PURDUE WOMENS BASKETBALL RECRUITING:
Women's Recruiting Update: Ostarello named Miss Basketball


Published: 5/04/2009
Author: Bob_Richards
© Old Gold Free Press Columnists

2009 South Dakota Miss Basketball: Sam Ostarello

Sam Ostarello was named 2009 South Dakota Miss Basketball. While at Stanley County, Sam Ostarello reached the 1,000 point mark while becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She finished with 1,581 career points, averaging 19.1 ppg; pulled down 1,075 rebounds, averaging 12.9 rpg; handed out 422 career assists, a 4.1 per game average; blocked 280 shots, 3.5 bpg and grabbed 241 career steals, 2.8 spg. An extensive list of her basketball, academic and musical accomplishments can be found at the link below. Stats and honors have also been added to her player profile here on the OGFP site.

READ MORE: KDTL

Ostarello breaks meet high jump record

At this weekend's Howard Wood Dakota Relays, Sam Ostarello cleared 5-feet-9.75 inches to win the girls’ high jump, breaking the meet record. Her winning jump was the third best in South Dakota history.

WBCA showcases Ostarello

Honored as one of the twenty high school seniors invited to participate in the WBCA All-American game, Sam Ostarello finished the game with six points and five rebounds, shooting 2-of-5 from the field and 1-of-2 form the line. Although she took the lowest number of shots on the team (5), her shooting percentage (.400) was only beaten by Skylar Diggins' 9-of-21 (.429). Her White team lost a close one to the Blue team, 79-77.

READ MORE: Rapid City Journal

Sant to Dayton

Cassie Sant, a 6'2 post on Purdue's watch list, verbally committed to the University of Dayton. She chose Dayton due to the proximity to home, and was also being actively recruited by Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan State and Bowling Green. Sant averaged 14 points and nine rebounds as a junior, and carries a 3.7 GPA.

Johnson to UCONN

Junior Michala Johnson, a 6-3 forward from Montini Catholic High in Lombard (IL), made a verbal commitment to join the UCONN in 2010. Johnson had previously visited DePaul, Illinois, Wisconsin and Purdue before visiting and subsequently committing to UCONN. She also considered Georgia, Maryland, Vanderbilt and Penn State.

Big Ten Recruiting

Minnesota has announced that China Antoine from Shelton State Community College in Alabama has signed a National Letter of Intent. Antoine, a 5-3 point guard, will join the Golden Gopher as a junior in the 2009-10 season. Antoine finished the 2008-09 season among the NJCAA leaders in assists and steals. She dished out 6.9 assists per game to rank fourth in the nation, while her 3.2 steals per game ranked 21st. Originally from Madison, Alabama, Antoine chose the Gophers over Texas.

The big fish Minnesota had hopes to land ended up across the conference with her brother at Ohio State. Tayler Hill, a 5'10 senior guard from Minneapolis South, ultimately chose Ohio State over Texas, with a host of other program in pursuit including Minnesota, Marquette, Rutgers, Duke and Rhode Island. Family played a role in Hill’s decision, as her brother P.J. Hill recently completed his junior season on the Buckeyes men’s basketball team and was pulling for her to join him in Columbus.

Martina Ellerbe, a 6-foot-2 forward from New Jersey's St. Mary's High School, has also given her verbal commitment to Ohio State. The 6'2 power forward chose Ohio State over offers from West Virginia and Miami. One of Ellerbe's better qualities is her ability to shoot from the perimeter.

A name Purdue has known for quite some time is now committed to Northwestern. La'Terria Taylor, a 5'10 wing from Von Steuben in Illinois, chose Northwestern over Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Illinois State, Northern Illinois and Loyola. She averaged 12 points as a junior, and said she chose Northwestern due to strong academics and the proximity to home.

Wisconsin has received a spring letter of intent from Janesville Parker High senior Catie O'Leary. O’Leary originally signed with Loyola University of Chicago. But when Rambler coach Shannon Reidy resigned under pressure on March 10, O’Leary wrote a letter to Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone, visited campus, and committed shortly after. O’Leary averaged 20.9 points per game and is a two-time first-team Associated Press All-State selection.

READ MORE: Big Ten Recruiting: Commitments