April 15, 2009

Penguins Sign Five Talented Student-Athletes to 2009-10 Squad

    Youngstown -- Three guards and two forwards have signed a National Letter of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers as members of the Youngstown State women's basketball program, YSU head coach Cindy Martin announced today.
    The group includes three junior college transfers and two graduating seniors from California. One of the JUCO transfers is former Rayen High star Tieara Jones.
    Jones' fellow incoming student-athletes are forward Brandi Brown (Claremont High), guard/forward Brooke Conley (Barton Community College), guard Bojana Dimitrov (Carl Albert State College) and guard Maryum Jenkins (Monrovia High).
    "Our coaching staff is extremely excited about the additions to our basketball family, and we've been eagerly awaiting this day," Martin said. "These five young ladies bring scoring power, athleticism, college experience and confidence to the table for next season. They are a long and lanky-built group of ladies that all play aggressively on offense and defense."
    Conley, Dimitrov and Jones will each have two years of eligibility remaining. Brown and Jenkins, whose high schools are 19 miles apart outside of Los Angeles, will both have four years of eligibility.
    Jenkins is ranked 290th out of 1,725 high school prospects nationally by the All Star Girls Report, and Dimitrov is ranked 68th out of 205 JUCO prospects by the same service.
    The YSU women's basketball program has now signed a total of eight incoming student-athletes. High school seniors Casey Jackson, Kaitlin Rohrs and Melissa Thompson signed during the early period in November.
    "Our goal with the 2009 recruiting class was to recruit players who would able to extend for 94 feet on both ends of the floor next season," Martin said. "I am proud of my coaching staff, team and administration for working together to accomplish that goal. We are so pleased that each of these ladies are officially a part of our Penguin family.”  
    The group is Martin's second recruiting class, but it is the first she spent a full year recruiting. Martin was hired as YSU's fifth head women's basketball coach on April 11, 2008, and brought in three scholarship players in her first 2 1/2 months.
    Youngstown State still has one available scholarship remaining for next season.

Brandi Brown

● A 5-foot-11 forward from Claremont High (Calif.).

● Averaged 24 points and 19.6 rebounds as a senior at Claremont High. Shot 58 percent from the floor and averaged 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. She retired as Claremont's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She notched career highs of 36 points and 35 rebounds. She averaged 18.2 points and 14.3 rebounds as a junior, 16.1 and 12.8 as a sophomore and 10.6 and 9.1 as a freshman. Earned Second-Team All-CIF Southern Section honors at the Division IIA level as a senior.

● Chose YSU because: "I chose to sign with Youngstown State because I want to be a part of the bright future this program has ahead of itself."

● Coach Martin on Brandi: "Brandi adds a new dimension to our signing class with her ability to score around the basket. She is extremely athletic, plays strong and has a God-given talent when it comes to grabbing rebounds."

Brooke Conley

● A 6-foot guard/forward from Barton Community College (Kan.). Is a native of Wichita, Kan. who will have two years of eligibility remaining.

● As a sophomore at BCC, averaged 9.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range. Her 3-point shooting percentage ranked 48th in NJCAA Division I. She ranked second on the team in 3-point field goals and third in scoring. Conley led the Cougars in scoring three times in the last nine games, scoring more than 20 points all three times. BCC was 25-7 her sophomore year and 34-4 her freshman season, winning the Jayhawk West championship in both of her seasons.

● At Derby High, she was named honorable mention Class 6A as a senior when she averaged 13 points and shot 65 percent. She averaged 15 points and shot nearly 80 percent as a junior.

● Chose YSU because: "As a child, I knew I wanted to work with children. My basketball skills came briefly later. Furthering my education and improving on my basketball abilities are my main goals toward success, and YSU offered me this opportunity and much more. From the first day I met the coaching staff and saw how the other athletes shared a good chemistry, I knew I wanted to be a YSU Penguin."

● Coach Martin on Brooke: “Brooke is a tremendous 3-point shooter, and we will count on her right away to put some points on the board. She is a guard that can shoot and also score around the basket."

Bojana Dimitrov

● A 5-foot-7 guard from Carl Albert State College. Is a native of Paracin, Serbia who will have two years of eligibility remaining.

● Averaged 10 points, 4.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds as a sophomore at Carl Albert. As a freshman, she ranked second in Region 2 and 18th nationally in the NJCAA Division I with 5.9 assists per game.

● Ranked 68th out of 205 junior college prospects across the country by All Star Girls Basketball Report.

● Averaged 16.3 points per game as a senior at Gimnazija High School in Cuprija, Serbia. As the assists leader all four years, she helped lead her team to the Serbian national title as a freshman and junior. She was a three-time all-state team honoree and played on the Serbian National Team for players under age 18.

● Name is pronounced "BO-yana Dee-ME-trov"

● Chose YSU because: "During the recruiting process, I could see the passion that the coaches and team had about the game. I see coming to YSU as an opportunity to play for a program and coach with great history and tradition, and I am ready for that challenge. I am excited to be a part of the team, and as a point guard I am ready and eager to take responsibilities."

● Coach Martin on Bojana: "Bojana is a natural leader and has the heart of a lion. She is a hard-nosed point guard who really pushes the tempo and can also shoot from the outside."

Maryum Jenkins

● A 5-foot-8 guard from Monrovia High School (Calif.).

● Was a four-year starter as both a point guard and shooting guard at Monrovia High. Helped lead her team to league titles as a freshman, sophomore and senior. She averaged 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals as a senior.

● Ranked 290th out of 1,725 high school prospects across the country by All Star Girls Basketball Report.

● Chose YSU because: "I really enjoyed my official visit.  The coaches, players and YSU staff took great care of me even though I made the trip by myself. I felt like a part of their family.  I'm ready to help turn this program around, and I'm excited to be a part of something great. And, while I’m here at YSU, it wouldn’t hurt to have a chance to win a few championships."

● Coach Martin on Maryum: "Maryum is a true competitor who has unbelievable court vision. She can shoot from the outside or finish around the basket, and she has a polished cross-over."

Tieara Jones

● A 6-foot guard from Youngstown, Ohio who played at Foothill College (Calif.) last season.

● Graduated from Rayen High School in 2007. She averaged 12.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a senior for head coach Tanisha Franklin and assistant coach Brenda Scott.

● Signed with the University at Buffalo out of high school and averaged 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds as a freshman. She scored a career-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds at Kent State. She also had five steals in a game at South Carolina.

● Helped lead Foothill to its third straight California State Tournament (Elite 8).

● Chose YSU because: "I am very excited to sign with YSU because I feel comfortable with the school, the students on campus, the Youngstown community, and the conference. Being that I am a local kid, I have the support of my family, my high school coaches and God. We are in the process of rebuilding something special at YSU, and we will be a success before this recruiting class graduates."

● Coach Martin on Tieara: "Tieara is very aggressive at attacking the rim. It is fantastic to be bringing a former local high school standout back to play at YSU."