PORT ANGELES — The road to the NWAACC Tournament may be going through Alaska for Peninsula College head coach Alison Crumb.
After missing out on the postseason in each of her first two years as coach, Crumb has spent the offseason gathering commitments from six decorated athletes — five from the Frontier State.
Headlining Crumb’s haul is Jasmine Yarde, who was called “one of the most decorated basketball players to come out of West Valley” by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
Yarde helped the West Valley girls of Fairbanks, Alaska, to a 22-8 record, a Mid-Alaska Conference title and a fourth place finish at Class 4A state tournament.
“Jasmine was someone I knew I wanted last year at this time, and had kept an eye on her when she recovered from her surgery,” coach Crumb said.
“She is a true competitor and works very hard at what she does. The first thing I did this recruiting season was call Jasmine and it worked out for us. I think she will be a great asset to our program.”
Yarde expressed her own excitement in coming to the Pirate women’s program.
“I’m excited, and I’m happy, but mostly, I’m just really thankful for this opportunity,” Yarde said.
Yarde tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee the summer before her senior year and missed half of her final season.
Despite the injury, she averaged 15.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game, and led all players at the state tournament with 54 total points (18 per game) and 18 steals (six per game).
Another Alaska athlete who committed to the Pirates is Kenai Central High School’s 2010-11 Athlete of the Year, Raquel Young.
The 5-11 forward/post earned All-Tournament honors at the Kenai River Classic, Cordova Tournament and Ketchikan Tournament.
Young also won all-region honors in the Northern Lights Conference and was named to the Alaska Senior All-Star team for 2011.
“We are looking forward to having Raquel as a great student-athlete,” Crumb said. “She works hard on the boards, and gets up and down the floor as a post player.
“She is aggressive, and physical, and will go for any loose ball no matter where it is at on the floor.
“She will bring a competitive spirit to our program, and we look forward to having her.”
Crumb scored another exciting prospect in 5-7 wing Jestine Ellis of 2A Skagway High School.
Ellis has earned all-state and all-conference honors all four years of her high school career, and was named 2A player of the year as a senior.
She made the all-state tournament team in 2011 as well, and was part of a team that won consecutive state championships.
During her junior year, she even put up a rare quadruple double that featured 10 points, 11 rebounds 10 assists and 11 steals.
With a 3.9 grade point average, Ellis also ranks second in her graduating class.
“Jesse has racked up the awards and obviously shown she can be an all-purpose player,” coach Crumb said.
“We look forward to her aggressiveness, her willingness to compete, and her ability to get things done regardless of where she is put on the floor.
“She can pass, shoot, rebound, and above all she is an incredible defender.”
Continuing with the Alaska theme, Crumb signed Wasilla High guard Leisl Brown.
Sister to former Pirates Jamie and Ayla Brown, she brings the same competitive spirit and desire to win, according to Crumb.
Brown helped the Warriors to the state tournament for the second straight year, but was knocked out of the event after injuring herself in the first game.
Before she was hurt, she contributed four steals, seven points and helped the Wasilla girls get past Bartlett on their way to a 4A state title.
“I’m really excited to have Leisl join our team,” Crumb said.
“Her family has all played here, so there is a great deal of roots here at Peninsula. Her quickness and ability to defend is going to help keep our guard-play fast and tenacious.”
All the way from Haines, Alaska, is another forward, Abby Jones.
She is a 5-9 forward who can play anywhere on the court, Crumb said.
“We plan on utilizing Abby in every position,” Crumb said. “She can shoot, she can rebound, and she is very aggressive.
“I see her getting a lot of loose ball buckets from offensive rebounds and running the floor.
“She works very hard at everything that she does and will be another great addition to Peninsula College.”
The final signee of the 2011 class came a little closer to home.
Jonica Durbin, a 6-2 post from Klahowya in Silverdale, was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter in the Olympic League.
Durbin suffered an injury her senior year and played sparingly, but still averaged 9.7 rebounds, 8 points and 2 steals. She also had more than 100 blocks between her junior and senior years.
“Jonica adds size to our quickness and that is very important,” Crumb said. “We’ve been playing really small the last couple years and are looking forward to being able to have someone in the paint to detract shots and discourage easy buckets.
“She will help our defense, our rebounding, and will also add a true post presence in our offense.
“She is a great girl and has already made several trips up to Peninsula to get up and down the floor with us this spring.”
