Women's basketball inks trio to NLI's in early signing period
December 6, 2012
Jamie Foland
474-6807
Head coach Cody Burgess announced the Alaska women's basketball team has signed three high school seniors to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.
The three future Nanook basketball players are forwards Josie Broderick (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole), Kaillee Skjold (Kasilof, Alaska/Soldotna) and Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Prairie View).
“This is a great step for our program to be able to sign three high-school aged players who can come in right away and make an impact,” Burgess said. “It's showing improvement and significant strides in our recruiting and the stability and strength of our program.”
Broderick, a 5-10 forward, is in her fourth year at North Pole High School. She has been named the Most Valuable Player three straight years for the Patriots as well as an All-Mid Alaska Conference selection each season. In addition, Broderick was an Alaska School Activities Association All-State member over the past two seasons.
She helped NPHS to a pair of MAC runner-up finishes as the team combined to go 40-16 her sophomore and junior seasons. She surpassed 500 career rebounds last season and has single-best records of 26 points, 21 rebounds and seven blocks, all of which occurred during her junior year. Broderick has season-best averages of 13.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Upon enrollment to the university, Broderick intends to major in Business.
“She's grown up around UAF and it's awesome that she'll be able to be a part of this program,” Burgess said. “She's done a really wonderful job in her high school career in rebounding and scoring. That's a credit to her to be able to come into her hometown and represent Alaska and North Pole and be a part of the UAF family.”
Skjold, a 5-11 forward, is in her final year at Soldotna High School. She is a Region 3 Most Valuable Player Co-Northern Lights Conference MVP and a First Team All-State honoree. She has helped the Stars to a runner-up finish at the region tournament and was named ASAA Player of the Game.
She averages 17.0 points per game while shooting 40-percent from the floor and better than 70-percent from the free throw line. Skjold also contributes 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per outing. A recipient of the 2011 State GPA Award, she currently holds a 3.98 cumulative grade point average and intends to major in Emergency management.
“Kaillee is a great student and individual and she's a fantastic ball player,” Burgess said. “She's going to be a strong addition to our program. She can play a little post, a little guard and incredibly athletic and strong. She will represent us well and has done a great job in her high school career.”
Wilson, a 5-11 forward, will come to Fairbanks after playing four years at Prairie
View High School in Henderson, Colo. She is a two-time First Team All-East Metro Athletic
Conference member and was named EMAC Player of the Year as a junior. Her sophomore
and junior years, Wilson was an Honorable Mention All-State honoree in the Colorado
High School Athletics Association.She helped her team to a league title as a sophomore after going 18-5 and led the Thunderhawks to their first-ever playoff appearance as a freshman. Entering her senior season, Wilson is already the all-time leading scorer in program history, having surpassed the 1,000-point barrier. Off the court, she has been Academic All-State and All-Conference and received an Academic Letter from Prairie View as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Wilson, who is a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the student council, intends to major in Business.
“Similar to Kaillee and Josie, Jordan has had a great high school career in rebounding and points,” Burgess said. “She helped her team shine and make it to the state tournament. She plays like she's 6-2 even if she's 5-11 and that's something we need. She wants to travel and is looking for an adventure so she's stepping into the right program.”