Women's Basketball | 11/8/2017 1:46:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney head women's basketball coach Carrie Eighmey announced today the names of six high school seniors who'll suit up for the Lopers next season.

They are forwards Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) and Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.), post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn H.S.), wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, S.D.), combination guard Aspen Jansa (Bishop Neumann H.S.) and wing/forward Maegan Holt (Council Bluffs, Ia.).  

UNK has two seniors and a graduate transfer on its 2017-18 roster in guards Michaela Barry (Battle Creek) and McKenzie Brown (G.I. Northwest) and forward Alyssa Frauendorfer (Humphrey). 

 
Backes (6-0) attends Salina Central High School and is coming off a junior season in which she was named first-team All-County and All-Conference and second-team All-State. Backes helped the Mustangs post a 19-6 record and finish fourth in the 2017 Kansas Class 5A state tournament.

She averaged 10 points, six rebounds and two steals per game last winter while having some big efforts during the season. Backes tallied a season-high 22 points in a win over Maize South High and went for 18 points and 14 rebounds in a state quarterfinal win over Kansas City Schlagle.

"There were more than just a couple of things that sparked our interest in Elisa. We noticed her length and versatility on the offensive end of the floor as she is able to be effective both on the perimeter and in the paint. We also recognized her scrappiness and persistence in getting deflections and making plays on the defensive end. Combine all of that with Elisa's knack for rebounding the ball all over the floor, and she has the ability to become a complete player at the college level," said Eighmey.

Entering her senior season, Backes has scored 442 points, grabbed 308 rebounds, handed out 138 assists and recorded 88 steals. During the club season, she is a member of Ohlde Elite AAU. Off the court, she is a three-time volleyball letter winner and a five-time Class 5A state track qualifier, placing in the 300 hurdles and as a member of the 4x4 relay team.

"Elisa not only has a great work ethic, but she is extremely coachable and gives great attention to detail.  She is an unselfish individual who is always looking for opportunities to bring people together.  She is a great addition to our program," said Eighmey.   

In the classroom, Backes has been on the 4.0 Academic Honor roll her first three years, is a member of the National Honor Society and was named a Kansas Honors Scholar. She also was tabbed a Wendy's High School Heisman winner and is involved in several school organizations including the Salina Central Drumline and Student Link Leaders.

She is the daughter of Dave and Wendy Backes. Her older brother, Danny, resides in Omaha with wife Savannah.

Hailing from suburban Des Moines, McCool is another six-foot forward. A home school student, she plays basketball at Southeast Polk. The Rams are members of the CIML Conference which has produced the last five Iowa Class 5A state champions. Polk qualified for the state tourney in 2016 and 2015.
 

"If there is a hidden gem in our recruiting class this year, my hunch is that it's Shiloh. Shiloh is sneaky athletic with great size and versatility. She has the ability to put the ball on the floor on the perimeter and finish tough drives around the rim. She is also a player who passes the ball with great precision.  Shiloh is an excellent rebounder and defender as well,'" said Eighmey. 

As a junior McCool averaged 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Subsequently, she was named first-team All-Region and second-team All-Conference. Helping her team to a 14-9 record, McCool went for 22 points against league rival Indianola and then went for 28 points and seven boards in a regional final game against Iowa City High.

"Shiloh has an uncanny ability to help her team by absolutely filling up a stat line, but also by making her teammates around her better. She is extremely unselfish and just a solid person in every aspect of life," said Eighmey.

McCool starters her senior season with 522 career points, 398 rebounds, 85 assists and 56 steals. During the club season, she is a member of Iowa Kingdom Hoops AAU.

In the classroom, she has been named to the Des Moines Area Community College's Dean's List as she takes college credit along her with her high school classes. She is the daughter of Richard and Tracie and has two sisters, Shaylah and Isabela, and a brother, Zion.

Carlson (6-1) is a dominant post player for the Elkhorn High Antlers. A three-sport letter winner, she was named second-team All-Nebraska in basketball last season. She averaged 12.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a junior while leading EHS to a 19-5 record. One of her top games came against rival Elkhorn South where she went for 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. 

"Brooke is one of our own from here in Nebraska who we recruited for quite some time.  She is a multi-sport athlete who actually plays football, basketball and soccer, which are probably three of the toughest and most physically demanding sports you can play in high school," said Eighmey. "Brooke has great feet and incredible hands. As a post player with size that translates at the college level, she is a great passer, finishes well around the rim, and actually shoots the ball very well from the perimeter." 

In three years, she has tallied 803 points, 545 rebounds, 92 assists and 74 steals. Carlson's play has helped the Antlers reach the Class B state tourney each of the past three years. She enters her senior season already holding the school record for career blocks (100) while also setting new records for rebounds (228) and blocks (41) in a season.

"She is an influential leader in her school and community and we anticipate that she'll make a huge impact on our program in her career here as a Loper," said Eighmey.

An all-league pick as junior and sophomore, Carlson is a linemen on the football team and an all-conference keeper in soccer. The Academic All-Conference qualifier also plays basketball for Nebraska Lasers AAU. Finally, she is on the Honor Roll, is a member of the National Honor Society and several other school and campus organizations.

