The Top 2011 Montana Girls Basketball Prospects (part 1)

Every time a post an article on Montana State and Montana recruiting lists I feel guilty about not publishing recruiting list for either Montana State Women’s or the Lady Griz basketball teams. The truth is it is much more difficult to follow these schools recruiting let along come up with list of their possible recruits. If I did produce a list it would end up being a list of the top Montana athletes and then maybe one or two out of state athletes. That got me thinking about just publishing a list of the top girls basketball players and rumors I have heard about their recruitment.

About a year ago I talked to about a handful of Montana girls basketball experts (at least by my standards) about the girls basketball recruiting. To a person every single one of them, while liking the 2009 and 2012 classes, really thought the 2011 prospect class was one of the weakest in recent history. I even had one predicted that none of this years class would sign with a D-1 program. Twelve or so months later things have changed.

While there is clearly a not big time recruit like a Jos Tinkle or a Kristen Tilleman in the class so far five athletes have committed to D-1 programs, with a couple of other who may or could have signed. Here are the girls’ basketball players who have committed to D-1 programs.

Kayla Dewit 6-1 Columbia Falls – power forward / center
She never played any AAU ball so was not well known out side the northwest, still she received recruiting attention from D-1 programs like Idaho, Montana and Gonzaga. Montana State was on her early and she committed to them early

Up to speed w/ Bobcat WBB recruiting

This is the third part getting everyone up to speed with the recruiting of the four Montana D-1 basketball program. This post will look at Tricia Binford’s Montana State Women’s basketball program.

The Montana State women have only 2 seniors this year but additionally currently have three open scholarships on their current roster.
As a result the Bobcat Women should have a total of five scholarships to offer this year. That said though, in Binford’s tenure at Montana State she has never filled all 15 scholarships in any given year.

The Bobcats are well on their way to filling out their scholarships with three Montana players already committed to the program. The Montana Class A trio of 5-8 guard Kalli Durham of Miles City, 6-0 guard Jackie Elliot of Billings Senior and 6-2 post Kayla DeWit of Columbia Falls all committed to Binford’s program over the summer. which should leave two spots still to be filled.

Kalli Durham Update

As I reported earlier today and has been hitting the Web this afternoon, Miles City’s Kalli Durham has Committed to play for the Bobcat Women’s team starting the 2011-12 season. Kalli is the latest in a long line of Durhams to where the Blue and Gold. Her Grandfather played for the Bobcat, Her Uncle Mick also played in the late 1970’s, and went on to coach then went on to coach the Bobcat’s for most of the 90’s and 00’s. Her cousin Casey (Mick’s son) also played for the Bobcats a few years ago. Am I missing anyone. I am told that Kalli very much wanted to follow in the family tradition and wear the blue and gold, and last night she got the opportunity.

Kalli Durham is a 5-8 guard but will be looking to break the family tradition the Durham point guards as she is more true shooting guard. She has started every game for Miles City since her freshman year averaging 10 points a game as freshman, 17 points as a sophomore, and 18 points a game this past year in her junior campaign. I believe by the end of last season she became Miles City all time scorer, and will look to build on that next season.

I have not had much of an opportunity to see her play personally so I got in touch with three friends of mine who are very familiar with he play and they all pretty much agreed with each other. My Favorite quote was her AAU coach Mark Albert:

“My best comparison is Rachel Semanski at the guard spot… … a bit more like Sonya Rogers.”

Another Durham to don Blue and Gold

***** Breaking News *****

I have it on a very reliable, and very happy source that Miles City high school girls basketball player Kalli Durham has committed to play for the Montana State Bobcats Women’s Basketball program. Kalli had an outstanding week of AAU ball in Portland this past week and the MSU coaches offered her at their first opportunity. I will have more on Durham and her commitment later today.

Bobcats Women recruit: Kalli Durham

This should probably come as no surprise to any Montana State basketball fan but the I have heard that the Montana State women’s basketball program is recruiting Kalli Durham of Miles City here in Montana. Kali is a 5-8 guard prospect. She plays the 3-4 at Miles City but is projected as a shooting guard in college.

Now for all of you Montana State fans this next part should be fairly obvious, but I will cover it none the less. Some of may want to skip this next paragraph.

Blue and gold as well as college basketball runs deep in Kalli blood lines. Her grand father played basketball for Montana State as well as she is the niece of Bobcat hall of famer as a player and coach Mick Durham. Like wise her cousin Casey (Mick’s son) also played for the Bobcat basketball program a few years back. Kalli’s father is also a former college player as well as head coach at Miles Community college and Western Montana College in Dillon. He is the current athletic Director for Western Montana College.

Now that we have covered her Bobcat family tree we can get back to her.

Kalli is a junior and in her 3rd year as a starter for Miles City. She averaged 10 points a game as freshman and 17 points as a sophomore. With the season about half over she is leading Miles city in scoring at 17 points a game. Her scoring has picked up a bit l=as of late with scoring outputs of 27 vs. Hardin, 26 vs. Laurel, and 23 vs. Broadus. She is on pace to set the all time Miles City (technically called Custer County High school) scoring record by the end of this season, and will have her senior campaign next year to further improve on that.