Aggie Women's Basketball Announces Early Signees

Nov. 14, 2005

 

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State women's basketball head coach Raegan Pebley announced Monday [Nov. 14] the signing of four prep players to national letters of intent to play for the Aggies starting next season. The quartet includes Nicole Johnson, Caitlin Kearns, Indira Kaljo and LeeAnn Palo.

 

"It was very important with this recruiting class that we add depth to our post position since Jessica and Ali will be graduating," Pebley said. "I think we added depth not only in size, but in ability. We also added depth both at the point and two guard spots."

 

A 6-2 post from Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Wash., Johnson averaged nearly a triple-double as a junior, putting up 15 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.9 blocks. Johnson shot 40 percent from the floor, including 53 percent from beyond the arc. For her efforts she was named both first-team all-county and first-team all-league as she led Columbia River to a 12-8 record.

 

"We were drawn to Nicole by her drive for playing in the post," Pebley said. "She likes to be in the post and thrives on the power game. I'm really excited to work with her because of her amazing instincts around the basket."

 

Kearns, a 6-4 post from Ventura High School in Ventura, Calif., averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in leading her team to the regional finals as a junior. She was named Adidas All-American, Street & Smith All-American and first-team all-Channel League for her efforts. Additionally, she garnered second-team all-CIF honors and was selected first team all-area.

 

"Caitlin is a finesse player with the potential to become very strong if she commits herself to the weight room," Pebley said. "She has pretty good 15-foot range and is a great shot blocker and rebounder. Caitlin comes from a program where they look to go inside a lot, so she is used to having the ball in her hands and knows how to get post up position."

 

Kaljo, a 5-10 swing guard from Mount Clair Prep in Sherman Oaks, Calif., averaged approximately 22 points, eight rebounds and two assists as she was named first-team all-league as a junior. She garnered second-team all-league honors both her freshman and sophomore seasons. Kaljo was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and moved to Germany when she was four. She then moved to California when she was six and has been there ever since.

 

"Indira is a great shooter that has a good mid-range game," Pebley said. "She is a very heady player that will make us better on the perimeter."

 

Palo, a 5-8 point guard from Woodinville High School, in Woodinville, Wash., averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists as she shot 52.1 percent from the floor, including 46.3 percent from three-point range as a junior. She led her team to a 17-7 record and the King County 4A playoffs, where they were one game away from going to the state tournament. Individually, Palo was named second-team all-King County by the Seattle Times and her team's MVP last season.

 

"LeeAnn is a floor general, quarterbacking point guard," Pebley said. "She can really extend the defense with her range and can make great passes and understands angles. She is a John Stockton type point guard."

 

Utah State opens its regular season against Montana on Fri., Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.