Nov. 13, 2008
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IOWA CITY – – University of Iowa Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder announced today that Morgan Johnson, Gabby Machado, Jaime Printy and Theairra Taylor have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Iowa.
“I am very happy with our recruiting class this year,” said Bluder. “It is a strong class and I believe each player has an incredible upside. They are very good players now, but they can all become great players.”
Printy, who became the youngest player (15) ever to verbally commit to the Iowa women’s basketball program, is a two-time consensus all-state, all-conference and all-metro selection playing for Coach Bluder’s alma mater, Linn-Mar High School. A two-time team captain, she was named to the all-tournament team at the Iowa state tournament her junior season. The 5-11 guard averaged 18.2 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals during her high school career. She is a 90 percent free throw shooter and has converted over 43 percent of her 3-point field goal attempts. The guard is ranked 78th on the ESPNU HoopGurlz Top 100 list.
The native of Marion, IA, suffered a season-ending injury, in the fourth game, her sophomore year. She helped guide Linn-Mar to a 20-4 record and a state tournament appearance as a freshman and a 22-3 record, and a berth in the state tournament final four her junior campaign. Printy also played basketball for the IBCA Select AAU squad in 2008. She also excels in the classroom, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA and a National Honor Society member. Her mother, Kelly, ran track at the University of Iowa.
“Finally! It was three years ago when we received her commitment,” Bluder said. “It’s great to have her officially become a Hawkeye. Jaime is one of the best players in the state of Iowa and can play the point or off-guard position. She is a scoring guard that can distribute and knows the game so well. Jaime grew up two doors away from the house that I grew up in. I feel we have a great bond after having so many similar experiences.”
Taylor is a two-time honorable mention Associated Press and Pioneer Press all-state honoree playing for St. Paul Central High School in Minnesota. During her two years at Central, her team boasts a 60-4 record, including a perfect 32-0 record her sophomore season, and two 4AAAA state championships. Taylor is a three-time all-conference selection. She led the St. Paul Conference in scoring as a freshman at Como Park. She was named to the Wells Fargo All-Tournament team as a sophomore and junior, including being named MVP of the tournament and the gbbrecruit Player of the Week during the tournament last March. During last year’s championship run, Taylor broke the state tournament free throw record.
The 5-11 guard, who averaged 14 points last season, is ranked 94th on the ESPN HoopGurlz Top 100 list, including a 21st ranking in her position. A two-time team captain, she is named in the 2009 All-Star Report top five in the Midwest region. Additionally, she played on the 2005 AAU state championship team. Taylor also ran track as she was the track conference leader in the 200 meters in 2007. She is a National Honor Society member.
“Theairra is a great combo guard that can play the 1,2 or 3,” said Bluder. “She is used to being a champion after winning back-to-back Minnesota state championships and MVP awards. Theairra is a gifted athlete that can score in a variety of ways and understands the value of defense. She is a tremendous signing for us!”
Johnson, a native of Platte City, MO, currently owns the Platte County High School record for career points (1,331), rebounds (864) and blocks (281), single-season scoring (502), blocks (113) and free throws made (107) and single-game scoring (33) and free throws made (16). The 6-5 center has been an all-conference and all-district honoree all three seasons and all-state the past two. Johnson was named team MVP all three years, as well. She has helped guide her team to a 53-29 record and the school’s first-ever sectional championship, and second district and conference titles. Last season, her team posted a school-record 25 victories.
Johnson also played AAU basketball for team Excel. Her team won the Denver High in the Sky tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 of AAU nationals in Orlando, FL. She also lettered in volleyball, earning first team all-state laurels her senior campaign and second team all-state accolades her junior year. Johnson also was a three-time all-district and two-time team MVP selection playing volleyball. She excels in the classroom as well, named academic all-state her sophomore and junior seasons.
“Morgan is a hard worker that will help replace the size that we will be graduating,” said Bluder. “At 6-5, she will be playing the inside positions for us and will help with rebounding and shot blocking. I love her work ethic and coachability.”
Machado, a native of Pontiac, MI, averaged 23 points, 14 rebounds and three assists last season for Northern High School. She is ranked in the top ten in the 2009 class in the state of Michigan. She earned all-conference honors and was named to the Detroit News Class “A” All-State Honorable Mention and Associated Press State of Michigan Honorable Mention as a junior. She also earned first team all-Oakland County laurels last season. Machado is the school record holder for career rebounds (1,106). She averaged 17 points and eight rebounds as a sophomore and 15 points and eight boards her freshman campaign.
She was rated the No. 1 power forward and No. 4 player overall in her class by michladyballers.com. The 6-0 forward also played for the Team Michigan AAU club team. She averaged a double-double at the Deep South Classic playing for Team Michigan.
“Gabby is a power forward that can bang and won’t back down to anyone,” Bluder said. “Gabby was under the radar of a lot of major programs due to some minor summer injuries. I believe that she will blossom here and become a dominant rebounder and inside player for us.”
2009 Recruiting ClassMorgan Johnson C 6-5 Platte City, MO (Platte County HS)Gabby Machado F 6-0 Pontiac, MI (Northern HS)Jaime Printy G 5-11 Marion, IA (Linn-Mar HS)Theairra Taylor G 5-11 St. Paul, MN (Central HS)
