FORT COLLINS — The Colorado State women’s basketball team more than doubled its 2014 recruiting class with the addition of three transfers on the first day of the second signing period on Wednesday.
Coach Ryun Williams announced the additions of Jamie Patrick, a 5-foot-10 guard from Hutchinson Community College (Kansas), Hannah Tvrdy (pronounced Tu-VER-dee), a 5-10 guard from Nebraska and Keyora Wharry a 5-10 forward from Fresno City College.
Wharry and Patrick, a third-team NJCAA DI All-American who averaged 17.3 points as the Dragons’ all-time scoring leader, will be eligible to play next season. Tvrdy, who played in 21 games for the Cornhuskers this past season, will have to sit out 2014-15 per NCAA transfer rules.
Patrick, who was also born in Hutchinson, helped her team go 71-3 the past two seasons while leading the Dragons to a pair of top-three finishes in the NJCAA tournament.
“She is a guard with nice size and length that can really shoot and score the ball as well as make those around her better,” Williams said in a release. “Jamie is just a really good basketball player that can do so many things on the court. The fact she has 60-plus college games under her belt and has played in a NJCAA National Championship game really helps add to the experience and maturity of our team.”
Wharry also joins CSU after becoming her former school’s all-time scoring leader. She’s also the all-time rebounding leader after averaging 24.4 points 13.3 rebounds this past season while earning conference player of the year honors.
“Keyora Wharry is an amazing talent and a big-time double-double machine,” Williams said. “She is a young lady that is ready to compete at the highest level. She played for an outstanding program and a great coach at Fresno City. This young lady has been taught to compete in everything she does.”
Tvrdy, who was ranked as the 28th best point guard in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz coming out of high school, will help replace the void left once guards AJ Newton and Gritt Ryder graduate in 2015.
“Hannah is a very strong and skilled guard who plays with an incredible toughness,” Williams said. “She is a proven winner, and her interchangeable game will fit well with how we play.
“She comes to CSU from a really solid basketball background, playing in the Big 10, playing for one of the country’s elite club teams as well has one of the most respected high school programs in Nebraska. She will definitely be a wonderful addition to the line- up after Gritt and AJ are done. The timing of Hannah joining our team could not be better.”
The Rams also added Myanne Hamm, a guard from Poudre High School, and Alana Arias, a forward from Palm Beach State, during the fall.
Volleyball adds a pair
The CSU volleyball team was also busy Wednesday, announcing the transfers of Crystal Young and Grace Gordon, a pair of former junior college players who will be eligible to play right away.
Young comes from Blinn College (Texas), where she set a school record for assists in helping her team win the NJCAA national title. Gordon, who will a walk-on with the Rams, played two seasons at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
“We have two players coming in, both of whom have experience and are good players who can learn under Deedra (Foss),” coach Tom Hilbert said in a release. “Adding Crystal and Grace makes us a better team.”
Contact Reporter-Herald Sports Writer Sean Star at 970-669-5050 or sstar@reporter-herald.com
