CHARLESTON, Ill. – Needing to replace another accomplished five-player senior class after this season, head coach Brady Sallee has announced Eastern Illinois women's basketball's five-player recruiting class set to join the program for the 2010-11 campaign. Click here for individual recruit accomplishments and photos.

 

Signing National Letters of Intent to attend EIU includes: Brittany Cochran (Chicago/Bogan), Jordyne Crunk (Belleville/Althoff Catholic), Jackie Herman (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union), Taryn Olson (Madison, Wis./Madison Memorial) and Jessica Parker (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South).

 

The recruiting class possesses the most size of any Sallee has brought to Charleston during his six-year tenure. Olson is a 6-foot-2 post player; Cochran and Parker are 6-foot forwards capable of playing on the wing; and Crunk and Hermann are 5-foot-10 guards.

 

The Panthers are projected to not have a senior on next year's roster. There are no juniors on the team this season.

 

Cochran has been the leading rebound during her career at Bogan High School on Chicago's South Side, entering her senior season with 625 points and 628 rebounds as a prep player. She averaged nine points and seven rebounds per game as a junior. She also plays for the Illinois X-citement AAU team, averaging 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Crunk was the South Seven Conference MVP as a junior at Althoff Catholic High School. She has already surpassed the 1,000 career points plateau, ranking fourth all-time in scoring in school history. The high honor roll student was an All-State honoree by the Champaign News-Gazette (First Team), Associated Press (Second Team) and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (Fourth Team) last season.

 

Herman is a four-year varsity letter-winner and two-time offensive team MVP at Wilmot Union High School in southeastern Wisconsin. She was named a Top 50 prospect in her home state. She ranks 31st in her high school class of 290 students with a 3.689 GPA and is serving as a team captain this year.

 

Olson has led her Madison Memorial High School team in scoring the last two seasons, earning All-Big Eight Conference and All-City honors in the process. As a standout volleyball player as well, she was team MVP as a senior after breaking single-season and career blocks records. In the classroom, she's a high honor roll student.

 

Parker is a four-year varsity starter at Bloomington South High School, which has been ranked among the Class 4A Top 10 teams in the state last year and this preseason. She's a two-time All-Conference Indiana performer, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior. In the classroom, she has maintained an impressive 4.0 GPA.

 

“This class is special,” Sallee said. “We identified a very select group of young ladies this year and these five quickly jumped to the top of our list with their toughness, size and athleticism. The minute we saw them, we knew they were the ones we wanted. To their credit, they embraced the expectations and level of competition that now comes with being a part of our program. They are all high-character kids and I believe have a chance to rewrite the record books here.

 

“My staff did one heck of a job with our recruiting efforts this year. Quacy, Jackie and Lee really met the challenge I put in front of them in signing these five terrific young ladies. Our future is bright at EIU and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to coach Brittany, Jackie, Jessica, Jordyne and Taryn.”

 

 

Brittany Cochran – 6-foot Forward from Chicago (Bogan HS/Illinois X-citement AAU team)
Bogan's leading rebounder during her career, enters her senior year with 625 points and 628 rebounds… averaged 9.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game as a junior… helped Bogan win three straight regional titles and a 2007 sectional championship… averaged 11.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the Illinois X-citement AAU team… played with the seventh/eighth-grade age group when she was in fifth grade… coach Sallee says: “Brittany is a tremendous pick up for us. She is an aggressive, blue collar player. She is my type of kid. She takes charges and competes her tail off on every play. Her ability to rebound the ball will help us immediately. Brittany is very driven and makes no bones about the fact she wants to be great. She does all the things that it takes to win games. I am excited to add Brittany to our team.”

 

Jordyne Crunk – 5-foot-10 Guard from Belleville (Althoff Catholic HS/Illinois Jets AAU team)
Already a member of Althoff's 1,000-point club, she enters her senior year fourth all-time in scoring… South Seven Conference MVP as a junior… named All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette (First Team), Illinois Basketball Service (First Team), Associated Press (Second Team) and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (Fourth Team) last season… three-time all-conference selection as a four-year varsity starter… high honor roll student ranks in the Top 10 percent of her class and is a member of National Honor Society and student council… coach Sallee says: “Jordyne was a really important recruit for us and one that we worked long and hard on. Her ability to play multiple positions in our system is huge and I think her game is college ready from day one. Her basketball IQ is as good as we've ever had. Offensively she can really shoot it, has a great in-between game and knows how to get to the free throw line. I am thankful Jordyne picked EIU.”

 

Jackie Herman – 5-foot-10 Guard from Twin Lakes, Wis. (Wilmot Union HS/Wisconsin Fastbreak AAU team)
Four-time varsity letter-winner was selected as Wilmot Union's offensive team MVP as a sophomore and junior… Top 50 prospect in Wisconsin… two-time All-Southern Lakes Conference honoree… Second Team All-Kenosha County… team captain this season… ranks 31st in her class of 290 students with a 3.689 GPA… coach Sallee says: “We are really excited to add a guard to our program as skilled as Jackie. Her ability to score and her strength really separated her from a lot of other guards we pursued in this class. She was made for our system and I think Jackie will excel in our motion offense. She is tough and has a mean streak that I think our fans will love. Her work ethic will definitely enable her to be a special player at EIU.”

 

 

Taryn Olson – 6-foot-2 Forward from Madison, Wis. (Madison Memorial HS/Wisconsin Hoops Select AAU team)
Has led her Madison Memorial team in scoring the last two seasons, earning Second Team All-City honors… also led the squad in rebounding as a sophomore… Second Team All-Big Eight Conference as a junior after being Honorable Mention as a sophomore… also a standout volleyball player, earning team MVP honors as a senior after establishing new single-season and career records for blocks… First Team All-City and All-Conference as a senior in volleyball… also a four-year member of the track team… high honor roll student is a member of National Honor Society… coach Sallee says: “Signing Taryn was incredibly important for the future of our program. We were very picky with whom we recruited at this position, and I was bound and determined to get exactly what I wanted. We hit the jackpot. Taryn is a difference-making athlete. Along with her athleticism, she is very aggressive and ultra-competitive. She can change a game on both ends of the floor and will truly make an impact on our program.”

 

Jessica Parker – 6-foot- Guard/Forward from Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington South HS/Indiana Elite AAU team)
Four-year varsity starter at Bloomington South was an All-Conference Indiana selection after her sophomore and junior seasons… BSHS was ranked among the Class 4A Top 10 last year and again this preseason… averaged 12.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a junior… has maintained an impressive 4.0 GPA and is a member of National Honor Society… her father Jeff, who coached her AAU teams, played basketball at Ball State and professionally in Australia… her sister Rachel plays basketball at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne… coach Sallee says: “I think Jessica gives us an ability to compete with anybody on our schedule night in and night out. Her size, athleticism and strength are something we just have not had on the perimeter in my time here. But what really sold me on Jess is the fact that she is a gym rat. She absolutely lives in the gym and I think that work ethic coupled with a lot of natural talent will make for a special player here at Eastern Illinois.”