Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Ink Three
11/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2006
Signee Release
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Evanston, Ill. --Northwestern women's basketball head coach Beth Combs announced today the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent. This year's class is arguably the strongest in Wildcat history, highlighted by Amy Jaeschke (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier), the highest-ranked signee in program history.
"This class has the makings of a championship team," Combs said. "To add them to the team we have on the floor this year, combine that with (Jenny) Eckhart and Ellen Jaeschke, we have all the tools needed to put Northwestern front and center on the national circuit. This staff, this University, and this team will make it happen."
Jaeschke, a 6-foot-5 center from Wilmette, is one of this year's most sought-after recruits. The New Trier standout is ranked 14th by Blue Star Basketball and 29th by Scout.com. The first-team Chicago Tribune All-State selection has recorded an impressive 1,420 points and 953 rebounds in three years. As a junior, Jaeschke averaged 17.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.2 apg. She also averaged 5.1 blocks per contest and was a USA U18 National Team alternate in 2006. Jaeschke garnered Street & Smith's All-America honorable mention honors in 2004 and 2005.
"Amy is the highest ranked player to ever don a Wildcat uniform," Combs said. "She is a game- changer and a program-maker. The presence that Amy has on the court will allow us make her the center of our game. We are so excited to have her with us and greatly look forward to watching her achieve both for NU and as an individual on the national stage."
Shantina Boyd, a 6-foot-2 center from Bolingbrook, Ill., is currently a student-athlete at Bolingbrook High School. Boyd was a part of last year's Bolingbrook state championship squad that finished with a 31-2 record. Last season, she accumulated 128 points (4.1 ppg), 161 rebounds and 17 assists. Boyd is also a four-year honor roll member and a two-time National Honor Society member. She played AAU for the Illinois Dream/Hawks.
"Shantina is strong, powerful and knows how to get the ball," Combs said. "She comes from an extremely talented state championship team in which she is the rebounder, the stopper and the finisher. Shantina will be a fantastic player in the Big Ten and we are thrilled to have her on board."
The third member of this year's class is Savannah Stedman from Ortonville, Mich. Stedman, a 6-foot-2 forward, was a three-sport all-conference selection at Brandon High School, competing in basketball, volleyball and track and field. She was a state-qualifier in the discus and in the high jump and was an all-region selection in basketball and volleyball. Stedman was the team captain of last year's basketball squad and was also selected as the team MVP. She played AAU for seven years of the Mustangs before joining the Wolfpack last season. Stedman is also a National Honor Society and Scholar Athlete member and has been on the honor roll throughout high school.
"Savannah is that long, lanky playmaker," Combs said. "She forces players to adjust their game. At 6'3", she is an athlete who has the ability to face the basket as well as get to the rim with ease. She was highly underrecruited and is a great find for our program."
Full biographies of the women's basketball signees appear below:
Amy Jaeschke
6-5 • Center
Wilmette, Ill./New Trier
High school: Recorded 1,420 points and 953 rebounds in three seasons ... Averaged 17.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.2 apg, and 5.1 bpg throughout junior season ... Chicago Tribune First-Team All-State (2006), Honorable Mention (2005), Special Mention (2004) ... Three-time All Conference selection (2004, 2005, 2006) ... USA U18 National Team Alternate (2006), Street & Smith's All-America HM, 2004, 2005 ... Adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star (2005), Underclass All-Star (2004) ... Student Sports Freshman All-America ... Ranked No. 5 in her position and No. 27 overall by Scout.com ... Ranked No. 14 by Blue Star Basketball. Personal: Born Amy Betsy Jaeschke 4/26/89 ... Daughter of Robert and Betsy Jaeschke ... Chose Northwestern over Duke, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Stanford.
Savannah Stedman
6-2 • Forward
Ortonville, Mich./Brandon
High School: Three-sport athlete at Brandon ... Competed in basketball, volleyball and track and field ... Team captain of basketball team (2006) ... Basketball team MVP (2006) ... First-Team All-League in basketball, volleyball and track ... Participated in high jump and discus in high school Division 2 Girls State Championships ... Honor roll and scholar athlete all years ... Ranked No. 26 senior in the state by the Detroit Free Press ... All-State camp (2006) ... Played for the Mustangs and Wolfpack ... National Honor Society member ... Honor roll for three years ... Scholar-athlete throughout high school career.
Personal: Born Savannah Sarah Kendal Stedman on 9/9/89 ... Daughter of Dennis and Sher Stedman ... Chose Northwestern over Kent State, Central Michigan and Detroit Mercy.
Shantina Boyd
6-2 • Center
Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook
High School: Three-year varsity letterwinner at Bolingbrook High School ... Scored 128 points, grabbed 161 rebounds, and dished out 17 assists in '05-'06 season ... Averaged 4.1 ppg ... Played on 2006 State Championship team with a record of 31-2 ... Also played volleyball, track at Bolingbrook and plans to play badminton this spring ... Played for Illinois Dream Team/Hawks for two years.
Personal: Born Shantina Samar Boyd on 6/23/89 in Maywood, Ill. ... Daughter of Helen and Samuel Boyd ... Four-year first Honor Roll member ... Two-year National Honor Society member... Chose Northwestern over Fordham, Loyola, Valparaiso, UTEP and Massachusetts.
