Kelsey inks six players
November 11, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Women’s basketball signs four top-100 recruits
MADISON, Wis. – In arguably the best signing class of head coach Bobbie Kelsey's tenure, Kelsey and the Wisconsin women's basketball team have signed six recruits for 2016-17, including one top-100 recruit and three who have been in the top 100 at some time in their careers. The recruiting class is ranked as the No. 15 recruiting class in the nation by Blue Star Basketball.
"As a group we have worked extremely hard to sign the best and brightest as future Badgers and we think we have done just that with this 2016 class," Kelsey said. "Being our biggest signing class to date, we are excited to see what each of them can and will do as we continue to build a strong women's basketball tradition here at Wisconsin. These kids believe in us as coaches and were willing to forgo signing with other schools because of what we have here.
"They will each provide something special with their individual athletic and academic talents. This class has the makings to be one of the best ever and we are very excited that they all chose the University of Wisconsin."
Gabby Gregory
Gabby Gregory, Kelsey's third signee out of the state of Texas, has been ranked as high as No. 44 nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz and No. 60 by Blue Star Basketball. The 5-8 guard from Irving, Texas, becomes the highest ranked recruit for Kelsey. As a four-year varsity starter, Gregory was named the District 14-1A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. She was also a state semi-finalist as a freshman and state regional semi-finalist as a junior with Irvin MacArthur high school.
A four-star recruit by Prospect Nation, Gregory originally committed to Kansas State and held offers from Ole Miss, Texas Tech, LSU, New Mexico State and Wichita State. In AAU, she competed with Texas Adidas Elite and won the 2015 Adidas National Championships and the 2013 Nike Nationals with the DFW Elite.
Kelsey on Gregory: "To get a player of Gabby's caliber so late in the recruiting period is truly special. We are definitely looking for her to come in and do big things for our program. Gabby is a hard-nosed point guard that shoots the ball extremely well, has great ball handling skills and playmaking skills to boot. She elevates those around her to play at the highest level because of her love for the game, competitive nature and will to be the best. She is also an honors student in the classroom which makes her that much more special. She is always, always in the gym working on some aspect of her game, whether that be her shooting, defense or free throws. We have found a gem in Gabby and cannot wait for our fans to watch her play."
Abby Laszewski
Abby Laszewski, a 6-3 forward from Hartford, Connecticut, is a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 75 recruit in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz. Laszewski participated in the USA basketball trials in 2014 after averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and three blocks per game as a sophomore for Avon high school. Laszewski won the ASGR championship in the summer of 2015 with the iExcel coached by Walter Welsh.
The 2015 second-team Connecticut All-USA Today selection earned all-state honors as a sophomore and garnered North Central Connecticut Conference accolades as a freshman and sophomore. Laszewski was also named the conference tournament team MVP when the team won the tournament her sophomore season. Her high school coach is Frank Waters. She also lettered in volleyball all four years, earning all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior. Laszewski also excelled in the classroom as a scholar athlete all four years for volleyball and basketball.
Laszewski's father, Jay, played for the Badgers from 1983-86 under head coach Steve Yoder.
Kelsey on Laszewski: "Abby will have the distinct honor of continuing the legacy of being a Badger basketball player as she follows in the footsteps of her father, Jay who played on the men's team back in the 80s. We had the good fortune to see her play early last year and decided that she had just the right skill set and pedigree to join our program. Abby felt the same about us and decided that she did not want to wait any longer to make her collegiate decision. She is a dominant force in the paint because of her length and basketball IQ. Standing 6-3 Abby can also shoot the 3, score around the basket, rebound and of course block shots. She will add to our frontline depth next season. We have big plans for how we want to use her and she has even bigger plans for herself. Off the court, she is an A+ student that has already been admitted to the university. We love this about her and she will only get better and better as her time as a Badger draws near."
Courtney Fredrickson
Excelsior, Minnesota, native Courtney Fredrickson comes in as one of the most highly regarded recruits in the 2016 class, after collecting three all-conference awards and being named to the Star Tribune 2015 all-state team. The two-time team MVP led Minnestonka High School, coached by Leah Dasovich, in scoring and rebounding in both 2014 and 2015 and hit the 1,000 point mark in 2015.
