting will be significant assets to our program."

Ndour (see discussion above) joins the Shockers after spending two seasons at Illinois, the season prior at Northwest Florida State College and her first season at Rutgers. The 6-6 center from Somone, Senegal represented the Senegal National Team in its silver medal run at 2023 FIBA AfroBasket. She played in nine games for the Illini last season, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.

"Aicha is an imposing, physical center with excellent touch and footwork in the post," Nooner said. "Her shot-blocking and rebounding abilities will greatly enhance our defense. For her size, our fans will also admire her ability to run the floor and footwork and shooting range for her size."

[1972Shocker]

I am not finding much info on the the Frenchie, Fiona Diomande. Perhaps a recruit found through the overseas connections of new assistant coach Patrick Harrison. The way she is described sounds like she will be upsized guard we need to go play behind Salese Blow.

So credit to Coach Nooner on using his last 2 scholarships on his 2 biggest areas of need. I'm interested to learn more about Diomande and was actually happy to see Coach Nooner add another 1st year player to help backup and develop behind Salese.

Hopefully, Fiona turns into a lab grown diamond. https://www.fionadiamonds.com/

[1972Shocker]

Another example of Coach Nooner throwing his hat in the ring early on. This time on a 6-2 freshman in the Class of 2027 (sophomore-to-be in 2024-25) out of Lubbock, Texas:

https://x.com/jadajackson_15/status/1802860004204220623

Short highlight video: https://x.com/jadajackson_15/status/1784729467962667355

She also has offers from UNLV, Sacramento State, Abilene Christian and Old Dominion.

See also from page 1 of this thread:

https://shockernet.net/forum/wichita-state-athletics/wichita-state-women-s-sports/1407841-wbb-recruiting?p=1441088#post1441088

https://shockernet.net/forum/wichita-state-athletics/wichita-state-women-s-sports/1407841-wbb-recruiting?p=1441090#post1441090

[1972Shocker]

Another Coach Nooner offer to a Class of 2027 (sophomore-to-be in 2024-25). A 5-7 (as of now) point guard out of Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Arkansas.

I can see why Coach Nooner is interested:

http://helptool.hudl.com/video/3/17045073/65ed02b10c54fb0ebc90f5ab

[WstateU]

Nooners newest target…

[SubGod22]