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Goestenkors, Duke Adds Three In Early Signing Period On Friday
Nov. 14, 2003
DURHAM, N.C. - Another year, another stellar recruiting class for the Duke women's basketball program as head coach Gail Goestenkors announced the signing of prep All-Americas Chante Black, Laura Kurz and Wanisha Smith to national letters of intent on Friday.
"When you have good players and great people on your team, I think they attract other great players and people," said Goestenkors. "Once again, that is what we have done. We have added three outstanding individuals."
Black, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, joins the Blue Devils after a stellar career at East Forsyth H.S. The 6-5 center averaged 20.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 7.0 blocks per game as a junior, while shooting 58.2 percent from the field. Black led her East Forsyth team to a 21-3 record and was a Street & Smith's third team All-America in 2003.
"Chante will fit perfectly into our running and pressing style of play," said Goestenkors. "She is probably the fastest post player in the country as a senior this year. Chante is a tremendous rebounder and shot blocker. She is a player who can change games with her offense and on defense with her shot-blocking ability. I feel she will have a wonderful career at Duke."
In the latest recruiting rankings, Black is rated as the No. 13 prospect in the country by All Game Sports. Black was a 2003 USA Youth Development Festival South Team member, 2001 and 2002 Street & Smith's honorable mention All-America and Nike All-America camp selection. She averaged 17.8 points and 14.1 rebounds as a sophomore, while being selected the conference player of the Year.
"It is nice to add a player from North Carolina to our roster," said Goestenkors. "She will be only the second player from the state to play for Duke since I arrived in 1992. We hope it will draw a strong following from the area and boost our attendance even more."
A Fort Washington, Pa., product, Kurz attends Germantown Academy where she averaged 25.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 3.0 blocks a game as a junior. A 6-1 guard/forward combination, Kurz hit 61.0 percent from the field last season as she was named USA Today Junior All-America and Street & Smith's honorable mention All-America.
"Laura is going to be a great addition to our program," said Goestenkors. "She has an amazing understanding and love of the game. She is a very versatile player as she can play several positions. Laura reminds me a little of Ann Strother [from Connecticut] in that she is a big guard, can shoot the three-pointer, moves very well without the basketball and has a high basketball I.Q. as well. She will fit perfectly into our motion offense and multiple defenses."
Over the summer, Kurz was side lined with mononucleosis and fell in the latest recruiting rankings. Prior to the summer, she was ranked 15th by the Blue Star Report, but is currently listed 24th by All Game Sports. As a sophomore, Kurz averaged 24.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. Kurz has scored 1,617 points in her career at Germantown Academy and was an honorable mention Street & Smith's All-America in 2002 and 2001. Her brother, Rob, has verbally committed to play basketball at Notre Dame in 2004-05.
Smith will come to Duke by way of Riverdale Baptist school in Washington, D.C., where she averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a junior. A 5-11 combination guard, Smith was a Street & Smith's third team All-America in 2003 and is listed as the sixth-best prospect in the class of 2004 by the National Roundball Journal.
"Wanisha is going to bring a lot to the table for us as she is a bigger point guard, standing 5-11," said Goestenkors. "She is very strong, sees the floor well and can play the two-guard if needed. Wanisha can shoot the three-pointer, penetrates strong to the basket and is similar to Monique Currie in many ways, except that she is a true point guard."
A 2003 All-Metro selection, Smith was a member of the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival last summer where she averaged 10.4 points a contest and led her squad to a perfect 5-0 record. Smith played her first two years of high school at Fairfield in Ohio and received national recognition at the Nike All-American Camp and Adidas Top Ten Camp. As a sophomore, she averaged 25.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists leading her squad to sectional and district championships.
The Blue Devils will lose three seniors after the 2003-04 season, including two Kodak All-America selections- Alana Beard and Iciss Tillis- and point guard Vicki Krapohl. With the three additions, Duke will boast a roster of 12 players for the 2004-05 campaign.
"We lose a point, wing and post player after this year and we feel like we have filled those needs with this recruiting class," said Goestenkors. "We are expecting the three of them to all have an immediate impact as individuals and as a group."
Other comments from Goestenkors on the recruiting class--
"The front line will be a great strength of ours next year with the addition of Black to go along with Brittany Hunter, Mistie Bass, Alison Bales and Wynter Whitley. We will have good depth and tremendous athleticism. I think we will be able to dominate with our inside game next year, which is exciting."
"On their visits, they fit in so well with the team we already have in place. One important part we look for as a coaching staff, is bringing in quality people who will continue to play with heart, hustle and integrity, have class, and fit into our system not only on the floor but with our work ethic and the things we demand as people as well."
"I think both Laura and Wanisha are tremendous passers and have a great understanding of the game. That is going to help our post players."
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