NPCC women’s basketball team announces 2019-20 recruiting class

North Platte Community College women’s basketball team head coach Jeff Thurman has announced the recruiting class for 2019-20. The lineup includes:

Ashley Hassett

Hometown: Hershey, Neb.

School: Hershey High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

First Team SPVA All-Conference
First Team Telegraph All-Area
Lincoln Journal Star Honorable Mention
Omaha World-Herald Honorable Mention
Senior year stats: 15.5 ppg – 3.1 rpg – 1 apg – 3.7 spg

“Ashley is a local area student-athlete with loads of talent, and we are excited to be adding her to our program,” Thurman said. “She is a very accomplished player out of Hershey High School and is someone that can flat out score the basketball. Ashley is multidimensional as a player. She can score from all three-levels and loves the game. She will fit in great with our team.”

Viridiana (Viri) Escobar

Hometown: Yuma, Colo.

School: Yuma High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

Honorable Mention All-Conference
Two-time Colorado High School Girls Basketball State Champion
“Chiefs” – Volunteering at Elementary Schools
Lettered in Softball
Senior year stats: 5.1 ppg – 2.5 rpg – 3.1 apg – 2.0 spg

“Viri is a great student and a gifted basketball player,” said Thurman. “She is a winner plain and simple. She can shoot it, handle it, pass it and is a great leader. We graduate our two sophomores who spent time at the point guard position this season, so it is imperative that we bring in a talented student-athlete for that position. We are excited about her joining our program.”

Janay Brauer

Hometown: Sidney, Neb.

School: Sidney High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

First Team All-Conference
Lincoln Journal Star Honorable Mention
Omaha World-Herald Honorable Mention
Three-time state tournament appearance
Senior year stats: 8.3 ppg – 4.3 rpg – 2.6 apg – 2.1 spg

“Janay comes from a well-coached and very successful high school program. She has the ability to play both guard positons and score from different spots on the floor,” said Thurman. “Janay is an unselfish player who wants to see teammates succeed. She loves the game of basketball and will work tirelessly to improve. She’s a gym rat, and that’s what we love as a coaching staff.”

Isabela (Isa) Valenzuela

Hometown: Westminster, Colo.

School: Legacy High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

Broke the Legacy High School record for most 3s in a game (6 3s)
Honorable Mention for Front Range All Conference
Played on Front Range Conference All-Star Team
Senior year stats: 7.7 ppg – 2.2 apg – 3.9 rpg – 1.4 spg

“Isa is a great addition to our program,” said Thurman. “She is a high-character student-athlete who will get it done for us on the basketball floor and in the classroom. Her length and athleticism, plus her shooting ability, are phenomenal. Having been battled tested in 5A ball in Colorado, we look for Isa to come in right away and help us immediately.”

Jalyn Reagans

Hometown: Mesquite, Texas

School: Horn High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

Academic All-District
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Senior year stats: 4.4 ppg – 0.4 apg – 5.2 rpg – 0.5 spg

“Jalyn gives us the needed size and strength we need in the painted-area,” said Thurman. “She comes from 6A basketball in Dallas, Texas, which will benefit in her transition to the collegiate level. Jalyn is a high-character student-athlete who has the ability to be a leader from day one. She will push herself and her teammates every day in order for us to get better. We are extremely excited to have her join our program.”

Mercedes Rodriguez

Hometown: Holly, Colo.

School: Holly Jr./Sr. High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

All-Conference 2019
National Honor Society secretary
Principal’s Honor Roll
Colorado High School Lamp of Learning
Colorado AHEC health certificate
Senior year stats: 11.5 ppg – 1.3 apg – 6.3 rpg – 1.2 spg

“Mercedes’ ability to play multiple positons and score from different levels is very impressive,” said Thurman. “She is a high-character individual who is the epitome of the type of student-athlete we want in our program to build our culture. She is a great addition to our program, institution and community.”

Amber Wolever

Hometown: Snyder, Colo.

School: Brush High School

Accomplishments and recognitions:

Played volleyball and basketball all four years in high school.
All-Conference basketball
Played in the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports Game
Member of All-State Academic Team
Honor Roll all four years with a 4.0 GPA.
Senior year stats: 11.2 ppg – 1.7 apg – 6.1 rpg – 2.7 spg

“Amber is a pass-first point guard who looks to get her teammates involved early and often,” Thurman said. “Amber brings some toughness that you don’t normally see with an incoming freshman. She is an amazing student in the classroom and individual the community. Amber is exactly what we look for in a student-athlete and with our culture.”

Catie Whitehead

Hometown: New Port Richey, Fla.

School: J.W. Mitchell High School

Transfer student-athlete from Cloud County Community College

“We are really fortunate to add Catie for her sophomore year here at NPCC,” Thurman said. “Having coached against her, and seeing her play in high school, she is someone who will be a great addition to our team both on the court and off. Catie loves the game of basketball and is someone who adds scoring and leadership to our team immediately.”