Zags Ink Four-Star Recruit Bree Salenbien

[ZagDad84]

From GoZags:

Zags Ink Four-Star Recruit Bree Salenbien
Salenbien is Gonzaga’s highest-rated recruit in history
Women's Basketball
11/12/2020 6:12:00 PM

SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga women's basketball head coach Lisa Fortier announced the signing of Bree Salenbien to a National Letter of Intent for the 2021-22 season Friday. Salenbien is the fourth and final Zag to be announced as part of the incoming class for the 2021-22 season.

Bree Salenbien
Adrian, Mich. | Lenawee Christian High School | 6-3 | Guard

Salenbein, a four-star recruit that is ranked the seventh-best guard in the nation and 44th-ranked player in her class by ESPN, is the highest recruit to sign with the Bulldogs in history. Currently, she is the second-highest ranked recruit from the state of Michigan for the class of 2021. The Adrian, Mich., native will join the Zags as a freshman in 2021.

The AP Division IV Player of the Year each of the last three seasons, Salenbein led Lenawee Christian to back-to-back Division IV state championships in 2018 and 2019. She was also selected as the Class D Player of the Year in 2018 and was selected USA Today Second Team Michigan in 2019. Last season, Salenbien averaged 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.1 assist, 3.3 blocks and 3.0 steals per game while shooting 80 percent from the charity stripe.

"I chose Gonzaga because of the culture the amazing coach staff has created, the tradition of winning, and the exciting game day atmosphere the community and the fans generate," Salenbien said.

Coach Fortier on Salenbien: Bree is a phenomenal shooter and passer. She is extremely smooth and comfortable anywhere she is on the floor. She has the ability to post up players smaller than her, make full court passes, defend the best player on the other team, you name it. Bree has a very high basketball IQ and seems to know exactly what the team needs when they need it. Welcome to the Zag Family, Bree!

"We are really happy with the 2021 class we have signed," Fortier said. "They are going to be an important part of the future of our program. They are high-character people, who have so many strengths on the basketball court. They are the type of players who will continue to work to improve and are willing to do what is best for their team. These ladies are proven winners, and they embody what it means to be a ZAG. Zag Nation is going to love cheering for this class!"

Article Link: https://gozags.com/news/2020/11/12/w...salenbien.aspx

Great get CLF. The highest recruit to ever sign with the Lady Zags. Move' in on up.

All four recruits who gave a verbal signed with the Zags. Great Job for the entire coaching staff.

ZagDad

[ZagDad84]

For those who have not seen Bree play here are a few highlight videos:

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3k7oxu0Xd4

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA4oSZ_XJTU

Interview with Krem 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j6z2NMZ-M0

Before She tore her ACL at the end of last year, Bree averaged 20.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. She shot better than 50 percent from the floor and above 80 percent at the free throw line. Her other stats included 4.1 assists a game, 3.3 steals a game and 3.2 blocked shots a game. Bree never was held below double figures and had a season high of 37 points against Evergreen.

Links to various articles on Bree's Verbal commit:

Link: https://www.mlive.com/highschoolspor...su-others.html

Link: https://highposthoops.com/2020/05/14...as-2021-class/

Coaches kid, her dad is her HS coach. Her older (1 year) sister played with her in HS.

Great range, good ball handling skills, quick hands.

She looks like a good one. Great job coaching staff.

ZagDad

[ZagDad84]

Here is a link to Bree's twitter page which includes several pictures of her and her family during today's signing ceremony.

Link: https://twitter.com/breesal_35

ZagDad

[TerpZag]

Thank you ZagDad84 for all your efforts to post all this information and links for Bree Salenbien...

[ZagDad84]

From the Spokesman-Review:

Bree Salenbien signs with Gonzaga, becoming highest-ranked recruit in program history
UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 13, 2020
By Jim Allen
jima@spokesman.com
(509) 459-5437

Bree Salenbien made it official Friday night.

Surrounded by friends and family at her high school, the highest-rated recruit in Gonzaga women’s basketball history signed a letter of intent to play with the Zags.

A four-star recruit and a three-time Michigan Player of the Year, Salenbien gave her oral commitment to the Zags last spring despite being unable to visit the campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 6-foot-3 Salenbien, a senior at Lenawee Christian, is projected to play at the wing.

The Associated Press State Player of the Year as a freshman and sophomore, Salenbien made it three in a row last season after averaging 20.6 points and 10.5 rebounds. She also shot 80% at the free-throw line and averaged 4.1 assists, 3.3 steals and 3.2 blocks. Salenbien scored a season-high 37 points in one game – two shy of her school record set a year earlier.

Over the past 12 games of season, Salenbien averaged almost 24 points a game. Listed by ESPN as a five-star prospect last spring, Salenbien is currently evaluated at four stars.

ESPN also ranked her fourth in the nation at her position and 32nd overall.

Twenty games into her junior season, Salenbien tore an ACL in the final regular-season game.

She began rehabilitation immediately and was in the pre-operation stage when all elective surgeries were put on hold in Michigan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salenbien’s signing is the fourth for GU this week.

On Wednesday, the Zags signed Esther Little, a 6-2 guard-forward from England with more than 50 games’ worth of international experience.

Thursday brought two more: Payton Muma, a 5-8 guard from Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Calli Stokes, a 6-foot guard-forward from Redondo Beach, California.

Muma is coming off her junior season at Highlands Ranch, averaging 15.2 points, 4.1 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.9 rebounds.

Article Link: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...oming-highest/

ZagDad