Yesterday marked the beginning of the NCAA late signing period, which runs through May 19. There are several very good seniors still uncommitted or unsigned at this time, including RRR Super Senior 25 players Christina Cunningham of Perry Meridian, Whitney Frame of Randolph Southern, Gretchen Haehl of Shelbyville, Lauren Hutton of Valparaiso, Ashley McGee of Hamilton Southeastern, Kristin Miller of Tri-Central and Becca Papach of Whiting. According to recent news coverage, Hutton is looking at offers from Division I Valparaiso and Division III programs at DePauw and Washington (St. Louis) while deciding if she wants to attend Purdue. Frame, who wants to stay close to home, is looking at offers from Franklin, Earlham, Marian and Taylor.
  
Signing news of two of the RRR's Super Senior 25 players was recently relayed to us.
 
Merrillville standout Marshay Jolly (left) will be signing with Division II Southern Indiana this week. The 5'10 multi-position player will pick up where former Merrillville standout Shannon Wells ('99) left off for Screaming Eagles head coach Rick Stein. Jolly, who intends to study business finance, had a great career for the Pirates, making an impact early on as a freshman and garnering All-DAC honors four years running. She was the DAC MVP last season and an Indiana Junior All-Star in 2003. In her final high school campaign, Jolly averaged 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting .320 from three-point range. Jolly was instrumental in helping her team to an 18-3 record this season under head coach Bob Maicher. The Pirates won the Duneland Athletic Conference championship and were ranked as high as No. 2 in the ICGSA Poll. Jolly is looking forward to joining an up and coming program that is not too far from home. Photo courtesy of strempkagallery.com.
  
According to the Post-Tribune, senior power forward Jennifer VanderZanden (right) of Lake Central has committed and will sign with Indiana University South Bend. The feisty 5'10 scorer was the focus of coach Tom Megyesi's offense this season. The Indians went 11-10 in its first season as a member of the Duneland Athletic Conference. VanderZanden is the first player from Lake Central to garner all-conference honors since the Indians were members of the old Lake Suburban Conference over a decade ago. She averaged 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 78.0 percent from the free throw line. The physical VanderZanden will join an IUSB team that will have five seniors next season. The Titans, who play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, were 18-15 this season and finished third in conference play. Photo courtesy of strempkagallery.com.
  
Another former Merrillville player, who finished out her high school career as a senior at Hobart, has signed with the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. According to the Post-Tribune, Kelly Pero (left), who has been playing at Joliet Junior College the past two seasons, earned NJCAA Division III accolades as a freshman and sophomore for the Wolves and head coach Tony Giese. Pero, a criminal justice major, was named First Team NJCAA All-American after averaging 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game on the way to a third-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament this season. Pero will be able to play close to home several times over the next two years, as the Saints are members of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, which includes Purdue-Calumet and Calumet College. You can view more about Pero on the Joliet JC website, which features her in an online promotional video for their women's basketball program.

Unfortunate news out of the Valparaiso program. Junior Lindsey Humes, who tore her ACL two games into the season, has torn her ACL again. The 6'2 post, who was greatly missed despite an IHSAA Semi-State appearance by the Vikes, will spend the summer trying to get healthy enough to finish out her high school career for what is expected to be a very good Vikings team again next season under Coach of the Year Greg Kirby. Humes is pictured at right sitting with assistant coach Kathy Levandowski during warmups before the Crown Point Sectional final. Photo courtesy of strempkagallery.com.

The North-South Indiana All-Star Classic was held earlier this month at Greenfield Central, with two seniors from Northwest Indiana participating. Julie DeMuth of Merrillville and Lauren Hutton of Valparaiso both came to play and produced solid results for the North Team which won 96-85. DeMuth, who is headed to Ball State next fall, led all scorers with 24 points on 8-16 shooting (3 treys) and logged 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Hutton, along with offering up her Energizer Bunny defense, scored three points and dished one assist. Leading the way for the South Team was Janese Banks of Ben Davis, who scored 17 points on 8-24 shooting. More:
  
NWI players fare well at Classic - Post-Tribune
Nice end to a nice career for Valpo’s Hutton - Post-Tribune
North earns sweep in All-Star Classic - Indy Star
Area stars help North to two wins - Indy Star

