The steady stream of Australians into Oregon continued last week when Ellyce Ironmonger signed a National Letter of Intent to join the women’s basketball team.
Ironmonger’s addition gives the Ducks three Australians who will be wearing Oregon green and yellow for the first time next fall. The 6-foot-4-inch center, a product of the Australian Institute of Sport, is playing for the Australian National U19 team.
She’ll be paired with Nicole Canepa, another 6-foot-4-inch center, who arrives by way of San Francisco. Ironmonger also feeds Oregon’s need for inside players with the graduation of four post players.
“She’s just a good fit because she’s a big, physical, strong body,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “She’s a very solid rebounder and shot blocker, and I think that along with Nicole Canepa, she’ll provide a pretty solid front line in terms of our post play.”
Ironmonger will be asked to help shore up several problem areas for Oregon, namely rebounding and low-post scoring. Outside of forward Eleanor Haring’s 12.6 points and Carolyn Ganes’ 9.8, the Ducks’ next highest post scorer was Jessie Shetters at 4.7 points per game.
Oregon also struggled on the boards, both offensively and defensively, areas in which Ironmonger, along with Canepa and another recruit, Ellie Manou, should help. Shetters averaged a team high 6.9 rebounds last season, but missed 11 games because of a back injury.
Ironmonger has been a part of Western Australia’s U16, U18 and U20 teams. She also participated in the National U20 Championships earlier this year and averaged 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes per game.
“They might not be at the beginning of their careers, particularly in their freshman year, the terminal of our offensive output, but they will certainly be involved with keeping an honest presence in the paint,” Smith said of Ironmonger and Canepa.
Ironmonger visited McArthur Court with AIS for an exhibition game last fall. She was recuperating from an injury and played only nine minutes, recording three rebounds and a turnover and missing her only shot attempt.
“When she came over with the AIS, she was coming off a leg injury and wasn’t sure what her plans were going to be after she finished the AIS, so we backed off and let her finish that important part of her high school and her developmental program with the AIS,” Smith said.
Oregon contacted her later, and after her season ended in February, she made it clear she was interested in becoming a Duck, Smith said.
The Ducks are introducing six new freshmen next season, but already many of them are familiar with each other or current Oregon players. Tatianna Thomas of Hart High School (Calif.) teamed with Taylor Lilley to lead their high school to a CIF Championship in 2005-06.
Ironmonger and Manou are on the same Australian U19 National Team.
“All of our incoming players have a great deal of self-discipline, and they’re motivated, and they have a passion for basketball,” Smith said. “What’s even better is that four of them will come in, in the summer school at the beginning of June, July so that they can even get a little bit closer.”
Those four include Nia Jackson, Tatianna Thomas, Ironmonger and Victoria Kenyon, who’s already here and staying for summer school.
The six-person class also gives Oregon one of its most balanced classes and helps offset the unexpected departures of Gabrielle Richards and Kristen Forristall last year.
“We’re going to be very young, so it’s going to be trying to allow them to get on the court to contribute where their strengths are right now and then work to develop them in terms of their offensive and defensive skills and abilities,” Smith said.
Smith said she expects five of the new players to play immediately and not redshirt. Kenyon arrived early, redshirted last season and is ready to play, Smith said.
“I think we came into this class with that understanding, and I think they understand that as well and are excited by that challenge and that opportunity to contribute right away, both in practice and in competition,” Smith said.
[email protected]