Solid contributor
Riverview’s Jennifer Newman commits to the Panthers
One of Greg Gould’s former players is coming to play for him again at UPEI.
The university announced Monday, Riverview High School graduate Jennifer Newman has committed to the Panthers women’s basketball team for the fall. Gould coached Newman when she was in Grade 10 in New Brunswick.
He said the five-foot-10 forward is a good shooter, defender and rebounder, who works hard, is a good student and person. He called her an unselfish competitor who wants to win.
“I think she’s got the whole package,” Gould said. “I think she’s going to be a solid contributor for the four or five years she’s here.”
Newman was Riverview’s MVP last season and a New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association all-star. She was a key member of Basketball New Brunswick’s under-15 and - 17 teams.
“I am looking forward to working hard, learning and developing into the best player possible,” said Newman, who will study kinesiology.
“I believe UPEI will also be a great fit for me academically. The small classes with easy access to my instructors will help me to excel.”
On the court, Gould said he thinks Newman can contribute right away.
It will be important because the Panthers will look a lot different from the team that lost the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) final to Saint Mary’s last year.
Jenna Jones, Danielle MacDonald, Amy Gough, Laura Power, Julie Hatcher and Darcy Zinck played their final year of eligibility, graduated or are injured and unable to play. There is also a possibility other players won’t return.
“It’s going to be a new-look team,” Gould said.
And the veteran bench boss is a month into his second term with the Panthers after replacing Mark English, who resigned to take the women’s head coaching position at Memorial. By this time in the year, most players have already committed to a university for the fall, but Gould said he is still searching to add players.
“We feel pretty fortunate to get someone of (Newman’s) calibre coming at this late in the recruiting process,” he said. “We’re working hard to try and recruit some other players, and also trying to recruit for the following year.”
The coach said there are high school graduates coming to UPEI who could try out in September.
Gould said most of the people who were on his staff two years ago have committed to returning. He still wants to talk with some of last year’s assistants to see if they are interested in returning as well.