NORTHWEST NOTES: Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016

Idaho women make it official

with signings of Carlson, Kirby

MOSCOW — Idaho women’s basketball coach Jon Newlee made it official on Wednesday, announcing the signing of three players for the 2017-18 season.

Nina Carlson (Lake City), Allison Kirby (Timberlake) and Natalie Klinker (Fairfield, Mont.) all signed national letters of intent, committing to the Vandals for next season.

“I love the overall class,” Newlee said. “I think we addressed all the needs we had. We got a couple of really versatile post players and a great point guard. These three are really going to fill some holes for us in the near future.”

Carlson, a 6-3 post, was a second team All-Idaho selection in 2016 by the Idaho Statesman. As a junior she averaged 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She was first team All-5A Inland Empire League selection. She captained the Timberwolves and was selected a co-offensive MVP. Carlson also played volleyball and ran track at Lake City. Her parents, Chris and Carey, are the head and assistant women’s basketball coaches, respectively, at North Idaho College.

“Nina is unbelievably long,” Newlee said. “She is able to play inside and out. She can shoot the 3 and is a very aggressive rebounder. She can finish inside with either hand, which is what I really like. She has an incredibly high basketball IQ.”

??Kirby, a 5-7 guard, averaged 9.8 points, 3.7 steals, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season for the Tigers. She was the Idaho Statesman’s 2016 3A Player of the Year. She helped lead Timberlake to a state 3A championship in 2016. She has totaled 110 career 3-pointers. Kirby, a three-year varsity starter, is a two-time Intermountain League MVP and a three-time All-Idaho honoree. She averaged 15.9 points per game as a sophomore, guiding Timberlake to a state-runner up finish in 2015. Kirby was two-time league MVP for the Timberlake soccer team and a champion pole vaulter.

“Allison was a huge get for us,” Newlee said. “We needed that spot. I just love the way she sees the floor. She is a great passer in the open court. One of the best I have seen in the last few years. She makes great decisions and attacks the rim in the paint. That is what separates great point guards from average point guards.”

Klinker, a 6-1 post, is a four-year academic all-state honoree at Fairfield. Klinker is a three-year varsity starter for the Eagles. She was a 2016 District 1B first team All-Conference selection and was Class B all-state. Klinker averaged 20.0 points and 13.3 rebounds as a junior. She also plays volleyball and is a high jumper.

“Natalie is a strong, physical post player,” Newlee said. “She has an unbelievable motor. She goes hard to the glass every single time. She can really run the floor, but also step out and shoot the basketball. Her best asset is her physicality. She will get in there and battle anybody.”

Hawaii women announce

signing of

Lake City’s Rewers

HONOLULU — Hawaii women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman announced the signing of three high school seniors, including Lauren Rewers of Lake City.

Rewers, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.9 blocks and 1.5 assists per game at Lake City during her junior season in 2015-16. She was a two-time first-team all-5A Inland Empire League selection, and had 10 blocks in one game. She helped Lake City to a fourth-place finish at the state 5A tournament. Rewers is also a three-time honor roll student.

“We are thrilled that Lauren Rewers will be joining our O’hana next season,” Beeman said. “Lauren’s ability to be a physical, hard-working, back-to-the-basket post player will bring us more depth in our post position. What attracted me to Lauren beyond her ability on the floor was what Lauren said to me on a recruiting phone call early in the recruiting process. ‘I want to have a successful life coach, that is why I know I can make it at the Division I level and bring something to your program.’ I knew at that moment Lauren had the qualities of a Rainbow Wahine basketball player and was a perfect fit for our team.”

Vandal men sign

well-traveled

point guard

MOSCOW — The Idaho men’s basketball team announced the signing of point guard Losini Kamara from Minneapolis.

Kamara will make his way to Moscow after wrapping up his high school career at Park Center High School in Minneapolis, the same high school that produced preseason-Big Sky Player of the Year Quinton Hooker of North Dakota. During his junior season with the Pirates, Kamara averaged 17 points, four rebounds and five assists per game, earning All-NWSC recognition.

Kamara began his high school career at Long Island Lutheran in New York. Originally from Liberia, Kamara and his family fled the country for the United States when he was very young, making their way to New York to escape civil war.

“We are really happy and excited that Losini has chosen to become a Vandal,” Idaho coach Don Verlin said. “He is a big, strong, old-school point guard who is battle tested against tough competition in both New York City and Minneapolis. Additionally, Losini fits the mold of the players that we have in our program — hard worker with great character and is a terrific teammate.”

Kamara’s high school coach, James Ware, played for Verlin at Colorado State and went on to be the director of basketball operations at Utah State, also with Verlin, before taking an assistant job at Santa Clara.