Recruiting roundup: Holly’s Fugate picks Wayne St.; Kettering’s Brady, Kingsley’s Crosby head to Grand Rapids
Holly’s Rebecca Fugate (3) puts up a shot against eventual state champ Flushing during the 2016-17 season. Fugate has committed to play for Wayne State. (Photos by Matthew B. Mowery) With shooting guard Paige Reid graduated, Holly High basketball coach…
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Continue ReadingWith shooting guard Paige Reid graduated, Holly High basketball coach David Hall came into last season concerned that junior Rebecca Fugate wouldn’t have enough scoring assistance to keep opposing defenses honest.
“Other teams are constantly playing a box-and-one and playing different types of defenses,” Hall said in January of the attention lavished on Fugate.
Hall needn’t have worried, though, as Fugate fought through having a bullseye on her back, scoring 451 points in the Bronchos’ 23 games — for an average of 19.6 points per game, or 48 percent of Holly’s offense — scoring 20 or more points seven times.
That shouldn’t really have surprised anyone, though.
The 5-foot-7 Fugate — who can take the ball to the basket and hit from long range — has been lighting up defenses since her freshman year.
Now, it’s earned the combo guard a scholarship, as she gave a verbal commitment over the weekend to play college hoops at Wayne State.
“Super excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and basketball career at Wayne State University! Go Warriors!!” Fugate tweeted Sunday evening.
It makes her the third college basketball player in her family, following in the footsteps of her brothers Michael (Saginaw Valley State University) and Josh (Concordia).
Fugate earned honorable mention all-state in Class A from the Associated Press, and her second straight first-team All-Flint Metro League honors as a junior. She plays with TC Elite during the spring/summer season.
Wayne State signed a pair of guards in this year’s recruiting class, adding Alexis Miller of Howell and Katelyn Sherwood of Bellville. This year’s Warriors had a large Oakland County flavor, with senior Shannon Wilson (Bloomfield Hills), junior Jessica Murphy (Oxford) and redshirt freshman Amber Stephens (Farmington Hills Harrison).
Kettering’s Brady chooses Aquinas
Waterford Kettering senior Marissa Brady announced Monday that she would be playing collegiate ball on the west side of the state.
“I’m sooo happy to announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids!!” Brady tweeted.
At 6-foot-3, Brady is taller than anyone currently on the roster of the NAIA Saints (Findlay transfer Ally Frederickson is listed at 6-2), and one of the few players from the east side of Michigan.
Brady was an honorable mention all-league in the Captains’ final season in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association, and first-team all Lakes Valley Conference in that league’s inaugural season.
Aquinas graduates five seniors from a squad that went 18-12 and 13-7 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, and already has Muskegon Mona Shores’ Ryleigh Wehler and Hastings’ Jordyn Wigg in this year’s recruiting class.
Kingsley’s Crosby picks Cornerstone
The third-leading scorer and leading rebounder for Class B semifinalist Kingsley, Stags center Rebekah Crosby signed with Cornerstone University recently, according to the Traverse City Record Eagle.
The 6-foot Crosby scored 9.9 points per game, and led Kingsley with 7.5 rebounds.
The defending WHAC champions graduate five seniors from last year’s 19-15 squad.