The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State Athletics Communications.
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s basketball program and head coach Bill Fennelly announced Wednesday an addition to the 2017 signing class, as Bride Kennedy-Hopoate signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Cyclones. With the signing of Kennedy-Hopoate, Iowa State now has four commitments in its 2017 class with Rae Johnson and Kristin Scott from Minnesota and Madison Wise from Indiana.
“Bride completes a recruiting class that fills many of our needs as we graduate five players,” Fennelly said. “She played for a great program at Hutchinson Community College and can provide immediate and needed help in the post. Bride works very hard on her game and plays with a passion that our fan base will love to watch.”
Kennedy-Hopoate (pronounced Bride-EE), a 6-4 forward who hails from Brisbane, Australia, but has spent the last season at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. She will have two years of eligibility with Iowa State after playing one season at Hutchinson Community College and one at Northwest Florida State. With the Blue Dragons, Kennedy-Hopoate averaged 11.9 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game in just 19.1 minutes of action.
Kennedy-Hopoate was rated the No. 1 JUCO prospect from All Star Girls Report and the No. 2 prospect from Jump Off Plus.
From Keil Moore (@KeilMoorePSB), a recruiting analyst for Prospectsnation.com:
“Adding a post player like Bride Kennedy-Hopoate is a move that Iowa State fans will love,” Moore said. “Offensively she has a great feel for the game and will be able to contribute as a scorer and a passer. Defensively she embraces contact and will be a willing rebounder. Look for her to make an immediate impact at Iowa State.”
From Bret McCormick, a recruiting analyst for All Star Girls Report:
“Bride Kennedy-Hopoate from Hutchinson, Kansas and Queensland, Australia is a 6-3 post with skills,” McCormick said. “She has inside and outside game and is a great passer and rebounder. She can score in all ways and if she wants to really apply herself has WNBA potential.”
