Women's Basketball Inks Four
11/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2007
MILWAUKEE - Four student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic endeavors at Marquette University for the 2008-09 season announced head coach Terri Mitchell.
Lauren Thomas-Johnson, Breann Hill, Georgie Jones and Jessica Pachko have all committed to play for the Golden Eagles next season.
"This is an extremely competitive class," said head coach Terri Mitchell. "All four players come from winning traditions at their high schools or junior college. They are winners and want to compete at the highest level. They give us more depth at every position and we are excited for what they will bring to our team next year. "
Thomas-Johnson, a 5-10 guard, comes to Marquette as a junior college transfer from Kirkwood Community College. As a freshman, she earned first team all-region honors while averaging 9.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. She hit 45 percent of her field goals and connected on 71 percent of her attempts from the charity stripe.
She spent the summer playing for the Great Britain Under-20 team in the U-20 European Championship, helping the team to third place. Thomas-Johnson scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds against Portugal in the third place game.
"Lauren brings a ton of speed to our perimeter and is able to score in a variety of ways. She can shoot the three or go to the basket. She is a tremendous athlete that can make things happen," Mitchell said.
Hill, a 5-10 forward from Harrisburg, Pa., is also a junior college transfer and teammate of Thomas-Johnson from Kirkwood. Hill was a second team all-conference selection her first year at Kirkwood. She averaged 9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She shot 63.1 percent from the floor and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Along with Thomas-Johnson, the pair led Kirkwood to the junior college national championship last season.
"Breann brings a ton of versatility to our program. She handles the ball well and at the same time has the strength to play inside. Her versatility will work well with the way we play," Mitchell said.
Hill attended the same high school, Bishop McDevitt, as Mitchell. She was named the Class AAA Associated Press Pennsylvania Girls High School Player of the Year following her senior season. During her prep career, she scored a school record 2,130 points.
"Bre and I have a common thread as she and I played at the same high school in Harrisburg, Pa. Even though we are several years a part, it was fun for me to return to Bishop McDevitt and see the success she had there," Mitchell said.
Pachko, a 6-2 power forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, averaged 13.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game her junior season at Oak Hills High School and earned second-team all-state, first team all-city and league honors as a result. She was also named the Southwest Ohio Region Player of the Year for the 2006-07 season.
HoopGurlz.com ranks Pachko as the No. 79 recruit nationally. She is also listed as the top-25 overall prospect in Ohio and the No. 2 power forward in Ohio.
"Jess exhibits a toughness and physical presence inside that will help us compete with the incredible post players we play against in the BIG EAST. She has a passion on the court that is contagious," Mitchell said.
Jones, a 6-2 center from St. Paul Central High School, is a three-time all-conference selection. She earned all-state honors her junior season after averaging 12.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game for the 2006-07 season. As teammates with current Golden Eagle Angel Robinson, Jones helped Central to the 2007 AAAA Championship and an undefeated 32-0 record.
"Georgie is long, athletic and covers a lot of ground with her size. She is definitely someone in the paint who can change and block shots. She has tremendous ability to rebound and defend," Mitchell said.
