The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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44 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2023 2023 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE play multiple positions and impact both sides of the ball." The three incoming transfers will join a trio of four-star 2023 high school re- cruits — Macy Brown, Katy Eidle and Taylor Woodson — all of whom signed with the Michigan program in Novem- ber 2022. Brown averaged 25 points, 8.7 re- bounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game this season at East Grand Rap- ids High, earning Miss Basketball 2023 honors in Michigan and the Michigan Associated Press' 2022-23 Division 1 Girls Basketball Player of the Year. HoopGurlz/espnW ranks her as the No. 74 overall prospect in the country. "I feel like I have known Macy for the majority of her life, and I am so thrilled she will be joining our program," Barnes Arico said in November after signing day. "I love that she wanted to stay home to represent both her home state and the block M. "The way our game keeps evolving, being able to have a 6-foot point guard out there with her level of playmaking is a game-changer. She is long and athletic with the ability to be disruptive on both the offensive and defensive ends. She is a smooth lefty with great vision and really fits our style of play. She brings such a high energy to everything she does and is someone you just want in your program." Eidle was the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois and averaged 19.2 points, 3.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 steals in 38 games this season at Hersey High in Arlington Heights. HoopGurlz/ espnW ranks her as a four-star prospect and the No. 77 overall prospect. "Katy is such a dynamic scorer with a super high IQ ," Barnes Arico said. "She really understands the game and makes everyone around her better, which is something we have really been after with our recruiting the last few years. "She is such a gifted athlete, can be disruptive on the defensive end and can score in bunches. She is a fabulous passer and can play the point guard position if needed. She has had such a phenomenal high school career with her Gatorade Player of the Year honor last year, and we are really excited about what she will bring to our program." Woodson, a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 59 player in the HoopGurlz/ espnW 100, rounds out the incoming class. The Hopkins High School star out of Minnetonka, Minn., was on her school's varsity team dating back to sev- enth grade. She helped her team to two consecutive state championships as a sophomore and junior. As a senior, she was first-team all-state, but her team fell by one point in the state title game. Woodson also played AAU ball for North Tartan. "I thought Taylor had a phenome- nal last season of AAU and was one of my favorite players I saw all summer," Barnes Arico said in November. "The energy and toughness that she plays with are staples of our program. "She is such a high-energy player who can play and defend multiple posi- tions. She is so dynamic off the bounce and can really rebound the ball. Both her AAU and high school programs have had so much success; she is a winner. She is a great teammate and is so multidimen- sional with her ability to switch screens and guard any spot on the floor. That is something we love to have in our pro- gram and are thrilled she will wear the Maize and Blue." Barnes Arico hopes the infusion of young players and veterans can help keep the program in the hunt for NCAA Tournament berths and deep runs. The roster turns over quite a bit from last season, with Emily Kiser (graduating), Leigha Brown (WNBA) and Maddie No- lan (transfer to Colorado) heading out the door. However, the Wolverines have a pair of rising junior guards in Laila Phelia and Greta Kampschroeder, who could step into much larger roles. Phelia is the team's go-to star in the here and now, coming off All-Big Ten second-team honors from the coaches and media after averaging 16.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 33.1 minutes per game. She was one of eight play- ers recently named to the 2023 USA Women's team for the FIBA Women's AmeriCup tournament that will take place July 1-9 in Mexico. ❏ NEWCOMERS IN 2023-24 Player Cl. Pos. Ht. Hometown/Last School Macy Brown Fr. G 6-0 East Grand Rapids (Mich.) High Katy Eidle Fr. G 5-11 Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey High Taylor Woodson Fr. F 6-0 Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins High Elissa Brett Gr. G 5-10 Adelaide, Australia/Bowling Green Lauren Hansen Gr. G 5-8 East Setauket, N.Y./Missouri Taylor Williams Gr. F 6-2 New Baltimore, Mich./Western Michigan Coach Barnes Arico is bringing in a trio of HoopGurlz/espnW four-star recruits for next season — (from left to right) Taylor Woodson, Macy Brown and Katy Eidle. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY