Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Wildcat Women’s Hoops Adds to Class of 2013
5/4/2009 1:40:35 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Looking to round out its class of 2013, head coach Annette Watts and the women's basketball program turned to France and signed Katrin Chiemeka to a letter of intent as she will join the Wildcats for the 2009-10 season.
Chiemeka joins center Sarah Davis, forward Sophia Aleksandravicius and point guard Barbara Sitton, who were each signed in the early signing period in November.
“Katrin brings our team speed in the open floor, athleticism to be a threat in the half court and a scorers mentality,” said Watts who is the program's all-time winningest head coach. “She has experienced a different style of basketball throughout her career thus far. She has the academic, athletic, and personal discipline to challenge herself in a way that makes her get better every day and a perfect fit here at Davidson. Kat has shown that basketball is a passion of hers and I am very excited to have her in a Wildcat uniform next season.”
Having played since the age of 11 in different clubs in France in national leagues, Chiemeka has had a stellar prep career. The 2007 season saw her garner England Player of the Year honors for the U-16 team and then in 2008, she was again player of the year, this time for the U-18 team. She currently is preparing for the U-18 championship in Israel, which starts in July.
During the 2008 campaign, Chiemeka represented England as a U-18 player in Macedonia and led the national team in points and minutes played. She went to the European championship twice as a U-16 player in 2006 in Finland and then in 2007 in Italy.
“The accolades that Kat has already garnered speaks volumes of her commitment and ability,” said Watts. “I think her early exposure to the European Championships, her travel schedule and also her time already spent away from home gives her maturity towards the game, and the start of her time as a student-athlete, that most freshmen do not start off with.”
The 2003-04 season started Chiemeka's rise in international play as she was selected for her region and remained a member of the regional teams in France until 2006.
Davidson is coming off its sixth straight winning season in Southern Conference action with an 11-9 mark, while finishing the 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 12-18. The Wildcats will return eight of its 10 letterwinners who saw action last season, including three of their five starters.
Chiemeka joins center Sarah Davis, forward Sophia Aleksandravicius and point guard Barbara Sitton, who were each signed in the early signing period in November.
“Katrin brings our team speed in the open floor, athleticism to be a threat in the half court and a scorers mentality,” said Watts who is the program's all-time winningest head coach. “She has experienced a different style of basketball throughout her career thus far. She has the academic, athletic, and personal discipline to challenge herself in a way that makes her get better every day and a perfect fit here at Davidson. Kat has shown that basketball is a passion of hers and I am very excited to have her in a Wildcat uniform next season.”
Having played since the age of 11 in different clubs in France in national leagues, Chiemeka has had a stellar prep career. The 2007 season saw her garner England Player of the Year honors for the U-16 team and then in 2008, she was again player of the year, this time for the U-18 team. She currently is preparing for the U-18 championship in Israel, which starts in July.
During the 2008 campaign, Chiemeka represented England as a U-18 player in Macedonia and led the national team in points and minutes played. She went to the European championship twice as a U-16 player in 2006 in Finland and then in 2007 in Italy.
“The accolades that Kat has already garnered speaks volumes of her commitment and ability,” said Watts. “I think her early exposure to the European Championships, her travel schedule and also her time already spent away from home gives her maturity towards the game, and the start of her time as a student-athlete, that most freshmen do not start off with.”
The 2003-04 season started Chiemeka's rise in international play as she was selected for her region and remained a member of the regional teams in France until 2006.
Davidson is coming off its sixth straight winning season in Southern Conference action with an 11-9 mark, while finishing the 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 12-18. The Wildcats will return eight of its 10 letterwinners who saw action last season, including three of their five starters.
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