TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Head Women's Basketball Coach
Vicki Hall announced the signing of seven ladies to National Letters of Intent Wednesday as part of the 2019 Signing Class.
The seven incoming players – four guards, two forwards and a center – will add height and depth, replacing the six players whose eligibility becomes exhausted at the end of the 2018-19 season.
"Well, we are losing a lot and we have to replace them," Hall said. "I wasn't sure what kind of quality players we would get when I first came to Indiana State. But once I got out there recruiting and we saw what was happening with the Hulman Center getting renovated, a lot of people were just excited about Indiana State. I was very, very happy to hear that."
In all, the signing class has a combined six all-state honors, two state titles, four rankings in the ESPNW Collegiate Girls Recruiting Top 250 report with two in the top 200 and one in the top 170 and two ranked in the top 10 (one in the top five) of the year's top post players in Indiana.
The signees for the 2019 class will head to the Wabash Valley from five different states – Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.
Hall and her staff focused their recruiting efforts on top players that brought energy, effort, intensity and a high motor to the court.
"First and foremost, to me you have to have a motor," Hall said of what she looked for in potential recruits for her first full signing class at Indiana State. "I want to recruit kids with motor, I want to coach kids with motor, I want to surround myself with people that have high motors, including my staff. I want to be around people that are proactive and want to go out and get the job done. All of these kids that we have signed have that. That's what I really look for. I don't really want to have to coach effort. Effort is something that you do because you love to play. After that, we can help you with the rest – the basketball, the IQ, fixing a little tweak here or there on your jumper or your angle on defense, but when it comes to the motor that is super important to me."
The signing of the seven players – coupled with the two wins to start the season – expand the excitement surrounding the Sycamore Women's Basketball program and returning the program to the tradition of winning fans in the Wabash Valley expect.
With the first home game for Indiana State not until Dec. 3, season tickets for the 2018-19 Indiana State Women's Basketball season are still on sale with new, reduced rates to make games extremely affordable for the family. Prices start at $40 and all season ticket levels can be purchased at 50 percent off the regular price with the purchase of Indiana State Men's Basketball season tickets. For more information, please call 812-237-3047 or visit GoSycamores.com.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out
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Indiana State Women's Basketball 2019 Signing Class
Caitlin Anderson
G 5-6 Jefferson City, Mo. / Jefferson City HS
Prior to Indiana State – Received all-state honors in 2018 … Garnered all-district honors her first three years of high school … Led team to back-to-back district titles … Plays AAU with the Saint Louis Eagles.
Personal – Born on Sept. 27 … Daughter of Shawn and Regina Anderson … Has two siblings, Shaina Anderson and Tyler Osby … Plans to major in sports management.
Coach Hall on Anderson – She comes from a great high school program and a great AAU program. She is super explosive. She may be 5-foot-6 but she can play around the rim. She is super quick, can cut people up on the offensive end and in transition. She can get to the rim at will. She is working on her shot and her pull up is good. She is just explosive, is a high-motor kid and is someone who loves to defend as well.
Jasmine Elder
G 5-9 Louisville, Ky. / Butler HS
Prior to Indiana State – ESPNW Collegiate Girls Report Top 170 Recruit … Garnered All-State honors … Selected to the Kentucky Junior All-Star Game … Plays AAU for All Ohio along with fellow Sycamore signee Sommer Pitzer.
Personal – Born on Aug. 23 … Daughter of Sean Elder and Lolitha Potter … Has five siblings.
Coach Hall on Elder – Jasmine is a natural scorer. She can just figure out how to get there, whether it be a three, a two or at the rim. She has all three levels. She prides herself on defense as well.
Adrian Folks
F 6-0 Southgate, Mich. / Detroit Country Day HS
Prior to Indiana State – Two-time state champion (2017-18 and 2016-17 in Michigan Class B) … All-State selection in 2018 … Averaged 14.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game … Led team to state semifinals her freshman year before the back-to-back state titles … Plays AAU for Michigan Crossover along with fellow Sycamore Signee Del'Janae Williams.
Personal – Born on Sept. 28 … Daughter of Lynette and Earl Folks … Has one younger sibling, Ellis … Plans to major in nursing.
Coach Hall on Folks – Adrian reminds me of Dennis Rodman. She just plays really hard and goes after boards like crazy, which is what we need. She was really interesting to me – I've seen her play for a while coming from Toledo – but she can switch every position and she can guard anybody. That's what I love about her above anything else because with the way we defend, she will just fit right in.
Sommer Pitzer
G 5-5 Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South HS
Prior to Indiana State – ESPNW Collegiate Girls Report Top 250 Recruit … Second Team All-State selection and Conference Player of the Year her junior season … Is a three-time Conference Player of the Year … Guided team to best record in school history her junior season … Played AAU for All Ohio along with fellow Sycamore signee Jasmine Elder.
Personal – Born on July 5 … Daughter of Norman and Tonya Pitzer … Has two older siblings, Norman and Monika … Plans to major in nursing.
Coach Hall on Pitzer – She is a true point guard that really likes to run the show. She can score at all three levels as well, but just has a presence about her. She has leadership qualities and is a true giver, one who just loves to be a part of a team and wants to do well.
Alyssa Robben
C 6-4 Bright, Ind. / East Central HS
Prior to Indiana State – ESPNW Collegiate Girls Report Top 200 Recruit … Scouting Indiana Top 5 Post in Class of 2019 … IHSAA Top 100 Showcase Selection … 2018 All-State honoree … ICGSA Indiana All-Star Classic Selection …. Received first team all-conference honors … 2017 IHSAA Underclassmen All-State selection … Averaged 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in high school entering senior year … Set a school record with a 63.3 percent shooting from the field her sophomore season and made a school record 14 field goals in a single game … Played AAU with the George Hill Lady Stars … Senior Class President and National Honor Society member.
Personal – Born on April 17 … Daughter of Kevin and Ann Robben … Has one older sister, Julia … Plans to major in architectural engineering and design.
Coach Hall on Robben – She is a big girl that is a low block five that can really score. She has a high motor, loves to play up and down and can rebound the ball well. She is going to be another low block presence for us that can help us.
Hattie Westerfeld
F 6-3 Batesville, Ind. / Batesville HS
Prior to Indiana State – ESPNW Collegiate Girls Report Top 250 Recruit … Scouting Indiana Top 10 Post in Class of 2019 … Two-time All-Conference First Team selection … Averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game her junior season … Has earned straight A's all three years of high school … Plays AAU with Always 100.
Personal – Born May 18 … Daughter of Travis and Shari Westerfeld … Has two siblings, Lane and Ellie … Plans to major in business … Also enjoys showing draft horses.
Coach Hall on Westerfeld – Hattie can play the four or the five. She can face a basket and put the ball on the floor a little bit. She is a competitor. She has a little chip to her and I love that. She'll go rebound out of area and can score in a lot of different ways.
Del'Janae Williams
G 5-8 Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King Jr. HS
Prior to Indiana State – Received all-state honors … Named All-Detroit First Team … Led team to back-to-back city championships her freshman and sophomore year, taking team to state as the runner-up her freshman season … Plays AAU for Michigan Crossover along with fellow Sycamore signee Adrian Folks.
Personal – Born on Aug. 30 … Daughter of Janet and Delbert Williams … Goes by the nickname "Burger" … Has two older siblings, Delniqua and Janae … Sister, Delniqua, played basketball at IUPUI … Her other sister, Janae, plays basketball at Wayne State … Plans to major in sports medicine.
Coach Hall on Williams – She can flat out shoot it. To me, she is like a little Steph Curry. She can handle the ball, create her own shot and she can create for others really well too.