Merrillville senior Julie DeMuth (left) was named AP First Team All-State last month. DeMuth is the only player from the Region to be named to the top three teams, however, sophomore Dee Dee Jernigan of East Chicago and junior Cassie Kerns of Valparaiso were voted AP High Honorable Mention.  No other single NWI player received votes in AP balloting. More:
  

First things first (DeMuth AP) - The Times
AP All-State - IHSAA

As we reported on our home page earlier this week, the Indiana All-Stars were announced on Sunday in the Indianapolis Star. With their selections, the All-Star coaching staff hopes to floor a team that excels on the defensive end. Kentucky is expected to select a team that could have four post players at 6'6, 6'4, 6'3 and 6'2. With Indiana's tallest All-Star at 6'2, head coach Jodi Whitaker of Lawrence North has chosen to go with speed and proven rebounding. Locally, Merrillville senior Julie DeMuth was named to the team. She is the first Northwest Indiana player to be named to the All-Stars since sister Jenny DeMuth (Highland/Indiana) was named to the team in 2001. The complete roster is as follows:
    

Merrillville's DeMuth named Indiana All-Star - The Times
Randolph Southern player makes All-Star team - Star Press
Area players bolster All-Star roster - Indianapolis Star
Two All-Star selections work hard to prepare - Indianpolis Star

The Louisville Courier-Journal recently announced its All-State selections for the 2003-04 season. Again, Merrillville senior Julie DeMuth was named to the First Team, while junior Cassie Kerns of Valparaiso was named to the Second Team and junior Cassie Pruzin of Crown Point was named to the Third Team. Receiving Honorable Mention from the Region were seniors Karima Davies and Belinda Drake of Gary West Side, senior Lauren Hutton of Valparaiso, sophomore Dee Dee Jernigan of East Chicago, senior Marshay Jolly of Merrillville, senior Becca Papach of Whiting, junior Leslie Rowan of Rensselaer and senior Jennifer VanderZanden of Lake Central. More:
C-J All-State Basketball Second Team, Third Team and Honorable Mention

North Central sophomore Amber Harris (left) was recently named to the Parade All-American Third Team. Harris, who led her team to the 4A State Championship title this season, has already committed to Purdue. The 6'5 multi-position player averaged 13.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting nearly 62 percent from the field. Photo courtesy of strempkagallery.com.

According to the Terre Haute Tribune Star, Steve DeGroote of West Vigo has submitted his resignation. DeGroote, who coached the Vikings for 15 years, compiled a 182-151 record during his tenure.

Head coach Tricia Cullop of Evansville has announced the departure of four players from the Aces program. According to the Courier-Press, Kim McMillin of North Harrison has left the basketball program to concentrate on her studies and may transfer to another school. Three other players from out of state have also left for varied reasons, ranging from playing time to being away from family.

You may have noted our ad for the Region Roundball Review Camp Finder (www.camp-finder.com) at the top of the page. We are in the process of promoting summer camps from those college programs that have chosen to support the RRR to keep it a free-viewing resource for players, coaches, fans and college recruiters. As more support comes in, we will be adding more camp listings, so be sure to check back often. Coaches and players, we hope that you find this an easy-to-use and valuable resource for finding team and individual college camps to attend this summer. Special thanks to Indiana University, Bowling Green State and Ball State for being the first to step to the plate!

Girls basketball notes & features:
Metro Stars beat Capitol Stars in Jermaine O'Neal Super Shootout - Indy Star
Sports keep Gossman smiling - Courier-Press
2004 Girls All-Area Team - Washington Times
Garrett and Angola coaches to lead girls team in Border Wars - Journal Gazette

College and other articles of interest:
Coaches pushed to limit - Indy Star
Prep 3-sport athletes now a dwindling breed - Indianapolis Star
INDY to Host Women's Final Four Next Year - WISH TV
Zolman a bright spot for Vols - nola.com
Returnees, recruits to ensure Lady Vols will stay among elite - The Tennessean
Auriemma man among women - USA Today
Women's basketball has come long way - mlive.com
Who's the `evil empire' now? - The Daily Times
NCAA braces for NIT's lawsuit - Indianapolis Star
Taurasi may alter standard of quality - Indianapolis Star
Zolman's 19 points not quite enough - Indianapolis Star

Striking a new deal gives life to WNBA - Indy Star