GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Head coach
Kevin Borseth and the Green Bay women's basketball program announced the addition of four recruits from the 2020 class on national signing day, with Ellie Foster, Caelan Givens, Jasmine Kondrakiewicz and Kendall Renard all inking national letters of intent to join the Phoenix on Wednesday morning.
"We are very excited about our 2020 class," Borseth said. "These young ladies demonstrate the skill level, work ethic and character that is consistent with Green Bay basketball. And the biggest piece for us is they chose Green Bay. We couldn't be more excited about this class."
Ellie Foster
High School: Dike-New Hartford
Hometown: Dike, Iowa
Height: 5'10''
Position: Guard
Foster on choosing Green Bay:
"I chose Green Bay because the people were kind and I could tell how much the coaches cared for the current players. They didn't just focus on basketball, but wanted to help the players succeed in every area of their futures. When first visiting, the team was very successful and had won several Horizon League championships in a row. Not only was their athletic expectations high, but they were also ranked very high in academics. After a few visits and attending their summer camps, I had a gut feeling that this was where I was meant to be.
Career Accolades:
Three-Time NICL Conference First-Team Selection
Two-Time Conference MVP
Three-Time All District & All Region
Iowa Print Sports All-State: Second Team 2018; Second Team 2019
Iowa Girls Coaches Association: Third-Team All-State 2018; First-Team All-State 2019
Borseth on Foster:
"Ellie is a winner first and foremost. She has very high expectations for herself and is a product of her work ethic. Her skill level, size, and intelligence at the lead guard position makes her a very tough matchup."
HS Coach Bruce Dall on Foster:
"Ellie's point guard skills have helped elevate our high school program into an elite top-tier program. She has led our team to state the last two seasons. She leads by example and she helps lift up her teammate's basketball play to a higher level by her level of play and knowledge of the game. She is extremely smart on and off the court. She is a person of high character and a true role model for our younger kids at all levels."
Caelan Givens
High School: Chippewa Falls
Hometown: Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Height: 5'10"
Position: Guard
Givens on choosing Green Bay:
"I chose Green Bay for many reasons. The main reason is because of the atmosphere. I was constantly smiling while I was on campus. I think the fans have a lot to do with this. Green Bay has such loyal and energetic fans which makes playing there that much more enjoyable. I vividly remember telling my mom the first time I was at the Kress, that I wanted to be a Phoenix. Adding to this, I fell in love with the coaching style, and the facility along with it. Furthermore, all of the players were extremely welcoming and made the recruiting experience that much more enjoyable. I also love to win, and Green Bay women's basketball knows how to win. I want my years spent at college to include a lot of winning, and there is no better place to go for that than Green Bay. Lastly, I was born in Green Bay, and to come back to the city I love to play the sport I love was my ultimate goal. I couldn't be happier knowing that I am going to UW-Green Bay to further my academic and basketball career."
Career Accolades:
All-Conference First Team Sophomore and Junior Year
All-Conference Second Team Freshman Year
Conference Player of the Year Junior Year
County Player of the Year Junior Year
WBCA All-State Basketball Team Junior Year
WBCA Honorable Mention Sophomore Year
AP All-State Honorable Mention Junior Year
Borseth on Givens:
"The first thing I noticed about Caelan was her basketball intelligence; she makes players around her better. She is a coach on the court. She's full speed ahead at all times and a fiery competitor."
HS Coach Rebecca Bestul on Givens:
"Caelan has been a significant contributor on the floor since her freshman year. She is athletic and skilled enough to play every position, which gives opponents a challenge. She will shatter our high school all-time scoring record (she broke it as a junior) and write her name all over school and conference record books. Most importantly, she is a passionate leader both on the court and in our school, truly caring about the people she works with. Caelan's contribution to our school, community, and basketball program will be sorely missed when she graduates, but we all wish the best for her in the next stage of her career!"
Jasmine Kondrakiewicz
High School: Pius XI Catholic High School
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wis.
Height: 6'1
Position: Forward
Kondrakiewicz on choosing Green Bay:
"I chose Green Bay because of three things: the coaching style, the welcoming environment, and the importance of family. Coach Borseth is a very skilled coach with a successful and winning history, and he knows what he's talking about. Coming to visit earlier in the year, I could feel the welcoming environment instantly, not only from the coaches, but the whole team. Coach Borseth is very family oriented and he's expressed that it's a huge thing for him and everyone else up here. I knew once I first came up to Green Bay that it was the place for me."
Career Accolades:
Two-Time First-Team All-Conference Selection
Two-Time Honorable Mention All-State Selection
Borseth on Kondrakiewicz:
"Jaz is a leader. She makes those around her better. As a basketball player, she is very versatile for her size. Her understanding of the game of basketball is at a very high level. She is a good passer as a result of her intelligence. That plus her ability to shoot the three makes her a very attractive player for us."
HS Coach Scott Herrick on Kondrakiewicz:
Jasmine's best attribute is her ability to lead. She is an outstanding Captain of the girls' varsity program at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was also chosen to be a Captain in other programs at Pius XI also as other coaches saw her great ability to be a leader. Jasmine has a unique way to make others follow and do the right things on and off the basketball court. She is a very valuable part of any team she plays on.
Kendall Renard
High School: Green Bay Preble
Hometown: Green Bay, Wis.
Height: 6'3
Position: Forward
Renard on choosing Green Bay:
"I chose Green Bay because of the many academic possibilities to pursue a career in the healthcare field. The opportunity to continue playing the sport I love while receiving a quality education is all I could ever ask. I've been dreaming about playing on the Green Bay court since I started to play basketball, and it's an amazing feeling to achieve that goal. I'm so ecstatic to play for Coach Borseth and his successful coaching staff. The winning tradition and culture of Green Bay has made the program a very reputable name in women's basketball. I love that my family, friends, coaches, and the Green Bay community will be able to continue to watch me grow as a person and as an athlete. I can't wait for my future at UW-Green Bay, and I hope to contribute to the continued success of the Phoenix!"
Career Accolades:
First-Team All-Conference 2018-19
All Conference Defensive Team 2018-19
All-State WBCA Honorable Mention 2018-19
All-Conference Second Team 2017-18
Borseth on Renard:
"Kendall has size and skill - that is a rare combination for her position. That makes her ideal for what we do offensively, and she is a matchup nightmare. She constantly works to improve her game. What I really like about Kendall is that she is a very even-keeled person who never seems to get rattled."
HS Coach Jim Doell on Renard:
At six foot three inches tall, Kendall has made a big impact on the Preble Girls' Basketball program. We made the decision halfway through Kendall's sophomore year to play her around the basket a little more like a true post. With Kendall's work ethic and determination in the offseason, she stepped up her game and became a dominant player throughout the state. Teams in the area started to realize that Preble was becoming a force to be reckoned with. Last year she helped guide Preble to a 20-4 record and gained recognition as Preble finished the regular season ranked eighth in the state.
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