Wayne State College head women’s basketball coach Brent Pollari has announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Wildcat roster for the 2023-24 season. The 2023 signing class, which includes three transfers and two high school signings, consists of Carsyn Boswell from Carlsbad, New Mexico, Makenna Clark of Ankeny, Iowa, Jordan Heckert from Rapid City, South Dakota, Britney Ho of Wichita, Kansas and Brooklyn Kruse (cruz – e) from Wayne.
Boswell, a 5-8 guard, is a transfer from Idaho State and will have two years of eligibility with the Wildcats. She started 29 of 30 games last season for the Bengals averaging 6.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest while leading the team in 3-point field goals (38). Boswell played in 23 games on the 2021 Idaho State team that won the Big Sky championship advancing to the NCAA Division I Tournament. She is pursuing a master’s degree at Wayne State in counseling.
“Carsyn is a dynamic shooter from the wing who specializes in 3-point shooting,” stated Pollari. “She brings experience to our squad having played in the Division I national tournament.”
Clark is a 5-7 point guard from Ankeny Centennial High School in Iowa. During her senior season Clark averaged 9.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game helping the Jaguars to an 18-7 record and the Iowa Class 5A State semi-finals. She led the team in 3-point field goals this season with 35 while shooting 34 percent behind the arc and is a two-year starter.
“Makenna is a floor general who excels at seeing the whole court,” said Pollari. “She’s a primary ball-handler who can run the offense, being able to distribute the ball and find her teammates in positions to score.”
Heckert, a 5-10 guard, transfers to Wayne State from Newman (Kan.) and has two years of eligibility at Wayne State. Last season at Newman she averaged 5.7 points per contest highlighted by a 30-point game in February vs. Emporia State making 11 of 16 shots including 8 for 10 behind the arc. Heckert shot 45.9 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from 3-point range for the Jets helping the team to a seven-win improvement from the previous season. Heckert also spent one season at Metro State in Colorado and is a graduate of Rapid City Central High School in South Dakota where she averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a senior to earn Class AA All-State Second Team honors
“Jordan is an efficient scorer and shoots well from the 3-point line and brings us Division II experience,” stated Pollari.
Britney Ho is a 6-0 forward from Wichita, Kansas transferring to Wayne State from Newman University in Kansas with one year of eligibility as a Wildcat. Ho earned All-MIAA Third Team honors last season with the Jets after averaging 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 28 contests, ranking third in the MIAA in scoring and fifth in field goal percentage (.496). As a junior in 2021-22 she accounted for 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest playing in 27 games. Ho attended Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita, Kansas where she averaged a double-double in her senior season – 18 points and 10 rebounds a game.
“Britney brings a veteran inside presence to our roster,” commented Pollari. “She excels at battling for open position, scoring in the paint and elite finishing ability at the rim.”
Kruse is a 6-3 forward from Wayne High School where she was a multi-sport standout for the Blue Devils in softball, basketball and track and field. This season Kruse earned All-Mid States Conference honors averaging 17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game helping Wayne to a 16-11 record and a trip to the Class C1 District final. She was a four-year starter for the Blue Devils ending her career with 1,431 points, 729 rebounds and 283 blocked shots. Kruse was selected to play in the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game in Lincoln July 24th. In softball Kruse was a two-time All-Mid States Conference and All-State honorable mention selection and in track and field at last week’s Class B State Championships placed second in the discus (135′ 5″) and third in the shot put at 41′ 10″. She also excels in the classroom earning NCPA Academic All-State honors.
“Brooklyn brings additional paint presence on both ends of the floor,” remarked Pollari. “She excels at scoring in the paint, pursuing rebounds and making it difficult for opponents to get easy looks near the rim with her shot-blocking ability.”
Wayne State finished the 2022-23 season at 11-16 overall and fifth place in the NSIC South Division with a 7-15 league record.
