Nov. 17, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
Four standout prepsters have signed National Letters of Intent to enroll at the University of Missouri and play basketball, Head Coach Cindy Stein has announced.
The four are 5-foot-11 forward Amanda Hanneman (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs South HS), 6-foot-1 forward Jessra Johnson (Fayette, Mo. / Fayette HS), 5-foot-6 guard Antoinette "Toy" Richbow (Detroit, Mich. / Pershing HS) and 6-foot-2 forward Marissa Scott (Iola, Kan. / Iola HS).
As a sophomore and junior at Blue Springs South under former assistant and current head coach Adam Courter, Hanneman earned all-conference and Blue Springs Examiner all-area honors, and helped the Jaguars to district titles as a freshman and sophomore. She enters her senior season with career averages of 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Hanneman led South to Class 2 state titles in golf as a sophomore and junior, and helped the Jaguars to a runner-up finish this year. She's a two-time all-state honoree, and earned all-district and all-conference plaudits all four years as a golf prepster.
"Amanda is an intense competitor," Stein said. "She can play the 2, 3, or 4 positions. She is a good leader, and a skilled ball-handler and passer. She makes everyone better, and she's going to be our candidate for the most floor-burns on the team."
Johnson is a four-time Lewis and Clark Conference Most Valuable Player for the Fayette Falcons. She's twice earned all-state honors from the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association - in Class 3 as a junior, and Class 2 as a sophomore. Under coach Kristen Conrow, Johnson led the Falcons to the Class 2 quarterfinals in 2003 and 2004. Last season, current freshman Rachel Oswald's Boonville Pirates eliminated Fayette in their Class 3 district championship. For her high-school career, Johnson is averaging 17.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and five blocks per game.
"Jessra is a very versatile athlete - she can play at guard, forward or center," Stein said. "She has good perimeter and post skills; she can shoot the three, or get the rebound and go. She's very skilled."
Richbow helped lead Pershing to a 17-1 record and a Detroit city championship last year under coach Gerald Weatherspoon. She averaged 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals last year in earning first team all-city honors. She also led the Doughgirls to a district title as a sophomore.
"Toy will bring a competitive yet calm spirit to the team," Stein said. "She's a good defender, and on the offensive end always seems to hit the big bucket. She's a good ball-handler, passer, 3-point shooter and slasher."
Scott earned Kansas Class 4A honorable mention all-state honors as a junior last year at Iola for coach Becky Carlson. The Fillies finished fourth in the state her freshman year, and were sub-state champions a year ago. A talented multi-sport athlete, Scott led her volleyball team in kills as a sophomore, and led the squad to a conference title this year. She also is Iola's record holder in the javelin throw, which she did as a sophomore.
"Marissa can play either the 3 or 4 positions. She's a great passer with excellent court vision," Stein said. "She can hit the 3-pointer, and also makes everyone around her better. She has tremendous potential."
