Nov. 13, 2003
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's basketball head coach Jim Tomey has announced the signings today of four high school seniors to national letters of intent. Forward Ashley Cheesman (Orem, Utah), point guard Kate Eveland (Southlake, Texas), center Whitney Hollison (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and wing Marin McCue (Calgary, Alberta) will join the Aztecs in the fall of 2004.
"We know our team will improve greatly with the addition of these four players," Tomey said. "The growth comes in all areas - size, scoring, as well as range and quickness on defense. They're really going to push the players that we have now and help take us to that next level of play as we build this program."
A 6-1 forward, Cheesman is an all-state selection in both basketball and volleyball at Mountain View High School. She has helped lead the Bruins' basketball squad to three straight state titles, a national championship as a freshman and a top 10 ranking each of her three seasons.
"We think she is one of the finer skilled post players in the country, who has a great overall game," Tomey said. "She is the type of player who can pull people away from the basket and shoot from three-point range. She's a great thinker and comes from an outstanding family of basketball players. She's going to be a fantastic addition to our team."
Cheesman's two sisters and father all have played basketball on the collegiate level. Her oldest sister, Heather, earned two letters at BYU from 2000-02, while her other sister, Danielle, is a junior forward for this year's Cougar squad. Her father, Jay, was a two-time all conference selection at BYU from 1975-77, before playing professionally.
A 5-8 senior at Southlake Carroll High School, Eveland averaged 15.5 points and 2.9 assists as a junior, garnering district offensive player-of-the-year honors. She was an all-state selection by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches in 2003 and set a school record with seven three-pointers in a game. As a sophomore, Eveland was a first team all-area and all-region pick, helping the Dragons to a top-16 finish in the Class 4A state championships.
"Kate is a top-notch point guard and one of the best at her position in the nation," Tomey said. "On the court she is a fantastic decision-maker and leader with the ability to push the tempo, create shots for her teammates and shoot from long range. She's the whole package."
Eveland is a McDonald's All-America honoree, who attended the adidas Top Ten All-American Camp each of the last two seasons. In addition to basketball, she is a four-year letterwinner for the Dragons' track and field squad and will graduate in the top 10 percent of her class.
Hollison, a 6-3 center, comes from an outstanding prep program at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. The Eagles have gone undefeated in claiming three straight Serra League titles and advanced to the state regional semifinals and CIF finals in 2003.
"Whitney is a player with great length and range at 6-3," Tomey said. "She comes from a winning program and brings athleticism to the court. She runs the floor very well, has good hands and definitely has her best basketball in front of her."
A second team all-league selection as a junior, Hollison had 11 blocks in a game a year ago and helped Santa Margarita Catholic to a No. 4 state ranking. Hollison played volleyball and competed in the high jump her first year with the Eagles before deciding to concentrate on basketball.
McCue, who will play a wing position for the Aztecs, was her team, league and province's MVP a year ago at Springbank Community High School. Springbank has claimed three-straight Rocky View League titles and a pair of top-two finishes at the provincial championships. A first team all-Albertan selection, McCue helped the Alberta Juvenile Provincial team to fifth place at the national championships in 2002.
"What we love about Marin is that she has a tremendous feel for the game," Tomey said. "At 6-1, her size and skill make her extremely versatile and a threat from all areas on the court. She can hurt you from beyond the arc as well as drive to the goal and create opportunities for herself and her teammates. She's a basketball junkie, who just loves to play and brings great experience and savvy to the court."
McCue is also a member of the Canadian Junior National Development team and attended the 2002 Nike All-Canada Camp.
2003-04 Aztec Women's Basketball Signees
Name PositionHeightHometown (Last School)Ashley CheesmanForward6-1Orem, Utah (Mountain View HS)Kate EvelandGuard5-8Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS)Whitney HollisonCenter6-3Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)Marin McCueWing6-1Calgary, Alberta (Springbank Community HS)