Three sign with BYU women’s basketball

The BYU women’s basketball team has signed three new recruits that will begin their college career  in 2013-14— Cassie Broadhead, from Glenville, N.Y.,  Utah standout Amy Harris from Santa Clara and Kalani Purcell from Brisbane, Australia.

“We feel very fortunate to have these three  great players join our program,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said.  “All three are good scorers, athletic and they were heavily recruited by other schools. We worked hard on recruiting them and it was long process so we are glad they will be part of our future.”

Broadhead, a 5-foot-9 guard, prepped at Scotia  Glenville High School Section 2 Class A, is a four-year starter who has averaged double digits in scoring since eighth grade and has been the team’s leading scorer for four seasons.  Heading into her senior year, she’s already reached 1,400 points. She’s a three-time Foothills Council  MVP and a four-time Foothills Council First Team honoree. Her team has won the Foothill Council Championship the last three years. Broadhead has garnered three straight NBC News Channel 13 All-Star honors, has been named a Times Union Newspaper First Team All-Area recipient three straight times and has picked up two Second Team All-State Class A awards.

“Cassie is very athletic, strong and is a good defender.  She’ll play the point guard position and her strength and quickness will make her very solid at that spot,” added Judkins.

Harris is a three-year letterwinner at Snow Canyon High School where she’s averaged 12.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The 5-foot-9 guard was named an Adidas All-American (only 100 girls each year receive such honor). She helped  guide Snow Canyon to a 3A girl’s basketball 2012 championship where she was named the tournament’s MVP. Harris has also played on the Salt Lake Metro Basketball Club team and will join former club teammates and current BYU players Lexi Eaton, Ashley Garfield and Micaelee Orton.

“Amy is one of the best shooters I’ve seen in a long time coming out of the state of Utah,” Judkins commented. “She’ll be a good combo for the 1 and 2 spot for us with her shooting and scoring abilities.”

Purcell, a 6-foot-2 forward, has played on the Queensland U18 team that has won three-straight Australian State Championship silver medals.  In 2009 she was on the New Zealand U17 national team. Purcell, a native of New Zealand, prepped at John Paul College High School that won back-to-back national championships. The team is currently in Melbourne defending its title. In 2012 she received an invitation to try out for the New Zealand Tall Ferns, the national team, and she has also played for the New Zealand Force Cougars.

“Kalani is a versatile player that can play at both the 4 and 5 position,” said coach Judkins. “She is a great passer, is an excellent rebounder who will bring us an inside presence. Her international playing experience will be an added plus.”