Lakers sign three players, including Byron Center teammates
SAULT STE. MARIE – Three players, including Byron Center High School teammates Katie Schild and Kandace Crittendon, have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Lake Superior State.
Schild (6-2) and Crittendon (5-10) are post players for the 13th-ranked Byron Center Bulldogs (7-1). LSSU’s other fall signee is 5-9 guard/forward Dyann Wiley of Grand Rapids-Ottawa Hills High School (4-3).
“These three players have given us a great start to the 2011 recruiting class,” LSSU women’s basketball coach Jamie Pewinski said. “This class, along with the 2010 class, will help fill the void that will be left by the graduation of our five seniors. They will bring size and versatility to our team, as well as create some depth.”
Crittendon, who ranked among the top 50 on Mick McCabe’s Pre-Season Top 100 list in the Detroit Free Press, averaged 13 points and four rebounds per game, and was the OK Green Conference Player of the Year last season. She also earned all-conference honors as a sophomore.
“Kandace can play a number of positions for us, and it is that versatility that we love the most,” Pewinski said. “She is extremely creative and tough in the open court, but sees the floor well and can knock down the outside shot. Her strengths fit our system perfectly.”
Her teammate, Schild, averaged 4.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 blocks and 1.7 steals per game during her first three prep seasons. She was voted the team’s most-improved player in 2009-10.
“Katie is benefitting from playing on a highly-competitive high school team and is continuing to get better every day,” Pewinski said. “We love her strength, her ability to run the floor and the fact that she is comfortable passing the ball from the high or low post. She is only beginning to tap into her talent, and we can’t wait to begin working her into our system.”
Schild and Crittendon are two of five Byron Center players who made college commitments. Two siblings signed with Northwood, and another player is going to Aquinas. BCHS won a Class B district title last season.
Wiley is averaging 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game through the Indians’ first seven games.
“Dyann will play a lot of ‘2’ and ‘3’ guard for us, but could play a little bit of point guard if we need her to,” Pewinski said. “She brings a little more size to that position. She is a competitor and doesn’t back down from a challenge. She scores it well, but we love her ability to defend and rebound.”
LSSU’s 2010-11 senior class includes starters Emily Joseph, Nicole Marshall and Ronlea Peterson, and reserve players Alyssa Loney and Allison Jaynes.
