Six Recruits Set to Join Huskers in 2006

Lincoln - Nebraska women's basketball coach Connie Yori announced the signing of six impressive recruits to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period for the 2006-07 season on Wednesday.

The Huskers, who are entering their fourth season under Yori, will be joined next season by Nikki Bober (Murdock, Neb.), Ana Fakatou (Long Beach, Calif.), Kala Kuhlmann (Charter Oak, Iowa), Cory Montgomery (Cannon Falls, Minn.), Nicole Neals (Chandler, Ariz.) and Yvonne Turner (Omaha, Neb.).

Yori said the large incoming class promises to give the Huskers their deepest and most talented team during her tenure for the 2006-07 campaign. The group also makes it possible to give NU its first full roster since Yori's arrival at Nebraska in 2002-03, when the Huskers had only a handful of active scholarship players.

"We are very excited about this incoming class, not only because of the depth it might create for us next year, but also because there are some very talented players in this group," Yori said. "Hopefully next year we will finally feel like we have overcome the numbers situation that we have had in our first four years in the program. This class takes us another step closer to being able to play the exciting style of up-tempo basketball we want to be able to play."

Yvonne Turner, 5-9, G, Omaha, Neb. (Bellevue East)
The final player to join Nebraska's 2006-07 incoming class, first-team Super-State guard Yvonne Turner could be poised to make an immediate impact as a freshman. The senior at Bellevue East High School can play all three guard spots and spent much of her junior season at point guard. She earned first-team Class A All-State and first-team All-Metro honors a year ago.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Turner's style of play and work ethic will fit in well with the Huskers.

"Vonnie works hard on both ends of the court," Yori said. "She enjoys playing tenacious defense and is extremely good with the ball in the open court. Our style of play fits hand-in-hand with Vonnie's strengths. Husker fans will enjoy watching Vonnie wear the Nebraska uniform."

Turner, who chose Nebraska after receiving offers from more than 20 other Division I schools, averaged 13.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 steals per game for the Chieftains as a junior in 2004-05. She shot 57 percent from the field, including 33 percent from beyond the three-point arc for Coach Scott Jensen. Turner was ranked by the All-Star Girls Report as the No. 46 point guard prospect in the nation and No. 184 overall among the top 250 players in the nation.

Turner moved to the point guard spot from shooting guard after the team's point guard suffered a season-ending injury. She helped the Chieftains finish as the Class A runner-up while ending the year with a 24-3 record.

Turner expanded her national experience by playing for the Daubert-Pinnacle All-Star team that won the Junior National Tournament in Washington, D.C., during the summer of 2005. She was also named the MVP of the Westcoast Showcase. Turner played for the Daubert-Pinnacle All-Star team in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and gained more experience with the Omaha Crusaders in 2005.

She began her high school career at Millard South where she scored 21 points in her varsity debut as a freshman. She averaged 14.3 points per game as a freshman for the Patriots to earn honorable-mention All-Nebraska accolades. As a sophomore at Bellevue East, she earned second-team All-Metro honors by averaging 11.2 points per game to help the Chieftains reach the Class A state championship game.

Turner chose Nebraska over Creighton, Illinois, Iowa State, Iowa, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.

Turner said she selected Nebraska because of the direction of the program and her comfort level with the Husker coaching staff and players.

"I really liked Coach Yori, Coach (LaKale) Malone and the whole NU staff," Turner said. "They were very honest and straightforward. They really want to have a winning program, and I want to be a part of that. I think with the coaches, and players they are recruiting, we can contend for the Big 12 and NCAA championships. I was also very impressed with their academics. It was one of the main reasons I chose NU."

Nikki Bober, 6-4, C, Murdock, Neb. (Elmwood-Murdock)
Nikki Bober will become the tallest player on Nebraska's roster when she arrives in Lincoln next season. The 6-4 center from Elmwood-Murdock averaged 17.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game as a sophomore in 2003-04 for the Class C-2 squad, while helping the Knights advance to the state tournament in both 2003 and 2004.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Bober's size and competitive nature would be assets for the Huskers.

"Nikki brings a new look to our team," Yori said. "She will be the tallest player on our team next year and is a true five player. She is a Nebraska native that will wear the Husker uniform with pride. She is a great addition to our program due to her commitment and desire to win."

