Nov. 30, 2011

Coach's Player Quotes

ROCHESTER, Mich. -Four players: Sinclair Russell, Annemarie Hamlet, Elena Popkey and Olivia Nash have all signed to play women's basketball at Oakland University next season, head coach Beckie Francis announced on Wednesday. Each of the players has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play for the Golden Grizzlies in 2012-13.

"Our assistant coaches did a great job in assembling this talented group," said Francis. "We are extremely happy with the players that we have signed. We had some real recruiting wars, which is usually an indication of a talented class."

Russell is a 6-foot-2-inch forward from Troy Athens High School. As a junior she averaged 21 points and 10.3 rebounds per-game, earning first team all-area and all-county honors. She was named to the Detroit News All-North squad and tied the Michigan High School Athletic Association single-season record with 178 total blocks as a junior. Russell also helped her Motor City Suns AAU team to back-to-back state championships.

"Sinclair Russell is a triple-double player," said Francis. "She is one of the leading scorers, rebounders and shot blockers in Oakland County and was named one of the top two players in the county by the paper. She is a 6-2 athlete that can play all positions and fits our system. It's exciting to get that kind of athlete."

Popkey is a 5-foot-8-inch point guard from Warren Cousino High School. She was the 2011 TV Warren Sportsline Player of the Year and earned All-State honorable mention recognitions for a second straight year. A versatile player, she averaged 17 points, seven assists, six steals and six rebounds per-game as a junior. She also helped her AAU team to back-to-back state runner-up finishes.

"Elena Popkey can pass and shoot the ball," said Francis. "Her shooting ability reminds me of Jessica Pike, which is very exciting. She is a smart player and brings outstanding character to the program."

Hamlet is a 5-foot-8-inch guard from McBain High School. Entering her junior year she currently ranks second in career-scoring at MHS behind her sister Liz Hamlet, who currently plays for the OU women's team. Hamlet was an All-State first team selection by both the Associated Press and Detroit Free Press in 2011. She was also the captain of the All-North Dream Team. Along with her sister, she helped lead McBain to the state championship game. She has been a two-time team MVP.

"You can't go wrong with signing another Hamlet," said Francis. "Her sister Liz is like having another coach on the floor, so adding another player from that kind of a basketball family is incredible. Annemarie is smaller, but she's feisty and as a point guard or shooting guard she is able to shoot deep 3s and can really defend."

Nash is a 6-foot post player from Escanaba High School. She averages a double-double of 17.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per-game for EHS as a junior. She was a first team All-Great Northern Conference selection and earned second team all-upper peninsula honors as the team's MVP. A strong student, Nash posted a 3.87 grade point average.

"We discovered Olivia because she was an AAU teammate of Annemarie Hamlet," said Francis. "It always seems like you find hidden jewels in recruiting and we think that's what we have with Olivia. When we saw her play this summer she put on a show. What I like most about her is that she rebounds. She is a rebounding magnet and the ball always seems to find her when it comes off the rim."

-OAKLAND-