A 6-2 forward, Fredrickson has played for the North Tartan for eight years and has won seven consecutive Minnesota AAU state championships under Jon Herbrechtsmeyer, Greg Dietel and Bill Larson.
Kelsey on Fredrickson: "We are extremely happy to sign Courtney to our 2016 class for many reasons but the one that stands out to us the most was her absolute love for the University of Wisconsin. She is already so incredibly pumped to be a Badger but she is also a really good basketball player and student. Being a 6-2 lefty who can play multiple positions on the court, Courtney will be a matchup problem for opponents from the outset. She shoots the three extremely well, plays with an aggressive mentality as well as provides us with a forward who can also play the point position. Her ability to think the game is unmatched as well. She is the definition of the total scholar athlete. Courtney definitely has the competitive fire to make our program one of the best in the country. We are excited to see what the future holds for her."
Suzanne Gilreath
Joining her fellow Minnesota native, the most prolific 3-point shooter in Minnesota prep history signed on to play with the Badgers. Suzanne Gilreath, a 5-5 shooting guard from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, averaged 28.3 points per game last season and made a state record 128 3-point shots for Fridley high school under coach Erik Redepenning.
Gilreath played for Minnesota's Warrior Elite under Pat Adams.
Kelsey on Gilreath: "Suzanne is another scrappy, highly skilled guard that will allow us to stretch the defense beyond the 3-point line. She has the ability to also attack off the dribble and finish at the rim or dish the ball to an open player mainly because she is a very unselfish player. She is constantly working to improve her overall game which is something she may have learned watching her older brother David Gilreath do as a member of the Badger football team back in the early 2000s. She is also a serious student who carries close to a 4.0 GPA. Family pride and work ethic is something that Suzanne will bring with her to Madison as she knows what she needs to do to be great. Her humble and hungry attitude will give her the start she needs to get her collegiate career off to a great start."
Alona Johnson
A 5-5 point guard from Milwaukee, Alona Johnson joins the Badgers as one of two in-state signees in the 2016 class. Johnson earned first-team all-city and all-area honors all four years in addition to being named all-state three years. She hit the 1000-point mark as a junior in high school and helped Riverside High School to win the state championship as a freshman.
Johnson's AAU team, Playground Elite, won the AAU national championship and finished first in the country in 2011.
Kelsey on Johnson: "Alona being one of two Wisconsin natives in the 2016 class shows our commitment to keep Wisconsin players here in Wisconsin. Alona committed to our program very early so we have had a chance to watch her growth over the years and see that her future is bright. And although she is may be small in stature, she packs a powerful punch with her playmaking ability, tough mentality and overall instincts for the game. Alona has been a part of a high school state championship team, she will bring that same hunger to win to our program. We are looking for her to add depth to our point guard position but she will also be able to play at the shooting guard position with her ability to shoot the 3-point shot. We look forward to coaching this young lady."
Grace Mueller
Rounding out the 2016 signing class is Verona, Wisconsin, native Grace Mueller. Mueller, a four-year letterwinner and starter for Verona Area High School, was the team's leading scorer and rebounder in 2014-15. Her 13-point per game average helped lead her squad to win the WIAA Regional Championship and become WIAA Sectional semifinalists in 2014-15. The two-time team captain was named first-team All-Big Eight Conference and second-team all-area when she exploded onto the scene in the 2014-15 season.
Mueller played for Bob Johnson's AAU Wisconsin Elite ranked 19th of top 100 recruits by 5statehoops.com.
Kelsey on Mueller: "Grace is another in-state player that we felt had all the tools we needed to fill our power forward position. Her rebounding ability, never-quit aggressive play and ability to play against bigger opponents will bode well for her going forward. We saw these skills this summer at our camp as well as when she played with her Wisconsin Elite AAU team coached by Bob Johnson. Grace just got better and better so we knew that she would not be a secret too much longer. She is 6-2 but probably has the wing span of a 6-5 player. She will continue to become a more complete player at the collegiate level because of her ability to adapt and her love for learning the game of basketball. Grace also has received high praise for her scholastic achievements by maintaining a 4.0 GPA. We cannot wait to work with her as she continues her growth both on the court and in the classroom."
