Clement, 2003 Michigan Miss Basketball, Signs with U-M
5/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball program added its sixth member to the 2004 recruiting class today (Wednesday, May 19) when Krista Clement (St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle HS), Michigan Miss Basketball and Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior this past fall, signed her National Letter of Intent with the Wolverines. Clement is the second Miss Basketball to sign with Michigan in the last four years, joining Wolverine senior-to-be Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), who won the 2000 award.
A 5-9 guard who averaged 24.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 4.2 steals as a senior, Clement joins guard Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS), forward Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation HS), guard Becky Flippin (Springfield, Mo./Parkview HS), guard Jessica Starling (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS), forward Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS) to form the six-member 2004 Michigan recruiting class and the first for coach Cheryl Burnett.
"Krista is precisely the type of player and person who we feel will excel in our program," noted Burnett. "She is obviously a great player, but also a first-class student who possesses the leadership qualities necessary to build any program. The first class you sign when you are trying to build a program is essential and we were already very excited about our first class at Michigan. Now with the addition of Krista, we feel even more strongly about the foundation and future of women's basketball at Michigan."
Clement is the 23rd recipient of the Michigan Miss Basketball award and the first honoree from the Upper Peninsula to garner the award that goes to the state's top senior and is sponsored by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM). Clement has more recently been named the Detroit Athletic Club Michigan High School Athlete of the Year and was a McDonald's All-America nominee. Following a senior season in which she led LaSalle to a 23-1 record and the Class C regional final before bowing out to eventual state champion Ishpeming Westwood 66-64 in overtime, Clement was named to the Dream Team by the Detroit Free Press for the second straight season.
The three-time all-state first-team selection according to both the AP and Detroit News, Clement helped her LaSalle teams post a 99-5 record in her four seasons, including the 2000 Class C state championship in her freshman season under head coach Dorene Ingalls.
"Krista is a phenomenal player and a better person," commented Ingalls. "She is a natural leader who loves to work hard with a smile on her face and is a positive influence for everybody around her. I look forward to following her career at Michigan because she is a great fit for that program and I believe her best basketball is yet to come."
Cooper Inks Letter with Michigan in Late Signing Period (5/5/04)
U-M Inks Four Prep Seniors to Start Early Signing Period (11/14/03)
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
