Pennsylvania recruit visits
The 6-foot-4 junior post is ‘impressed’
Rebecca Turney’s recruiting visit to Albuquerque did not meet her expectations.
The 6-foot-4 junior post from Canonsburg, Pa., arrived Friday figuring to enjoy a little warm weather on her tour of potential college programs. She arrived during Friday’s snowstorm instead.
“Oh well, we’re used to it,” Turney said with a shrug. “At least we get to see a game in the Pit.”
Turney enjoyed that opportunity, exchanging high-fives with UNM’s players as they headed up the ramp after Saturday’s 63-60 victory over Fresno State. She and her father, Bill Turney, will head back to the Pit tsburgh area today.
Turney is enjoying a strong season for Canon-McMillan High School, where she’s averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds per game.
She’s bounced back from surgery to repair a torn meniscus tendon that kept her out for 10 weeks.
She’s attracted interest from numerous schools, including North Carolina, which she plans to visit in the coming weeks.
Other suitors include Eastern Michigan, Brown, Cornell and “most of the (Mid-American Conference) schools,” Turney said.
Turney became interested in UNM after Lobos coaches saw her play in an AAU tournament with her club team, the Western PA Bruins.
She’s since done plenty of research about the school and its women’s basketball program.
“I’ve heard so many good things,” Turney said. “People are constantly posting things about coach (Yvonne) Sanchez and the fans. We wanted to see it for ourselves, and we’ve been impressed.”
NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on unsigned players, but Sanchez confirmed UNM is recruiting Turney.
The Lobos have signed three players for next season but will have four seniors on their 2015-16 roster, including post Khadijah Shumpert.