"As a group we have worked extremely hard to sign the best and brightest as future Badgers and we think we have done just that with this 2016 class," Kelsey said. "Being our biggest signing class to date, we are excited to see what each of them can and will do as we continue to build a strong women's basketball tradition here at Wisconsin. These kids believe in us as coaches and were willing to forgo signing with other schools because of what we have here.
"They will each provide something special with their individual athletic and academic talents. This class has the makings to be one of the best ever and we are very excited that they all chose the University of Wisconsin."
Gabby Gregory
Gabby Gregory, Kelsey's third signee out of the state of Texas, has been ranked as high as No. 44 nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz and No. 60 by Blue Star Basketball. The 5-8 guard from Irving, Texas, becomes the highest ranked recruit for Kelsey. As a four-year varsity starter, Gregory was named the District 14-1A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. She was also a state semi-finalist as a freshman and state regional semi-finalist as a junior with Irvin MacArthur high school.
A four-star recruit by Prospect Nation, Gregory originally committed to Kansas State and held offers from Ole Miss, Texas Tech, LSU, New Mexico State and Wichita State. In AAU, she competed with Texas Adidas Elite and won the 2015 Adidas National Championships and the 2013 Nike Nationals with the DFW Elite.
Kelsey on Gregory: "To get a player of Gabby's caliber so late in the recruiting period is truly special. We are definitely looking for her to come in and do big things for our program. Gabby is a hard-nosed point guard that shoots the ball extremely well, has great ball handling skills and playmaking skills to boot. She elevates those around her to play at the highest level because of her love for the game, competitive nature and will to be the best. She is also an honors student in the classroom which makes her that much more special. She is always, always in the gym working on some aspect of her game, whether that be her shooting, defense or free throws. We have found a gem in Gabby and cannot wait for our fans to watch her play."
Abby Laszewski
Abby Laszewski, a 6-3 forward from Hartford, Connecticut, is a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 75 recruit in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz. Laszewski participated in the USA basketball trials in 2014 after averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and three blocks per game as a sophomore for Avon high school. Laszewski won the ASGR championship in the summer of 2015 with the iExcel coached by Walter Welsh.
The 2015 second-team Connecticut All-USA Today selection earned all-state honors as a sophomore and garnered North Central Connecticut Conference accolades as a freshman and sophomore. Laszewski was also named the conference tournament team MVP when the team won the tournament her sophomore season. Her high school coach is Frank Waters. She also lettered in volleyball all four years, earning all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior. Laszewski also excelled in the classroom as a scholar athlete all four years for volleyball and basketball.
Laszewski's father, Jay, played for the Badgers from 1983-86 under head coach Steve Yoder.
Kelsey on Laszewski: "Abby will have the distinct honor of continuing the legacy of being a Badger basketball player as she follows in the footsteps of her father, Jay who played on the men's team back in the 80s. We had the good fortune to see her play early last year and decided that she had just the right skill set and pedigree to join our program. Abby felt the same about us and decided that she did not want to wait any longer to make her collegiate decision. She is a dominant force in the paint because of her length and basketball IQ. Standing 6-3 Abby can also shoot the 3, score around the basket, rebound and of course block shots. She will add to our frontline depth next season. We have big plans for how we want to use her and she has even bigger plans for herself. Off the court, she is an A+ student that has already been admitted to the university. We love this about her and she will only get better and better as her time as a Badger draws near."
Courtney Fredrickson
Excelsior, Minnesota, native Courtney Fredrickson comes in as one of the most highly regarded recruits in the 2016 class, after collecting three all-conference awards and being named to the Star Tribune 2015 all-state team. The two-time team MVP led Minnestonka High School, coached by Leah Dasovich, in scoring and rebounding in both 2014 and 2015 and hit the 1,000 point mark in 2015.
