Natalie Novosel, the No. 35 ranked player in the 2008 class according to HoopGurlz.com, has decided where she will play her college ball and verbally committed to Coach Muffett McGraw and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The versatile, 6-foot guard from Lexington Catholic in Kentucky will fit well into Notre Dame's style of play, which usually involves four perimeter players playing around a post, a little different than your two guard, two forward, one center line up.
Novosel brings a great attitude to the Irish. "I'm very coachable," Novosel said. "Whatever they need me to do I'll do it but I feel I bring a lot ot the table too."
Natalie Novosel
Novosel has an explosive first step and great strength for the guard position which allows her to penetrate and create for her teammates as well as get to the cup or show off her nice pull-up jumper. "They are losing two of their top scorers the year I get there," Novosel said. "So I can go in and contribute if I continue to work hard." Novosel added the one thing she is working on to fit in with what they'll need from her is three-point shooting. The last two years her shot has improved from the perimeter, although she's largely been an off-the-dribble shooter because of her ability to get into the paint and how quickly she can get by her defender. She spends four days a week working on her catch and shoot three point shot, making at least 1,000 shots per week.
"My percentage has been getting a lot better," Novosel said of her lon- range shooting regiment. "I'm working on my release being quicker."
Novosel's commitment to Notre Dame was made not only because of the tradition of excellence both in athletics and academics, but also the bond she had with McGraw in the recruiting process.
"Our conversations were regularly 45 to 50 minutes and not always just about basketball," Novosel said of phone conversations with McGraw. "We covered a couple of basics about basketball and where I was in the recruiting process but mostly we talked about anything else going one. She's so easy to talk to."
Novosel is looking to end her high-school career back on top after losing the Kentucky State Championship for the first time in her career at Lexington Catholic. She along with senior Briana Green and junior Maggie Wilson look to reclaim the title they had won the two previous years before losing to Lexington Christian Academy in the Regional Finals this past season.
Poston to Purdue
Chantel Poston of Milan, Ga., an explosive, 5-foot-10 wing, has committed to Purdue, according to her club coach, David Hart.
Leading Milan High School in scoring for the third straight season, Poston averaged 19.2 points and 8.2 rebounds, shooting 53 percent, and Milan finished 24-6 during her junior year.
Poston was named an AAU Junior All-American after helping the Tennessee Wings to a fifth-place finish at the AAU Nationals.
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Chris Hansen is the National Director of Scouting for Women’s Basketball at HoopGurlz.com. He leads the panel that evaluates and ranks girl's basketball prospects nationally for HoopGurlz. Chris has been involved in the women’s basketball community since 1998 as a coach, trainer, evaluator and reporter. He can be reached at chris@hoopgurlz.com [2].