Recruiting / Kool Aid

[chantillycat]

Tasmania, the team in green, wasn't tall but, man, they played hard. Victoria A closed the game on a 12-1 run to win by 7, IIRC.

The game against New South Wales was the bronze medal game, and it was never close. NSW had clobbered Victoria A in pool play just one day prior.

[chantillycat]

Here's our up-to-the-minute expected 2021-22 roster:



Great looking incoming class, and still one spot to fill.

[chantillycat]

Looking for a reason for a Happy Dance?

Look no further.

** New commit. Isabelle (Issy) Morgan. 5'9 G from Sydney, New South Wales. c/o 2021.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGRvn6nhWfP/

Good at many things is Isabelle.

Splendid news for Davidson basketball.
`
** Welcome to the Wildcat family, Issy!

[chantillycat]

There's some ground to cover with this player, so let's get right to it...

Last month, Issy completed her winter season with the Norths Bears in the NSW-based Waratah League. This league is similar to the WA SBL that Rosie Deegan played in a year ago. It was a terrific season, both for Norths and for Issy. The team rolled through league play without a loss, then took care of business during finals weekend to win the title.

** Waratah League Champs! Congrats to Issy, her teammates, and her coaches.

Issy had 17 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts, and 1 stl against only 1 turnover in the Grand Final.

In December 2019, Issy was among a group of Australian youth players that toured the United States and competed against American high school and JUCO teams. The group, known as the Aussie Travellers, was very successful on the court. Off the court, here's a brief YouTube showing one of the facilities they visited: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXBrUa7U3RQ

In August 2019, Issy attended the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in Japan, at which she made the Girls All-star team. She also won the Patrick Baumann Award for Sportsmanship at this camp. Issy's IG has a photo showing her and recent 2021 commit Keeley Evans at BWB together.

Issy has played on multiple NSW state teams in the yearly AUS champs events. She also has been invited to at least one national team camp.

[chantillycat]

Highlight mixes...

AUS U18 Champs in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF6NGw4uLQA

Aussie Travellers tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wkN0dSg2Xs

Hmmmm... I wonder if there's any good Waratah footage, hiding in some internet antechamber, waiting to be discovered?

[i77cat]

We used to have a poster who would inform us that she's too short. He would have been wrong. Issy looks like a great addition to the team. She shoots it, passes it, handles it. This group of Wildcats is going to get wins in bunches. Great job by the coaches to keep reeling in the talent.

[catnhat]

Davidson- the St. Mary’s of the East.

I mean that as a compliment when it comes to attracting Aussie talent.

[chantillycat]

"... winter was made for freezing in tin sheds at Waratah League games." - L. France

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mPjYTRYQ5k

Did I mention that Issy can score at all three levels?

[MrMac]

"... winter was made for freezing in tin sheds at Waratah League games." - L. France

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mPjYTRYQ5k

Did I mention that Issy can score at all three levels?

Sweet soundtrack.

[chantillycat]

A couple of "testimonials"...

1. Writer Lachy France tweeted this during the first Waratah game of the season, the only game which Issy didn't start.

https://twitter.com/lachyheel/status/12 ... 5394426881

Norths' Kate Seebohm was the three-time defending Waratah DPOY at the time of this tweet. She's now the four-time defending Waratah DPOY. Pretty nice compliment for Issy.

2. 12:25 thru 13:20. https://www.spreaker.com/user/smashfm/2 ... 0SMKa0iB7Q

Teammate Emily Simons was the Waratah League's top scorer this past season. Both Simons and Seebohm were voted to the Waratah League All-Star Five in 2020.

[Dr. Bliss]

"... winter was made for freezing in tin sheds at Waratah League games." - L. France

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mPjYTRYQ5k

Did I mention that Issy can score at all three levels?

Nice. A lot of comparisons to Rosie's game--felt like I was watching Rosie II. A much more natural release on her 3-point shot.

[chantillycat]

At the same time, a complementary player to Rosie. Issy is a bona fide combo guard who excels at both PG and SG.

One of the great PGs in program history will graduate in 2021. Issy figures to help fill that void.

---------

Geek that I am, I found this interesting. It's nearly seven minutes long.

It's a fairly fair-and-balanced highlight video of the Aussie Travellers playing at Northwood Academy, a team which ran up a 26-2 record last season and was one of the best HS teams in all of South Carolina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wl1MwTq6O8

Amiyah Ferguson, the first player interviewed, was a freshman when that game was played. Pretty good looking freshman. She played for Team Curry U15 this past summer.

Anaya Manigault, the other player interviewed, makes some of her own highlight videos. So obviously I like her.

[i77cat]

Nice video.

[MrMac]

The Aussie's had excellent perimeter passing: quick and accurate. Well coached on both ends, it seemed.

[chantillycat]

In 2019, Keeley played for the Diamond Valley Eagles team in the Youth Championship Division of the Big V league ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmJWaj1ZZ5Q

Familiar venue.