A 6-2 forward, Fredrickson has played for the North Tartan for eight years and has won seven consecutive Minnesota AAU state championships under Jon Herbrechtsmeyer, Greg Dietel and Bill Larson.
Kelsey on Fredrickson: "We are extremely happy to sign Courtney to our 2016 class for many reasons but the one that stands out to us the most was her absolute love for the University of Wisconsin. She is already so incredibly pumped to be a Badger but she is also a really good basketball player and student. Being a 6-2 lefty who can play multiple positions on the court, Courtney will be a matchup problem for opponents from the outset. She shoots the three extremely well, plays with an aggressive mentality as well as provides us with a forward who can also play the point position. Her ability to think the game is unmatched as well. She is the definition of the total scholar athlete. Courtney definitely has the competitive fire to make our program one of the best in the country. We are excited to see what the future holds for her."
Suzanne Gilreath
Joining her fellow Minnesota native, the most prolific 3-point shooter in Minnesota prep history signed on to play with the Badgers. Suzanne Gilreath, a 5-5 shooting guard from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, averaged 28.3 points per game last season and made a state record 128 3-point shots for Fridley high school under coach Erik Redepenning.
Gilreath played for Minnesota's Warrior Elite under Pat Adams.
Kelsey on Gilreath: "Suzanne is another scrappy, highly skilled guard that will allow us to stretch the defense beyond the 3-point line. She has the ability to also attack off the dribble and finish at the rim or dish the ball to an open player mainly because she is a very unselfish player. She is constantly working to improve her overall game which is something she may have learned watching her older brother David Gilreath do as a member of the Badger football team back in the early 2000s. She is also a serious student who carries close to a 4.0 GPA. Family pride and work ethic is something that Suzanne will bring with her to Madison as she knows what she needs to do to be great. Her humble and hungry attitude will give her the start she needs to get her collegiate career off to a great start."
Alona Johnson
A 5-5 point guard from Milwaukee, Alona Johnson joins the Badgers as one of two in-state signees in the 2016 class. Johnson earned first-team all-city and all-area honors all four years in addition to being named all-state three years. She hit the 1000-point mark as a junior in high school and helped Riverside High School to win the state championship as a freshman.
Johnson's AAU team, Playground Elite, won the AAU national championship and finished first in the country in 2011.
Kelsey on Johnson: "Alona being one of two Wisconsin natives in the 2016 class shows our commitment to keep Wisconsin players here in Wisconsin. Alona committed to our program very early so we have had a chance to watch her growth over the years and see that her future is bright. And although she is may be small in stature, she packs a powerful punch with her playmaking ability, tough mentality and overall instincts for the game. Alona has been a part of a high school state championship team, she will bring that same hunger to win to our program. We are looking for her to add depth to our point guard position but she will also be able to play at the shooting guard position with her ability to shoot the 3-point shot. We look forward to coaching this young lady."
Grace Mueller
Rounding out the 2016 signing class is Verona, Wisconsin, native Grace Mueller. Mueller, a four-year letterwinner and starter for Verona Area High School, was the team's leading scorer and rebounder in 2014-15. Her 13-point per game average helped lead her squad to win the WIAA Regional Championship and become WIAA Sectional semifinalists in 2014-15. The two-time team captain was named first-team All-Big Eight Conference and second-team all-area when she exploded onto the scene in the 2014-15 season.
Mueller played for Bob Johnson's AAU Wisconsin Elite ranked 19th of top 100 recruits by 5statehoops.com.
Kelsey on Mueller: "Grace is another in-state player that we felt had all the tools we needed to fill our power forward position. Her rebounding ability, never-quit aggressive play and ability to play against bigger opponents will bode well for her going forward. We saw these skills this summer at our camp as well as when she played with her Wisconsin Elite AAU team coached by Bob Johnson. Grace just got better and better so we knew that she would not be a secret too much longer. She is 6-2 but probably has the wing span of a 6-5 player. She will continue to become a more complete player at the collegiate level because of her ability to adapt and her love for learning the game of basketball. Grace also has received high praise for her scholastic achievements by maintaining a 4.0 GPA. We cannot wait to work with her as she continues her growth both on the court and in the classroom."
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