Release from Iowa State Athletic Communications
The Iowa State women’s basketball team and head coach Bill Fennelly announced Wednesday the signing of three prep standouts. The trio has signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Cyclones starting in 2012-13. The class has been ranked No. 31 by All Star Girls Report.
Maddy Baier (Tama, Iowa), Emiah Bingley (Greenwood, Mo.) and Nicole “Kidd” Blaskowsky (Sugar Land, Texas) comprise the class.
“We really wanted to find kids that fit the culture of our program,” Fennelly said. “Position wise we were looking for guard help, we needed some perimeter shooting. Every year, you are always looking for a post player. I think it is the hardest position to find. They all wanted to be a part of our program and what we are doing.”
Baier, a 6-4 forward/center, is a two-time first-team Little Hawkeye Conference selection at South Tama High School. She averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in helping the Trojans to a 22-3 record and a conference title last season. Baier was a second-team all-state pick by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association as a junior.
“Maddy came to our Elite Camp and did a great job so we decided to recruit her,” Fennelly said. “She was probably the most excited kid to get an offer at Iowa State that I’ve ever had. I think everyone was crying when we made the phone call. She is someone that loves Iowa State and I think she has the chance to be very good.”
Bingley, a 5-7 guard, averaged 14 points and five rebounds as a junior for Lee’s Summit West High School. An all-around player, Bingley also averaged three assists and three steals for the Titans. She has been an All-Suburban Middle Six Conference pick three times and was nominated for Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. Bingley was ranked as the No. 73 recruit by All Star Girls Report and the 20th-best point guard by the Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
“Emiah is a kid that has played at a very high level on the AAU circuit,” Fennelly said. “She is great with the ball, has good speed and can play multiple positions. Emiah has dedicated her life to being a great basketball player.”
Blaskowsky, a 5-7 guard, was the first commitment of the class, pledging to the Cyclones in October 2010, out of Austin High School. She averaged 19.3 points while shooting an eye-popping 57 percent from the floor. Blaskowsky also notched 3.1 steals per game and went on to earn Fort Bend Sun Player of the Year accolades. In a late season game against Kempner, Blaskowsky nailed nine 3-pointers to score a school-record 40 points. Blaskowsky has been rated the 24th-best point guard by the Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
“Nicole can shoot the ball from amazing distance,” Fennelly said. “She’s another kid that has played at a high level. She really has a passion for the game. But the first thing that attracted us to her was her perimeter shooting. With what we’ve graduated the last couple of years we needed that.”
2012-13 Iowa State Signees
Maddy Baier, F/C, 6-4, Tama, Iowa, South Tama High School Emiah Bingley, G, 5-7, Greenwood, Mo., Lee’s Summit West High School Nicole “Kidd” Blaskowsky, G, 5-7, Sugar Land, Texas, Austin High School