Bober was ranked as the No. 31 center in the nation and the No. 126 player overall by the All-Star Girls Report for the class of 2006.

Bober appeared in just six games for the Knights in 2004-05, leading them to a 6-0 start before suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice in late-December. In her first six games as a junior, Bober averaged 22.2 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per contest. Bober's top efforts in her injury-shortened junior season included a 28-point performance against Yutan and a 25-rebound effort against Falls City Sacred Heart.

A first-team Class C-2 All-State selection and a member of the Class C-2 All-Tournament team in 2004, Bober is also an outstanding performer in the classroom, carrying a 4.0 grade-point average while capturing academic All-State honors.

Bober was also a member of the adidas Bison/Judds Cornhusker Shooting Stars club team coached by Dan Lesoing.

A talented all-around athlete, Bober was also a star for the Elmwood-Murdock volleyball program, earning four letters. She also claimed three letters in track and field.

Bober, who committed to Nebraska in early March, chose Nebraska over Creighton, Iowa and Drake. She said Nebraska provided the best all-around athletic and academic programs for student-athletes.

"I chose Nebraska because I felt that it had the most opportunities and resources to offer its students in order for them to succeed in whatever area they choose," Bober said. "All of its academic, as well as athletic facilities are the most up-to-date and latest models. The coaching staff and players are all excellent people who strive for the best and are a very close, loving team."

Cory Montgomery, 6-2, F, Cannon Falls, Minn. (Cannon Falls)
A starter for the Cannon Falls High School varsity basketball team since her eighth-grade year, Cory Montgomery enters her senior season at Cannon Falls as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,588 points. Montgomery, a 6-2 forward, helped Cannon Falls and Coach Chuck Benda to a 21-9 record as a junior, when she averaged 17.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per contest.

Montgomery has shown the versatility to play both the wing position at Cannon Falls and the low post in AAU competition, and could give Nebraska even more flexibility with its interior players, according to Nebraska Coach Connie Yori.

"Cory is a post player that runs the floor extremely hard, can score on the low block, shoot the three, block shots and rebound," Yori said. "She has a knack for out-working her opponents. She is going to be a pleasure to coach because of her willingness to work hard."

A four-time high school team MVP, Montgomery earned honorable-mention all-state honors last season, is a two-time all-area player of the year, and a three-time all-conference selection for the Cannon Falls Bombers.

Montgomery, who averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as a sophomore in 2003-04, is an outstanding all-around athlete who has also lettered four times in volleyball and once in softball. She also plays for the Minnesota Stars club team coached by Tim and Brad Hested that won the 2005 AAU state title.

Along with her athletic success, Montgomery is also an exemplary student. She is ranked No. 1 academically in her high school class and is a member of the National Honor Society. She also enjoys playing the clarinet, piano, flute and saxophone.

Montgomery, who ranked as the No. 56 center prospect and the No. 221 prospect overall among the top 250 players in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report, chose Nebraska over Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Drake and Wisconsin-Green Bay. She said that attending Nebraska Summer Camps the past three years helped her form strong relationships with Husker coaches and players.

"I knew from the beginning that I wanted to stay in the Midwest, close to home. I have gone to basketball camps at Nebraska for the past three summers," Montgomery said. "That really gave me the opportunity to meet the coaches and some of the players. They are all great. I wanted to play in a competitive conference and the Big 12 is just that. I also wanted to be part of a large recruiting class as well because they will end up being my friends for the rest of my life.

Nicole Neals, 5-6, G, Chandler, Ariz. (St. Mary's)
A starting guard for one of the most dominant high school programs in the nation, Nicole Neals is a two-time All-Arizona selection. Neals has helped St. Mary's to a No. 4 national preseason ranking while playing for Coach Frank Denogean.

Neals averaged 16.4 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a junior and helped St. Mary's to the Class 5A state championship game against Gilbert Highland. She also knocked down 43 three-pointers as a junior. As a sophomore in 2003-04, Neals poured in 35 points in the state title game victory over Desert Vista.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Neals' high school success as an individual and as a member of a championship-level team will benefit the Huskers.

"Nicole brings a wealth of success and speed to this program," Yori said. "She has played at the highest level in high school basketball. She truly understands what it means to be a team player, and she can play either the one or two position for us."

