On the eve of the season opener, coach Kelly Packard was informed that four of her recruits signed their National Letters of Intent.
Nicole Bell, Taylor Miller, Jocelyn Mousty and Alex Southworth have agreed to play for and attend Ball State, according to Packard.
"I am pleased to welcome these four talented young women to our program," Packard said in a press release. "Nicole, Taylor, Jocelyn and Alex have earned significant respect in the Midwest region, and their choice to share their collegiate career at Ball State University is a compliment to our program."
Bell, 5-foot-3, is a point guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, and averaged 19 points per game as a junior while earning Player of the Year in the Cincinnati Hills League. She was also named to the first team all-city, second team all-state, and first team All-Southwest District honors. In her three seasons at Indian Hill, Bell bolstered her team to an overall combined record of 64-7, winning back-to-back sectional championships.
According to ESPNHS, Bell is listed as a three-star recruit and was given a grade of 83 out of 100.
With so much potential, Packard couldn't back down from offering Bell a scholarship to play at Ball State.
"Nicole is a pure point guard," Packard said. "Her leadership, aptitude for the game, and relentless competitive spirit are the foundation for her basketball success. Nicole's poise and composure allow her to provide structure to the floor. Her strong aptitude for the game is reflected in the maturity of her pressured decision making."
Miller, a native of Hope, is also a guard. At 5-foot-6, Miller averaged 24 points per game as a junior at Hauser, while earning all-conference Most Valuable Player honors for three consecutive seasons.
A future threat for the Cardinals, Miller scored a season-high 33 points in a 71-63 victory over Southwestern on February 3, 2011. Stats are second nature for Miller, who tallied four double-doubles last season and reached double figures in scoring in every game.
Miller, according to Packard, will transform into a legitimate scoring threat for the Cardinals.
"Taylor is a scoring guard," Packard said. "She is creative, explosive and possesses strong ball handling abilities. [She's] expressive, tough-nosed and her competitiveness is contagious. Her ability to finish with contact highlights her scoring abilities."
Mousty, who hails from Fredrickson, Ind., is possibly the most vital signee for Packard so far. With a lack of depth at the center position, Mousty, a 6-foot-3 forward, will provide the Cardinals with solid size and strength, particularly under the basket.
Mousty is a ball hawk. Everywhere the ball goes, Mousty has a nag for snatching it up. She averaged over 17 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior, and earned all-conference and MVP honors for two straight seasons. Last season, Mousty notched 18 double-doubles.
The build of Mousty is what caught Packard's eye the most.
"Jocelyn has elite athleticism," Packard said. "Her frame is agile and strong. Her skills display a balance of strength conducive to paint play, particularly rebounding. She compliments that style of play with the ability to run the floor in transition, and can stretch the defense with her 3-point range."
Southworth, from Piketon, Ohio, is a two-position player with experience as a guard and forward. She averaged over 13 points per game her junior season, earning first team all-conference honors. Southworth led the conference in assists and was second in total rebounds. In addition, Southworth has a multitude of noteworthy achievements throughout her high school career, including being a two-time all-conference and all-state honoree.
The most fascinating aspect to Southworth's game is her versatility, which Packard envies.
"She has a unique blend of size and strong perimeter abilities," Packard said. "Alex is comfortable handling the ball against pressure, and stretches her range to the 3-point arc."
While excitement and encouraging news continues to fill the airwaves, the Cardinals have a tough road ahead of them, starting with their season opener versus Illinois State Friday at 7 p.m. in John E. Worthen Arena.
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