University Southern California Trojans
USC Women Add Two On Signing Day
November 09, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2006
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - The No. 22-ranked USC women's basketball team solidified another promising incoming class with the addition of two talented players. Stefanie Gilbreath and Kari LaPlante signed national letters of intent on Nov. 8, becoming head coach Mark Trakh's newest Women of Troy. The pair will enter as freshman next season.
"Stefanie and Kari are great additions to our program," Trakh said of the talented pair. "They are two very highly rated players in the country. We make a conscious effort to bring in student-athletes with sound academics and great character, and we're extremely excited to have Stefanie and Kari joining us."
A 6-1 guard out of Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, Gilbreath is a lock to fit right into Trakh's system. She was Scout.com's 11th-ranked recruit and was tabbed as the Houston Chronicle's Preseason Player of the Year as she enters her senior season. She also recently gained some international experience as a member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team during the summer, winning an Under-18 FIBA gold medal. Gilbreath's national honors are significant as well. She is rated the No. 7 player in the country by Blue Star and is a 2006-07 second-team All-America pick by both Street & Smith and HoopGurlz.com. She was a 2006 USA Today Underclassmam All-American and fourth team PARADE All-American, and was District MVP in 2005 and 2006.
A 6-5 forward hailing from Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Arizona, LaPlante will come in as USC's tallest player on the roster and is expected to be an immediate impact player. Her athleticism and size have made her a powerful player at the high school level, and she also was recognized on Scout.com's Top 100 recruits, coming in at No. 92. LaPlante has garnered a host of honors during her first three high school seasons, beginning with her appearance as the only freshman receiving 5A Region Honorable Mention. She won the same honor as a sophomore, along with State Honorable Mention and Region First Team recognition. Last year as a junior, LaPlante again was a State Honorable Mention winner and made teh Region First Team for the second straight season.
The two new Trojans will join their USC teammates for the 2007-08 season, as the Women of Troy enter their second year in the Galen Center.
