Recruiting: Monmouth Women Add Many Key Parts

Here's another in the series looking at players joining conference programs for the coming season.

Up now ...

MONMOUTH WOMEN

- Mia Hopkins, a 5-foot-10 freshman guard: She averaged more than 20 points and 14 rebounds per game as a junior at Pittstown (Pa.) Area High School and finished her career there with totals of more than 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. She scored 39 points in one high school game and pulled in 29 rebounds in another. "Mia brings size, versatility and athleticism to our perimeter play," said Monmouth coach Jenny Palmateer. "She has a true passion for basketball and it shows in everything she does."

- Jenny Horvatinovic, a 5-11 freshman guard/forward: She averaged 16.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a senior at Red Lion (Pa.) Area H.S. and scored 1,100 career points there. "Jenny brings size and athleticism to our perimeter play," said Palmateer. "She is an effective scorer and passer with a great basketball IQ."

- Christina Mitchell, a 6-4 freshman center/forward): She averaged 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as a senior at Baltimore's Maryland Academy of Technical and Health Services. She averaged 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game as a junior and 14.9 and 4.8 in those two statistical categories as a sophomore. "Chris brings size and athleticism to our interior game with the ability to defend and block shots," said Palmateer."

- Sophie Beaudry, a 6-4 freshman center: She played at College Dawson in Monntreal and her team recorded an 18-0 record this past season. She averaged 7.3 points and 4.0 rebounds there last season, despite playing through several injuries.

- India Dotson, a 6-0 redshirt freshman forward: She played three years of high school basketball at Frederick (Md.) High School before foregoing her senior season to graduate early and join Monmouth's program a year early. She redshirted last season, but was able to practice with the Monmouth team. In high school she averaged 9.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a junior, her last season before leaving school a year early.

- Helena Kurt, a 5-5 freshman guard: She is a native of Spanga, Sweden and played for the Swedish U20 National Team at the 2013 U20 European Championships, averaging 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in that tournament. She led her team to the Swedish National Championship in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Her school team, Damiligan, compiled a 75-13 record over her four seasons in that program.

- Sarah Olson, a 5-8 junior guard/forward: She is a transfer from NJIT and, as per NCAA rules, will redshirt over the upcoming season and become eligible for the 2014-15 season. As a sophomore at NJIT she started 20 of the team's 31 games and averaged 7.4 points per game. She averaged 7.7 ppg. as a freshman. She has made six three pointers in a game four times over her two seasons at NJIT.

ANALYSIS: The incoming group should help the program's transition to the MAAC, and ensure a strong future for the Hawks. The newcomers bring a little bit of everything. Olson, who isn't eligible this season, will eventually be one of the MAAC's best long-range shooters. Kurt is a prototypical point guard. Dotson is an athletic slasher who already has a year of practice experience on the college level. Beaudry and Mitchell bring the type height that isn't often seen at this level. And, Horvatinovic and Hopkins are both tall and versatile perimeter players. It should be fun for fans of the program to watch this group develop over the next couple of seasons.