She is the daughter of Gary and Kim and has an older brother, Jacob, and an older sister, Dani.
 

Kirsch (5-9) has played an integral part on one of South Dakota's most dominant high school programs in St. Thomas More. The Cavaliers are 71-3 over the past three years, winning three Class A state titles and entering 2017-18 on a 39-game winning streak.

As a junior Kirsch averaged 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game to be named first-team All-Conference. Named game MVP of the Corn Palace Classic thanks to a 17 point effort against Ethan, she also had 14 rebounds in a win over Webster and led STM in four categories in a state tourney victory.

"Klaire brings versatility to the guard spot in that she is long and athletic and has the ability to play multiple positions. Her ability to create and finish off the bounce is definitely what sets her apart. She is a fierce competitor who comes from a program that has won multiple state championships and just flat out knows how to win," said Eighmey.

Over her first three years, Kirsch has been a member of eight state championship teams (four in track, three in basketball and one in cross country). She is a three-time All-State honoree in cross country, finishing seventh, eighth and 24th at the team meet while placing 11 times at the state track meet. That includes a personal-best of 58 seconds at 400 meters.

"Outside of being an extremely talented basketball player, Klaire is a phenomenal communicator both and off the court, which is sometimes difficult to find in young women coming out of high school. She is not only a leader by example," said Eighmey.

On the basketball club side, Kirsch plays for North Tartan AAU of Minneapolis.  Academically, she has been on the Honor Roll the past three years, is a member of the National Honor Society and takes part in several school and community clubs.

She is the daughter of Craig and Trisha and has five siblings; Kamp, Kaitlyn, Kourtney, Kassidy and Karsen.

Jansa (5-7) helped Bishop Neumann go 22-4 last season and finish third in Class C-. She played her best basketball when it mattered most, scoring 53 points in the state tourney to be named all-tournament.

For the year, Jansa averaged 15.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game to be tabbed first-team All-State and second-team Super State. She had a career-high 30 points against York and went for 28 in a win over rival Wahoo.

"Aspen is an impressive athlete who has achieved a high level of success as a multi-sport athlete at Bishop Neumann.  We've watched Aspen play in high school and summer basketball for quite some time and she just continues to grow and improve each season, which is a reflection of her character and integrity as a person as much as anything," said Eighmey. 

Entering her senior season, Jansa is at 792 points, 177 assists and 139 rebounds and 126 steals. Jansa was honorable mention All-State as a freshman and was a second-team pick as a sophomore. Out of season, she plays for Nebraska Lasers AAU alongside Carlson.  

Jansa also is a three-time state track qualifier, taking home six medals in the 100 and 400 meter dashes and as a member of 4x1 and 4x4 relays. In the fall, she has led the volleyball team to two state tournaments and has garnered All-State and All-Conference honors in those sports.

"Aspen is a dual threat scorer and has very good basketball IQ.  She is able to impact the game on both ends of the court because of her toughness, competitive spirt, and outstanding work ethic," said Eighmey. "Aspen is a leader both on and off the court and an extremely hard worker.  She's a gym rat who loves the details of the game and enjoys opportunities to spend time in the gym getting better.   

A Bishop Neumann Scholar, she is the daughter of Todd and Michelle and has two older brothers, Blake and Derek.

Holt (5-11) hails from Lewis Central High in Council Bluffs. She has led the Titans to two state tournaments while being named to the 2017 Iowa Basketball Coaches Association All-State first-team

As a junior, Holt was a unanimous first-team All-Conference pick, was the Council Bluffs City and KMA Player of the Year and a first-team All-State selection by both the Des Moines Register and Iowa Newspaper Association. In helping LCHS to a 22-2 mark, Holt averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game.

"The first time we watched Maegan play, we knew without a doubt that we wanted her to be a part of our program. Maegan is a winner both on the court and in life. She's a great athlete with great size who brings a unique versatility because of her physicality and skill set. Maegan is the toughest rebounder and finisher around the rim we've recruited in quite some time," said Eighemy.
 

She begins her senior season with 1,079 points, 389 rebounds, 106 steals and 98 assists. As a junior, Holt led Class 4A in scoring (478 points). A three-time all-league pick, she tallied a career-high 34 points last winter against rival Abraham Lincoln. Out of the high school season, Holt is a member of Western Iowa Express AAU.

"Maegan is not only physically strong, she's mentally strong and extremely disciplined.  She is a well-respected, influential leader who is always finding ways to serve and challenge her teammates. She is a great teammate and truly desires to be part of something bigger than herself, which is exactly why our staff is really looking forward to having her join our program," said Eighmey. 

In the fall, Holt is an All-Conference volleyball player who has helped her team reach four state tournaments. The Titans pulled an upset in the Class 4A state tourney Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals. In the classroom, she is an Honor Roll student and a member of the LCHS Blue Honor Roll.

Holt is the daughter of Jason and Trisha and has two older siblings, Lindsey and Tayler, and a younger sister, Addison.

UNK begins this 2017-18 season this Saturday, November 11th, at home against Wayne State.The Lopers also host NAIA Central Christian College (Kan.) on Monday, November 13th.