Early signings solidify post, wing for Wahine basketball

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Got depth?

The University of Hawai'i Wahine basketball team is banking on it with the commitment of four players who signed national letters-of-intent yesterday.

Center Callie Spooner, forward Penny Jones, wing Amy Sanders and point guard Trisha Nishimoto will join the Wahine next fall, additions to an already young team poised to only get better with experience.

"I think this is the best recruiting class in the early signing period, ever," said head coach Vince Goo. "We were looking for two post players, a wing player and a point guard. And we found them."

Spooner and Jones, 6 foot 3 and 6-2 respectively, are expected to give next year's seniors some competition for playing time.

As a junior, Spooner averaged 12 points and eight rebounds for Prairie High School in Vancouver, Wash., which finished its season third in the state last year.

At Cyprus High School in West Valley City, Utah, Jones averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game as a junior, earning all-state and all-region honors while leading her team to a third-place finish.

Spooner chose UH over San Diego State, San Francisco and UNLV. Jones bypassed Oregon State, UNLV and Air Force.

"Callie and Penny are gonna be good," Goo said. "They'll come in next and play behind the two seniors (Christen Roper and Natasja Allen). We project them to be starters as sophomores."

Sanders, he added, is the best wing player to come out of California, "the best we've ever recruited."

The two-time all-league, all-county and all-California Interscholastic Federation wing player from Huntington Beach High School averaged 20.8 points, 13.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game her junior year. The 5-11 recruit, who will play her senior year at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., chose UH over Wyoming, San Francisco, San Diego State and UCLA.

After watching her play about 30 times this summer, the Wahine coaches are sure about Sanders' skills and work ethic.

"She has offense like April Atuaia and defense like Christa Brossman," Goo said. "Put that together and, well."

Nishimoto, the only local recruit to sign so far, earned first team all-Interscholastic League of Honolulu and second team all-state honors last year.

The 5-5 point guard from Iolani School was the league's second leading scorer with averages of 16 points, three assists and six steals per game.

"She is BJ-quick, BJ-tough and BJ-determined," said Goo, comparing Nishimoto to former Wahine point guard BJ Itoman, the Wahine all-time leader in assists and 3-point threat. "So with that, you know she's going to be good."

But most importantly, especially to the Wahine coaching staff, is the recruits' commitment to academics.

"All four have excellent grades and high SAT scores," Goo said. "(Academics) are very important because we need to make sure they come in and be very serious about their education."