NORFOLK, NE - The Northeast Community College women’s basketball team has added four new recruits to its 2018-19 roster.
Coach Matt Svehla said he has signed Eriana Brown, Des Moines, IA, Emina Hadzihusejnovic, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Katie Richards, Surrey, England, and Jacalyn Schwanebeck, Hyannis, to play for the Hawks.
A 5’6” point guard, Brown was named Female Athlete of the Year at Des Moines East High School, where she averaged eight points per game and 3.9 assists per game. Brown also competed in track while at Des Moines East, qualifying for state track in the 100- and 200-meter dash. She will study personal training while at Northeast.
Svehla said Brown’s speed and quickness will be an asset to the Hawks.
“In track, Eriana ran the 100-meter in 12.2 seconds, which is a really good time. Her speed is a real weapon on the basketball court and fits into our up-tempo style of play. Aside from being fast, Eriana has a good assist-to-turnover ratio at the point guard position.”
Hadzihusejnovic is a 6’4” forward/center who previously played for WBC Tresnjevka in Croatia and WBC Konjic in Bosnia. She is a three-time competitor in the Croatian championships and was also named a Croatian national team prep and Bosnian national team prep.
“Emina is probably the tallest player we have ever had in our program,” Svehla said. “We will utilize that size, but she has good ball handling skills and has the ability to play away from the basket. She has very good mobility and a good looking shot.”
A 6’2” forward/center, Richards played for the Sevenoaks Suns in the Women’s British Basketball League. She has represented England in the U16 European Championships and was also a member of England’s U18 selections.
“Katie can play the forward or center positions,” Svehla said. “She has the length and mobility that fit well into how we like to play. Even though she is 6’2”, she moves well and does not need to be restricted to playing in the paint.”
Schwanebeck, a 5’10” forward, will join the Hawks from Hyannis High School, where she helped lead the 21-4 Longhorns to a fourth place finish at the state tournament this year. Schwanebeck was a second-team all-conference selection and all-state honorable mention and also earned the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Academic All-State Award. She averaged 11 points per game, seven rebounds per game, and a team-high 3.2 steals per game. She will study agriculture while at Northeast.
“Jacalyn had a good high school career and was a three-sport competitor,” Svehla said. “She battled through an injury during her senior year, but that didn’t stop her from being a major contributor on the court. She will bring good versatility to the forward position.”
The Hawks’ 2018-19 season is scheduled to begin on November 2.
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