Neals was rated as the No. 48 point guard recruit in the nation and No. 192 among the top 250 prospects in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report. She ranks No. 3 in St. Mary's history with 1,704 career points, while ranking fifth in the school record book with 200 assists. She also ranks fifth on the St. Mary's school charts with 276 career steals entering her senior season. Her 674 points as a sophomore in 2003-04 rank as the third-highest scoring total in school history. She added 113 assists as a sophomore, which ranks as the fifth-highest single-season assist mark at St. Mary's.

Neals said she chose Nebraska over Stanford, Arizona, Mount St. Mary's and Pepperdine. She also visited Texas Tech, San Diego State and Arizona State.

Neals said Nebraska's team chemistry and the direction of the program were major influences in her decision to join the Huskers.

"I chose Nebraska not only for the amazing opportunities it can bring me, but because of the people and the coaches," Neals said. "I had never been to Nebraska but they welcomed me with open arms. The team mostly influenced my decision. It was like a family and I felt like I've known them for a long time. The coaches and players were down to Earth. I liked the way they treated each other as a family. It made me feel right at home. I also chose Nebraska because of its high standards in academics and all the resources available."

Kala Kuhlmann, 5-10, G, Charter Oak, Iowa (Charter Oak-Ute)
The leading scorer in the state of Iowa as a sophomore, Kala Kuhlmann committed to joining the Huskers in early July. The 5-10 guard from Charter Oak, Iowa, poured in 28 points per game for Charter Oak-Ute to lead all classes in scoring. Despite suffering a knee injury the summer before her junior season, she still had an outstanding campaign for Charter Oak-Ute by averaging 22.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 3.8 steals per game.

She also led Charter Oak-Ute to the Iowa Class 1A state title under the direction of head coach Brian DeJong. Kuhlmann scored 25 points in the state championship game victory for the Bobcats, leading Charter Oak-Ute to its first-ever girls basketball title. She is a two-time first-team Class 1A All-State selection by the Des Moines Register.

Kuhlmann shot 61 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line as a junior. She also hit 24-of-43 three-point attempts (55.8 percent). Although she was the leading scorer in Iowa as a sophomore, Kuhlmann is adept at playing both the point and shooting guard positions. Her versatility and abilities as both a scorer and creator could make her a valuable contributor for the Huskers.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Kuhlmann's creative ability to score off the dribble will make her a dangerous player at the Division I level.

"Kala possesses all of the essential tools to be a successful player in this program. She's athletic, a good passer, shooter and ball-handler," Yori said. "She has a great dribble-jump shot, which is vital in the college game. Kala got overlooked in the recruiting process due to the fact that she plays high school softball in the summer and has not been at any national summer basketball events. We feel she is a sleeper and has a great future in our program."

An outstanding all-around athlete who also plays volleyball, softball and runs track at Charter Oak-Ute, Kuhlmann chose Nebraska over Northern Iowa, Iowa and Drake.

Ana Fakatou, 5-11, F, Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson/Cypress (Calif.) College)
The only junior college transfer in the Huskers' six-player recruiting class, Ana Fakatou could provide an immediate boost at the small forward position for Nebraska next season. The 5-10 sophomore at Cypress (Calif.) College averaged 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season, while shooting 54 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range. She helped the Chargers to a 28-5 record and the school's first-ever state championship in women's basketball.

Fakatou earned first-team all-state honors at Cypress College and was named the Orange Empire Conference Most Valuable Player. She led the Orange Empire Conference in field goal percentage, while ranking third in the league in three-point percentage, fifth in scoring, fifth in blocked shots, seventh in rebounding and ninth in free throw percentage. She also ranked 15th in the league in steals.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Fakatou's versatility, rebounding ability and commitment to improving her game will be assets to the Huskers in the future.

"Ana brings some size and strength to the guard position," Yori said. "She will fill a huge need for us at that spot. She rebounds the basketball at both ends and has an explosive dribble-jump shot. She will enter the program understanding that there is work to do and she is eager to begin her career here at Nebraska."

Fakatou, who was born in Tonga and lived there until she was 5, goes by the nickname "Tonga." She attended Long Beach Wilson High School, where she played four years on the varsity for the Bruins. She was a three-year starter in high school and earned All-Moore League recognition as a senior, when she helped lead the Bruins to the CIF Division I-AA semifinals.