Vikings Sign Three to National Letters of Intent
    Trio Set to Join CSU Program For 2010-11 Academic Year
    Kate Peterson Abiad

    Kate Peterson Abiad

    Nov. 12, 2009

     

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    Contact: Greg Murphy

    CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State women's basketball team added three student-athletes to the program as Ondrea Hughes (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norrix), Brandee Kelly (St. Louis, Mo./Beaumont) and Haley Schmitt (Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) inked National Letters of Intent to attend CSU and play basketball for the Vikings beginning in the fall of 2010.

    CSU head coach Kate Peterson Abiad made the announcement on Thursday (Nov. 12) afternoon.

    "I am very excited to add Ondrea, Brandee and Haley to the women's basketball program because each of them will help us continue the strong tradition that we have established in our program," Peterson Abiad said.

    A 5-foot-9 guard, Hughes averaged 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.6 assists per game last season, helping Loy Norrix H.S. to a 17-5 mark.

    The 29th-ranked player in Michigan, she was named to the all-area first team and an honorable mention all-state pick by the Detroit Free Press after her junior year in which she shot 45-percent from the field, scoring in double figures in 17 of 22 contests. Hughes was also a first team all-area pick at the conclusion of her sophomore season.

     

     

    "I feel that we real got a steal out of the State of Michigan," Peterson Abiad said. "Ondrea has great athleticism and a scorer's mentality from anywhere on the floor. She loves the game of basketball and I truly believe that her best days are ahead of her."

    Kelly, rated as one of the top seniors in Missouri heading into this season, averaged 14.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last year. The six-foot center also ranked second in the league with 4.0 steals per contest. She is ranked second in her class academically at Beaumont H.S.

    "Brandee is a very exciting player and brings a very positive and refreshing attitude to the court as well as every other aspect of her life," Peterson Abiad said. "She is as excited as any player that we have ever signed to be a Viking. She is extremely long and quick, especially on the defensive end, and will continue the tradition of great defensive players in our program."

    Schmitt, a 6-foot-1 forward, was a first team all-league, all-area and all-district selection last season after averaging 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for Gahanna Lincoln H.S. Rated a 71 on ESPN.com, she earned all-league, all-area and all-district honors as a sophomore. Schmitt plans to major in nursing.

    "Haley is a blue-collar, tough, hard worker with really quick hands and feet for her size," Peterson Abiad said. "She pursues the boards with great enthusiam and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win."

    The Vikings open the 2009-10 season when CSU hosts Ohio at 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 13) in the Wolstein Center. The first 1,000 fans to enter will receive a free magnet schedule.