The Emporia State women’s basketball team has received two oral commitments from high school seniors to play next season.
Rachel Hanf and Jocelyn Cummings have both told ESU women’s coach Brandon Schneider that they plan on signing with the Hornets during the fall signing period, which begins Nov. 12.
Hanf is a 5-9 guard from Paola who is a former teammate of current ESU player Brittney Miller, and Cummings is a 5-11 small forward from Shawnee Mission South.
Hanf was being recruited by several Division-I schools and choose Emporia State over Wyoming, Wichita State, Creighton, Evansville and Washburn.
“I like the winning tradition that they have,” she said. “I thought I fit in good and the coaches were a big part of it too. You can tell that he (Schneider) really cares about you as a person and not just a basketball player.”
It also did not hurt that Miller was on the team. Hanf has been on Schneider’s radar since her freshman season because Schneider would come to Paola games to see Miller.
When Hanf decided she wanted to sign, she had her old teammate surprise Schneider by writing in shoe polish on his car, “There’s a new Lady Hornet,” and then filling his car with balloons.
“He was really surprised and excited too,” Hanf said.
Schneider could not comment on either recruit because of NCAA rules, but he has to be pleased to sign both players, which would fill two of the four scholarships he’ll have available next season. He said he plans to fill those scholarships with two perimeter players and two post players.
Cummings also turned down several D-1 offers to play for the Hornets. SM South coach Ron Millard said Cummings had received interest from Florida, Michigan, UMKC, Wichita State, Oklahoma State and Central Missouri.
“When she visited Emporia, she came back and told me, ‘Coach, I really like this school,’” Millard said. “She tried to find something that matched with what her goals are for education and also to play.”
Cummings, who will be a three-year starter, has led the Raiders to winning seasons in her first three high school seasons. She has played the post at SM South because that’s where Millard has needed her to play, but he said she projects well as a small forward in college.
“She has great ball sense and skills and she’s ready to go play at the next level,” he said. “She’s a very skilled athlete. She drives really well. Around the basket she’s tough to defend because she can go both ways.”
Hanf has also played some in the post and has spent her entire high school career playing on the varsity. Last season, Paola coach Stuart Ross said Hanf was not surrounded by much talent and she was double-teamed most of the season, but she still managed to score 18 points per game.
“She shoots as well as anybody I’ve ever coached,” Ross said. “She can light it up. That’s probably the thing most people know about her is her ability to score.”