Time to start an updated thread, with news of an transfer pickup from UT, in 5'8 PG Bella Swedlund

Originally from Winner, South Dakota, transferring from Kansas where she was in her 1st year and had been planned to redshirt. She was reportedly the 25th ranked PG in the nation coming out of HS last year. She only announced her transfer from Kansas 4 days ago, so that was quick. I know UT offered her out of HS.

So, to sum up then, UT's changes in 23 as of today are:

King PG graduating
Jansen G graduating

Dykstra PG incoming freshman
Fegan W incoming freshman
Swedlund PG transfer from Kanasa

in '24 recall they have a verbal from another PG Na'Kiya Bonner from Detroit Edison, so they should be set for PGs for a while.

More on Swedlund: https://kuathletics.com/roster/bella-swedlund/

Senior year averaged 22.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.5 assists. Scored 2256 points in HS career.

Good get. She may start next season if Wiard doesn’t return

Swedlund had 20 offers coming out of HS that I can find: Kansas, Illinois, KC, Cleve St, St Louis, Monmouth, Grand Canyon, Lehigh, Toledo, Navy, EIU, EMU, Omaha, Portland, Montana, Montana St, Colorado St, St Thomas, Illinois St, Colgate. Only 2 P6s, but a number of good mid majors that span coast-to-coast.

HS highlights from her junior year: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8840280/604...0178bdd7cc
Looks like more of a combo guard than a true point. Nice shot with a deep range. Dykstra is probably still the heir apparent PG for UT. Question will be how her defense stacks up. UT is going to miss Jansen's defense next year, so someone is gonna have to step up there.

I am wondering how this announcement jibes with the new NCAA transfer window, where BBall players are only supposed to be able to announce transfers in a 60 day window after the end of the season.

WBB recruiting has improved dramatically the last few years. Is there a new assistant we can thank for that?

With (at least) Jansen and King leaving, there should be some minutes available next year for both Dykstra and Swedlund. If everyone eligible returns, the Rockets should be even more loaded next year than they are now. Defense is always the wild card. Unless she is desperate, Cullop will not play anyone who is a defensive liability.

(01-07-2023 08:33 AM)Lester Wrote:  WBB recruiting has improved dramatically the last few years. Is there a new assistant we can thank for that?

With (at least) Jansen and King leaving, there should be some minutes available next year for both Dykstra and Swedlund. If everyone eligible returns, the Rockets should be even more loaded next year than they are now. Defense is always the wild card. Unless she is desperate, Cullop will not play anyone who is a defensive liability.

Need an athletic 6-1 ,forward.

https://www.hillsdale.net/story/sports/2...794342007/

Candace Dykstra's Grand Rapids West Catholic team and Na'Kyia Bonner's Detroit Edison team are ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively, in Michigan's Division 2 in the AP's first rankings for girls' basketball. These two teams met last year in the state championship, but each lost a superstar to graduation (Miss Basketball Ruby Whitehorn for Edison, Michigan State recruit Abby Kimball for West Catholic). West Catholic has already beaten the teams ranked 4th, 5th, and 12th in Division 1.

Don't follow the women as I do for the men, nevertheless, great pickup for coach.

2025 Elisha Dykstra, Cadence's younger sister, has started picking up MAC offers - so far Miami, EMU, WMU and NIU - but nothing from UT yet that I see.

(01-07-2023 08:33 AM)Lester Wrote:  WBB recruiting has improved dramatically the last few years. Is there a new assistant we can thank for that?

With (at least) Jansen and King leaving, there should be some minutes available next year for both Dykstra and Swedlund. If everyone eligible returns, the Rockets should be even more loaded next year than they are now. Defense is always the wild card. Unless she is desperate, Cullop will not play anyone who is a defensive liability.

You can thank Mark Stephens

UT officially announces signing of Swedlund

https://utrockets.com/news/2023/1/17/wom...dlund.aspx

(01-17-2023 06:07 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  UT officially announces signing of Swedlund

https://utrockets.com/news/2023/1/17/wom...dlund.aspx

Isn't this the third PG coming in?

(01-17-2023 06:56 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-17-2023 06:07 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  UT officially announces signing of Swedlund

https://utrockets.com/news/2023/1/17/wom...dlund.aspx

Isn't this the third PG coming in?

Swedlund was listed as a PG coming out of HS, but watching her film, I think she is more of a combo guard, and I would guess will get her 1st PT at UT as a 2-guard.

Dykstra looks like she is more of a true point and I would guess will be given the opportunity to back up Wiard next year and learn from her, the same way Wiard did with Santucci.

But regardless, we graduate 2 guards in King and Jansen next year, and Barnes may or may not be back for one more go, so need at least 2 guards to fill in the roster in '23.

Bonner is a '24 recruit, so she's another year away, and will be the replacement for Wiard when she hangs it up.

Looks like 2026 G Maya Layton, from Faith Christian in Indiana was at the game yesterday. She was at a game at Savage last season as well.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/2505220/maya-layton
Offers only from Indiana State and Toledo so far that I can see, but it sounds like she has been lighting up some of the tournaments in the last year, and is just now a HS freshman.

The Start HS girls team was also there, which includes highly recruited PG Sinai Douglas

Also, Stephens tweeted that there were "special visitors" at the game yesterday, so we'll see if that leads to anything in the near future.

Nice story from the Blade on Swedlund
https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/ut/20...0230122053

(01-23-2023 02:44 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Nice story from the Blade on Swedlund
https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/ut/20...0230122053

Yes, a nice story, but the biggest piece of news in the story is that Quinesha Lockett will return next year. Assuming that is accurate and that everyone stays healthy, the Rockets will be loaded.

Macey Fegan reportedly scored 51 last night and passed 2,000 career points. Story on mlive is behing a paywall, so can't confirm the details.

(01-28-2023 10:18 AM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Macey Fegan reportedly scored 51 last night and passed 2,000 career points. Story on mlive is behing a paywall, so can't confirm the details.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/290605775...point-game

Here's a link that should work. Just click on "Read Article From Original Source," and there is no paywall.