Kansas State Women's Basketball Inks Five Players
Nov 13, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2002
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State head women's basketball Deb Patterson announced Wednesday that Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan.), Claire Coggins (Lee's Summit, Mo.), Jetta "Twiggy" McIntyre (Sapulpa, Okla.), Shanda Murdoch (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Naytanda Smith (Enid, Okla.) have signed national letters of intent to play at Kansas State.
"We are extremely pleased about the overall quality of this recruiting class. This class will provide our program with added versatility and skill in all spots on the floor," seventh-year head coach Deb Patterson said. "Their skills compliment one another and address the needs of our program very well. These young ladies have had standout high school and AAU careers, and they will all have the opportunity to impact our program very early in their careers."
Brooks, a 5-foot-11 small forward from Leavenworth High School, averaged 16.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.1 steals per game, shot 42.8 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from beyond the three-point arch last season. She earned first-team All-Sunflower League honors all three of her prep years and was a third team all-state selection as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore. Brooks was a 2002 Street & Smith's Magazine All-America honorable mention selection, a nominee for McDonald's All-America Team and led Leavenworth in scoring and rebounding the last three seasons. Additionally, she was ranked No. 33 by the All-Star Girls Report.
"Tiffany Brooks is a dynamic small forward who brings a game that is versatile and potentially very powerful in all phases. She can score in a variety of ways," Patterson said. "She has three-point range, she can post up and her jump shot is a terrific weapon from 16 feet and in at this young stage in her career. Tiffany's work ethic is such that every day she walks into the gym she is going to get better at the next level. I look for her to develop a game that is powerful and diverse, somewhat similar in versatility and power to that which Kendra Wecker brings to the floor."
Leavenworth High School women's basketball coach Stacey Cole thinks Brooks is an all-around talent who will benefit Kansas State next season.
"Tiffany is a versatile guard at 5-foot-11. She has played inside and outside for us," Cole said. "She is an intense competitor, a leader, even though she is not a loud competitor. She is good at creating shots for herself and finding others. She can drive and is good at picking up the foul on the drive. She's an all-around player who has played the two, three, and four for us. She has even brought the ball up the court on occasion."
Coggins, a 5-foot-11 guard/forward from Lee's Summit North High School, averaged 17.2 points per game in leading the Broncos to the Missouri Class 4A state championship last season and a pair of fourth-place finishes the previous two seasons. She helped the Broncos to a three-year overall record of 73-16 and three Suburban Big 8 Conference titles. The three-year letterwinner was a two-time Street & Smith's Magazine honorable mention high school All-American, the USA Today Player to Watch in Missouri in 2001-02 and was ranked the 14th-best guard by the All-Star Girls Report. Coggins was named first team all-state twice and second team once, to three Kansas City Star All-Metro teams, two all-area, three all-district and a pair of all-conference first teams. She was also the all-area player of the year twice and Jackson County Athlete of the Year twice.
Coggins was Lee's Summit North's leading scorer the past three seasons and holds 14 school records, including most points scored in a game (36) and in a season (499).
"Claire Coggins is a tremendous 5-11 three-point shooter who also possesses very impressive handling and passing instincts and skills," Patterson said. "Her size, athleticism and multi-dimensional abilities as a shooter, penetrator and quality defender will make her one of the most versatile guards we have in our program. She has the potential to be an impact player in our program and in the league. Claire's game brings elements which will remind fans of some of Laurie Koehn's attributes and some of those of Megan Mahoney. Her game has a lot of flair."
"She's got a great shot and a great first step," Lee's Summit North head women's basketball coach Trish Lillygren said. "She's quick, creative with her shots and she has a lot of offensive tools. She is an aggressive rebounder, getting a lot of her points off rebounds. She has such a long arm span and she is good at anticipating."
McIntyre, a 5-foot-5 point guard from Sapulpa High School, averaged a team-leading and conference-leading 22.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game and shot 54.6 percent from the field, 50.7 from three-point range and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line as a junior. She has averaged 19.3 points during her career and is currently 196 points shy of the school scoring record. McIntyre helped the Lady Chiefs to a 21-6 record in Class 6A, a regional title and an appearance in the state quarterfinals last year. For the past three seasons, she was a first team all-metro, all-district and all-conference selection. Additionally, McIntyre was named the MVP of the Neosho and Sand Springs Tournaments.
"Twiggy McIntyre is a point guard who brings a good sense of timing and execution as a passer as well as the all important ability to shoot the three effectively from the point position," Patterson said. "Twiggy possesses a solid understanding and feel for the game and she leads with a quiet assertiveness that elevates the abilities of those she is on the floor with. I would characterize her game as smart and efficient. She is a point who is strong in both her ability to initiate the transition game and to direct and lead a team in halfcourt play. I look for her to add immediately to our perimeter game depth."
"Twiggy is a silent leader and a tremendous role model," Sapulpa head women's basketball coach Leah Beer said. "She is a phenomenal player, the total package. She can post up and play any position for us."
Murdoch, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 15.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 blocks per game and shot 41.8 percent from the field during her prep career at Westmoore (Okla.) High School and Tuttle High School. She helped Westmoore, ranked No. 21 in the nation by USA Today in 2001-02, to the Class 6A title this past season, and earned the tournament MVP honors. The Jaguars were 43-13 the past three seasons, and claimed two conference, three regional and two area titles, and were 6A runners-up in 1999-2000.
Murdoch was named a Student Sports Junior All-American, Street & Smith's Magazine honorable mention All-American and to the Student Sports All-Southwest Region All-Star second team in 2002. Additionally, she was ranked the fifth-best power forward in the country by the All-Star Girls Report.
"Shanda Murdoch brings great basketball intelligence and versatility to the floor. She has a great feel for the game and I like the tough, competitive work ethic she demonstrates in all phases of the game," Patterson said. "When a game is over Shanda will have impacted the game in any number of a variety of ways. She can score with her back to the basket, facing up or in transition, and like Nicole Ohlde, she has a great sense of how to be an effective passer out of the post. She has great anticipation skills on the defensive end of the floor. Shanda is never one to hesitate from mixing it up or from getting on the floor for a loose ball. She is one of the most talented and consistent post players at her age and size in the country."
Westmoore head women's basketball coach Carol Carter agrees.
"At 6-foot-2, Shanda is a very physical and powerful player. She plays the four-five for us and has 10-15 foot range (on her shot). She can play with her back to the basket or facing the basket. For a big player she is agile, a great ball-handler and great team leader."
Smith, a 5-foot-11 forward from Enid (Okla.) High School, averaged 9.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while leading the Pacers to an 18-9 overall record as a junior. She was named second team all-conference last season and was on the all-star team of the Bixby and Garden City Tournaments.
"Naytanda Smith is a 6-1 prototype slasher with tremendous upside to her game," Patterson said. "The quickness she brings as a leaper and rebounder in and around the paint is something our program will benefit from immediately. Naytanda has an uncanny ability to get to the rim and to keep the ball alive, particularly on the offensive boards. I think Naytanda is a classic diamond-in-the-rough type of player who is young in her game and experiences but who will has the potential to emerge as a significant contributor in our program."
Enid head women's basketball coach Nicky Emblem is impressed with a very talented Smith.
"We have played her at the post but she has really developed her outside game. "She can shoot from the outside and she has a jump shot like a boy. She has really long arms."
Brooks, Coggins, McIntyre, Murdoch and Smith are members of the Wildcats' 2003-04 recruiting class.
