Early National Signing Day at the University of Dayton

Recruiting is a vital part of success for any athletic program, and Early National Signing Day introduces fans to the next great athletes for schools around the country. Photo courtesy of Griffin Quinn, Flyer News.

Peter Burtnett
Sports Editor

Wednesday, Nov. 11 begins the start of the early signing period for college athletics outside football, and the University of Dayton already has several college-bound athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent.

As the day progresses, Flyer News will provide updates as the day goes along, beginning with the introduction one women’s soccer recruit who signed her NLI this morning.

11:33 a.m.

In a tweet on the women’s soccer Twitter page, the Flyers introduced goalkeeper Maddie Crosbie from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

https://twitter.com/daytonwsoccer/status/1326563742184714241

When Crosbie arrives, she would join four other international players on the Flyers’ roster – freshmen Adriana Alonso from Spain, fellow Canadian Madison Wilson, and Liana Yara from England, and sophomore Yaiza Navarro Leon, also from Spain.

11:53 a.m.

Women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green introduced two signings for the recruiting class of 2021, Brynn Shoup-Hill and Shannon Wheeler.

Shoup-Hill is a 6-foot-3 forward from Goshen High School in Goshen, Ind., where she earned All-State Third Team honors in each of the last two seasons. She was also Indiana Junior All-Star Selection in 2020 and has been named All-Conference and team MVP three years in a row while serving as team captain.

“We are super excited to have Brynn joining our Flyer family,” said Coach Green. “She is a post player that can step out and hit the 3 with consistency. Her size and versatility are what we love in our bigs and she fits that mold perfectly. Brynn is a worker who is going to continue to improve and I can’t wait to have her here.”

Wheeler, a 6-foot-2 forward from Renaissance High School in Detroit, Mich., earned All-State Honorable Mention and All-City Second Team accolades as a junior, as well as All-City Third Team as a freshman and sophomore.

“I am so excited that Shannon will be joining our Flyer family,” said Coach Green. “She is someone who has the ability to play multiple positions. Her length and athleticism is something we need and I truly believe she is only going to get better. Shannon has a great work ethic and plays with a high motor which will benefit our program.”

12:23 p.m.

UD volleyball head coach Tim Horsmon introduced four new signings to the Class of 2021, strengthening the future of the team, which already has six freshmen and two sophomores on the current roster.

In last name alphabetical order, Katie Gale is the first of the four signees. A 6-foot-4 middle blocker/right-side hitter from Normandy High School in Seven Hills, Ohio, Gale has been named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region 5, All-Ohio Honorable Mention and All-District First Teams.

“Katie Gale is a neat story. Her mom went to school at Dayton, so she is a legacy student,” Horsmon said. “She’s a 6-4 middle blocker/right side, and we can play her in both positions. She has a really good arm, and I think she will be a versatile player for us. We are looking forward to the physicality she will add to the front row.”

Next is Lia Hawken, a 6-1 outside/right side hitter from Skyview High School in Vancouver, Wash. Although Hawken’s 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, she is a two-time GSHL First Team honoree, and was also named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region 10 Team.

“Lia Hawken is one of the first players I can remember that we have recruited to come to Dayton from the state of Washington,” Horsmon said. “We loved her as soon as we saw her. She is a 6-1 outside hitter that is a very explosive jumper with a really good arm. I think her upside is high, and as she spends years here I think we will only see her get better and better.”

Alyssa Miller, 5-foot-10 setter from Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kan., lead the Jaguars to the 2020 Kansas 6A State Championship title and was named to the 2020 AVCA High School All-Region 8 Team.

“Alyssa Miller is one of the more athletic players we have recruited here at UD,” said Horsmon. “We are really excited about how she moves around the court as a setter, she’s an explosive jumper that can block and do some really good things in the front row. She’s played at a really high level and played in the open division the last few years. We are very excited about who she can be and the athleticism she will bring.”

Finally, 6-foot-2 outside hitter Taylor Russell from Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse, Ohio, led Anthony Wayne to a district runner-up finish and claimed All-Conference First Team and All-District Second Team honorsin 2019.

“When we first saw Taylor Russell, she looked like a 6-0/6-1 player, but she has really grown and is closer to 6-2 now and is stronger,” Horsmon commented. “She is touching 10-2 and has worked very hard this year, her ball control has gotten better, and she has a live arm. I think she will be a special outside hitter in our program.”

3 p.m.

Next up on Early National Signing Day was the men’s basketball team, which introduced Malachi Smith, DaRon Holmes and Kaleb Washington.

https://twitter.com/DaytonMBB/status/1326614856817139712

For full details about the prospects, check out our article detailing the Flyers’ trio of 2021 recruits.

Smith, the 6-foot guard from The Bronx, New York, follows in his older brother’s, Scoochie, path in coming to UD.

Holmes, the first four-star UD recruit since Dwayne Cohill in the Class of 2018, is a 6-foot-8 forward from Goodyear, Ariz.

Washington, the highest-rated Flyers since 2000 according to 247 Sports, hails from Mableton, Ga., but will play the 2020-21 season at vaunted Montverde Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

The 2021 recruiting class currently ranks No. 25 in the country according to 247 Sports.

5:07 p.m.

The softball team was the latest to add signings, with Mary Newton and Emma Schutter set to join the 2022 team.

Newton is a 5-foot-7 pitcher from Ursuline Academy in West Chester, Ohio, and holds a 23-7 win-loss record, including seven shutouts, and 228 career strikeouts in the circle for the Lions. She has also been named to First Team All-Conference and receivedSecond Team All-District honors in 2018 and 2019.

Schutter, a 5-foot-8 outfielder from nearby Centerville High School, set a Centerville single-season program record with a .607 batting average and was named to the Greater Western Ohio All-Conference First Team as a sophomore in 2019.

“Announcing the addition of these two quality young women is such a pleasure,” reflected head coach Cara LaPlaca. “They each embody the character and values of our program. Their experience competing at an elite level has prepared them well. I am certain they will make a significant impact on the future of our team.”

7:36 p.m.

The Flyers women’s soccer team announced two more signings Wednesday evening, starting with forward/midfielder Noel Blain from Michigan Jaguars FC Girls Academy in Canton, Mich.

https://twitter.com/daytonwsoccer/status/1326665053391687680

Blain was followed by Ashley Stewart, a midfielder from Mountain United Women’s Premier in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

https://twitter.com/daytonwsoccer/status/1326685290174550017

Stewart joins fellow Canadian Maddie Crosbie in the Flyers’ 2021 recruiting class.

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