November 11, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

High hopes at Stanford with new Twin Towers

by Rick Eymer

Call it Twin Towers the sequel. With seven-footers Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez of Fresno officially signing a national letter-of-intent to play at Stanford next year, Cardinal coach Trent Johnson will be looking at his second pair of twins in the program.

Johnson helped recruit Jason Collins and Jarron Collins to Stanford, and both currently play professionally.

Forward Will Paul (6-9) out of Texas also committed to play at Stanford.

"We are very pleased to have these three young student-athletes be a part of our Stanford basketball family," Johnson said. "As good as these three young men are as basketball players, they are even better people."

Brook Lopez was a member on the USA Youth Development Festival "Red" team that won a bronze medal at the International Sports Invitational in San Diego over the summer.

"I'm very excited to come to Stanford," he said. "It's a great environment to be a part of."

Brother Robin Lopez was a two-time all-tournament selection of the Adidas Super 64 tournament and was a member of the USA Youth Development Festival "Blue" team that earned the silver medal at the Invitational in San Diego.

"The combination of academics and athletics at Stanford is a great opportunity," he said. "I am very excited about competing and studying."

The twins follow older brother Alex Lopez to the Bay Area. Alex, who played basketball at Santa Clara, was known as a defensive presence in the middle.

Paul averaged 20.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and two assists per game as a high school junior. His high school team went undefeated in district play the past two years and made the region semifinals in 2003.

"I'm really excited about coming to Stanford," said Paul. "It's a great opportunity both academically and athletically. The first time I saw Stanford I knew that's where I wanted to be."
Women's basketball

Jayne Appel has made her family happy. Not only is the 6-4 center out of Concord committed to attending Stanford next season, she'll keep family traveling expenses to a minimum.

Appel was one of four players who officially signed a letter-of-intent on Wednesday. Six-footer Michelle Harrison out of Utah, 5-10 point guard JJ Hones out of Portland, and 5-9 guard Melanie Murphy of Brooklyn will join her.

"Stanford offers the best of both worlds," Appel said. "It has the best basketball and the best academics. I feel like it is where I'm supposed to be."

Appel was a second team All-American pick last year, and earned all-tournament honors at the Nike Tournament of Champions. She was named the MVP of the West Coast Jamboree.

"Great players want to play with other great players, so this is a real compliment to our current team," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. "It's part of our tradition at Stanford to have great young people who want to come here and improve. The way to do that is to play with other great players every day in practice in a competitive environment."

Harrison enters her senior season ranked fourth in blocks in Utah girls basketball history with 243. She was invited to the USA Youth Development Festival and was an adidas Top-Ten Camp All-Star over the summer.

"My family always said that I should look at Stanford, but I wanted to make my own decision," Harrison said. "As soon as I went on my unofficial visit, I just knew. I took my time to explore my options, but in I knew in my heart that Stanford was right for me."

Hones was an all-American honorable mention selection last year, and attended the USA Youth Development Festival in the summer. Hones averaged 13.9 points, 5.2 assists, 3.8 steals and 4.2 rebounds per game last year.

"Academics are really big for me," Hones said. "Stanford has some of the greatest academics in the country and it's on the West Coast, which is important for me so that I can be close to my family."

Murphy was also an all-American honorable mention pick last year after averaging 16.6 points, six rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals.

"I had a great time when I visited Stanford and was really comfortable," Murphy said. "It's the right place for me. I've wanted to go to Stanford since I was in elementary school."
Women's volleyball

Stanford signed two of the top national recruits on Wednesday, getting official confirmation from outside hitter Janet Okogbaa and setter Joanna Evans.

"We are very happy with this recruiting class," Stanford coach John Dunning said. "We needed to sign a setter, and Joanna fits what we were looking for. And the addition of Janet makes this a great recruiting class."

Okogbaa has been a member of the 2004 and 2005 United States Junior National teams, and helped her club team (Tampa Bay Juniors) win the gold medal at the Junior Olympic National Championships. She was a teammate of current Stanford players Bryn Kehoe and Foluke Akinradewo at the World Junior Championships in Turkey in August.

Evans, a nationally ranked AA beach volleyball player, is a three-time all-league player as a setter, and also named a Northern California Scholar-Athlete for four straight seasons. On the national level, Evans helped lead her team to a bronze medal at the 2003 Junior Olympic Volleyball Tournament, and earned All-American honors.
Women's water polo

Kelsey Holshouser and Kelly Donahue each signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Stanford next year.

Holshouser, a driver out of Foothill High in Santa Ana, Calif., is a member of the U.S. Junior National Team and recently competed at the USA Water Polo Top-40 Festival.

Donahue, from St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Md., also plays on the Navy Water Polo club team. She was a member of the U.S. Youth team that traveled to New Zealand and Australia in 2004. She has earned multiple All-America honors at both the Under-20 and U.S. Water Polo National Championships.

"Kelsey is a very dynamic player who can score the ball numerous ways. Her experience on championship teams will make her a great addition to our team," Stanford coach John Tanner said. "Kelly has played high-level water polo for a long time. She has the speed, tenacity and shooting ability to make an impact on our team."
Women's gymnastics

Gymnasts Allyse Ishino (Santa Ana), Carly Janiga (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) and Blair Ryland (Woodbridge, Va.) made it official on Wednesday, signing letters to attend Stanford.

"The three recruits we have signed are excellent students and tremendous athletes," Cardinal coach Kristen Smyth said. "These exceptional young women bring international competitive experience, explosiveness and power, elegance and artistry. I am confident that they are going to make outstanding contributions to the Stanford Community during their careers."

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