There will be some international and local flavor seasoning the Fort Lewis College women’s basketball 2014 recruiting class.
The Skyhawks signed Emily Childress, Dallas Dickerson, Emily McCue and Simone Ruedin, head coach Jason Flores announced June 11.
McCue led Durango High School last season averaging 15.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and was named first-team All-Southwestern League.
“I think that they’re the right choice because I’ve gotten a lot of support from Durango in general, so being able to carry that into the college stage of my life is great,” said McCue, daughter of Frank and Julie McCcue. “My family can come and watch me; there’s just a bunch of people that support me here.”
She wanted to stay and keep playing in her home town while also competing in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Colorado Mesa, Metro State and Western State also were on McCue’s radar.
“I’ve grown up watching the Fort play and seen how successful they’ve been,” McCue said. “The whole basketball atmosphere up there is really cool. I think it’s cool how much the women’s basketball team gets supported in Durango.”
She is the first DHS player to directly sign with FLC since Karen Thies in 2002.
Thies eventually transferred to follow former FLC head coach Patton Shearer to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Former DHS standout Katerina Garcia played most of her career at FLC after playing her freshman year at Southern Illinois University.
“We are happy to add Emily to our team,” Flores said in a news release. “She is a local player that has done great things for Durango High School both on and off the court. Her best basketball is ahead of her, and we look forward to developing her.”
As for the international flair, Ruedin is a 5-foot, 8-inch native of Eltham, Australia that is transferring from Division I New Mexico State.
She started 19 games over the past two years for the Aggies.
“She is a bigger guard who can really defend,” Flores said in a news release. “She also has the offensive versatility to play the point or bump to a wing. On top of that, she was voted as a team captain at New Mexico State, which shows that she is also bringing great leadership skills, which we love about her.”
Childress was an all-conference performer at Highlands Ranch High School last year, where she averaged 9.2 points for a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 5A tournament.
“Emily comes from one of the best high school programs in the state, where she is used to competing hard and winning,” Flores said in a release. “She’s an unselfish player who will have the versatility to develop a solid outside/inside game for us.”
Dickerson joins the Skyhawks from somewhere much farther: Alaska.
She was the Class 3A Alaska Player of the Year at Anchorage Christian last season and led her team to the state title.
Dickerson averaged 22 points, 4.8 assists and four rebounds as a senior, scoring more than 2,000 career points.
“Dallas is a very skilled player that will also be able to play any of the three guard positions,” Flores said in a release. “She was a point guard in high school, but is also really effective on the wing with her ability to shoot, pass or drive.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
