The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 2024 BASKETBALL RECRUITING ISSUE play, she dives for a loose ball and hits the bleachers. Coming off a broken hand — that's just crazy." So are her skills, Ellefson said. Once back, Olson led Benilde to the state title for a second straight season. "She is a terrific scorer, and unbeliev- able rebounder," Ellefson said. "She had a state championship game that was in- credible in her shooting and her play [30 points, 15 rebounds]. That's the game I would point to, if you had to pick out her scoring and rebounding, an efficient- type game." "Liv is a flat-out game-changer," Barnes Arico said. "She is so dynamic and can legitimately play all five posi- tions, which is so valuable as our game continues to evolve." Swords fits the game-changer bill as well, coming from Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a basketball family, moving to Long Island, N.Y., to play for Long Island Lutheran when her dad, Shawn, got a job coaching with the Long Island Nets, an NBA G-League operation. There's no question regarding Swords' basketball pedigree. Both dad and mom (Shelley) played basketball at Lauren- tian University in Ontario. Syla and younger sister Savannah — a bas- ketball standout in her own right — grew up around the game. "Going to my dad's practices — that's the way he babysat us," Syla Swords recalled to Slam magazine. "It's a passion, and it's not like a job, which is something they have really been keen on putting into our minds. When we finally got the chance to join our first team, it was a no-brainer." "They're just two awesome people," Lutheran coach Chris- tina Raiti told SC Student Media. "I don't know if I've ever had two girls who are just selfless." Syla Swords averaged 17.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals as a senior. She led her team to the 2023 Class AA New York State Federation Tournament of Champions title, scoring 27 points in the championship game. She was named the New York State Ga- torade Player of the Year, among other honors. "I got to watch her play with Canada [Canadian AmeriCup team] twice this past summer, and think she is one of the best guards in the world," Barnes Arico said. Opportunities at guard opened up more after first-team All-Big Ten junior Laila Phelia entered the transfer portal after the season, and Swords or Olson could step in. Meanwhile, Holloway, out of Legacy Early College in Greenville, S.C., will be grooming to run the show. The point guard who averaged 16.0 points, 4.6 re- bounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals as a senior was a crucial get for the Wolver- ines, Barnes Arico stressed. "It was definitely important with this class that we got another point guard, because that's a position that is really key for us," she said. "Mila has such great court vision and a feel for the game. Whatever the team needs from her, she will figure it out and get it done. … She doesn't have to score to be successful, which is sign of a true point guard and leader." Dunbar, out of Blackman High in Murfreesboro, Tenn., brings size and a legitimate paint pounder to the mix. Barnes Arico sees her as somewhat underrated and expects strong devel- opment out of the incoming forecourt force. "It was important for us to add a true post player in this class, and I think A.D. is the perfect fit for our program," Barnes Arico assessed. "We felt like she was a little under the radar, but she is someone with such a passion and drive for the game. With her willingness to improve and our player development program, the sky is the limit for A.D. She has the work ethic, the intangibles and is a great team player." Delfosse brings a 6-3 frame to a forward position, out of Ewing (N.J.) High School. Prep Girls Hoop tagged her as the No. 4 prep per- former in New Jersey entering her senior year, in which she averaged 18.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds as a Group III state champion her junior campaign. "One of the biggest things that stuck out to me when I saw Te'Yala play is that she is a win- ner." Barnes Arico noted. "She al- ways figures out a way to will her team to a win and is vocal while doing it. She has a lot of the in- tangible things that we love in our program. "She is long and athletic. She can impact the game on both sides of the ball — she can get you a bucket when you need it, she can get you a rebound when you need it. She can do a little bit of every- thing." They'll all likely do more to- gether to help Michigan women's basketball take the next leap. ❑ Olson led Benilde St. Margaret's to a third Minnesota Class 3A state championship in four years. PHOTO COURTESY BSM GIRLS HOOPS Transfer Addition On April 21, Michigan added 6-foot-2 senior forward Ally VanTimmeren via the transfer portal from Boston College. She started 28 of 76 games played between 2020-21 and 2022- 23, but sat out last season due to injury. She averaged 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in her career with the Eagles, and had a career-high 17 points against Pittsburgh. A native of Allendale, Mich., VanTimmeren was a Michigan Associated Press All-State first- team selection as a senior at Jenison High and a four-star prospect according to ESPN.