Northwestern University Athletics
McKeown, Wildcats Ink Three to National Letters of Intent
11/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- With the 2014-15 season just days away, Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown announced the addition of three members to the Class of 2019 as the early signing period opened Wednesday, Nov. 12. Jordan Hankins (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), Amber Jamison (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (Abuja, Nigeria./Rabun Gap-Nacoochee H.S. [Ga.]) signed National Letters of Intent to join the Wildcats next year.
Hankins, a guard from Lawrence North H.S. in Indianapolis, was an All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) First Team honoree as a junior after averaging nearly 12 points and three steals per game. She is a BLUE STAR Top 100 recruit who shot 40 percent from behind the three-point line for the Wildcats and set a record for the most three-pointers made in a season with 51 while helping the squad win back-to-back MIC championships in 2013 and 2014. Hankins, and her team also went on to reach the 2014 4A Indiana State Final Four while achieving a 12th-place national ranking. Nationally ranked by ESPN.com, Hankins also received Indiana Basketball Coaches Association/Subway Underclass All-State All-State Honorable Mention in both 2013 and 2014.
"Jordan is one of the most talented and highly recruited players in the country," said McKeown. "We are really excited that she will be a Wildcat! She is a high character, high energy student-athlete that comes from a great high school program in Indiana. I was really impressed with her family and how they understood the balance of Northwestern's academics and playing basketball in the Big Ten," added McKeown. "I feel that Jordan is a great fit for our family concept at Northwestern and she will also love going to school in the Chicago area."
Jamison, a forward who hails from Rochester Adams H.S. in Rochester Hills, Mich., was an All-Oakland Activities Association (OAA) selection in 2013 and 2014 and this year she will serve as a team captain for the Highlanders. Jamison was an Associated Press, Detroit Free Pree and Detroit News All-State honoree on 2014 after averaging close to 15 points and 11 rebounds per game to go along with 3.3 steals and 3.2 blocks in 2014. Jamison has been named the Highlanders' MVP in back-to-back campaigns. As a sophomore, Jamison broke the Rochester single-season record for blocked shots with 77.
"We are really excited that Amber chose Northwestern. She comes from a great family that values education and she also has the competitive fire that it takes to play in the Big Ten," said McKeown. "I was really impressed with Amber as a person and she is a great fit for our basketball program and the University. I know she can thrive in our fast tempo style of play."
Kunaiyi-Akpanah, who stands 6'2", is a highly touted forward from Rabun Gap, Ga. She arrived in the United States in 2012 after spending her formative years in her home country of Nigeria and she is a multi-sport athlete with great experience in volleyball, track and tennis, in addition to her success on the hardwood. Originally from Abuja, Nigeria, Kunaiyi-Akpanah was an All-North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) honoree in both basketball and track in 2013-14 and an All-State selection in track. On the basketball court, she averaged a double-double behind close to 10 points and more than 11 rebounds per game while helping the Eagles to a 21-5 record and a runner-up finish in the 2014 State Tournament. In a particularly memorable game against Carolina Day School, Kunayi-Akpanah, who nationally ranked by ESPN.com exploded for 18 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks and four steals.
"When Pallas made the decision to come to Northwestern, it was a strong statement about our program," commented McKeown. "First and foremost, Pallas and her family put a premium on education. They understand what an opportunity like Northwestern and Chicago can do for her beyond basketball. Pallas also brings a great attitude and work ethic that will fit our program, both on and off the court. She is a strong, athletic forward that has a great future.
"Pallas is such a gifted student-athlete, who had opportunities to attend many outstanding academic schools nationwide, and found Northwestern as the perfect fit for her," concluded McKeown.
The three newest Wildcats also stand out in the classroom. Hankins is a National Honor Society member and has been on her school's Distinguished Honor Roll since 2011. She plans to study biological sciences at Northwestern. Jamison, also a National Honor Society member, was a Dean's List student and a Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Academic All-State honoree. She plans to study pre-physical therapy. Kunaiyi-Akpanah has also been an honor roll student every year and she plans to major in economics.
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