Women’s Basketball Inks Three in Top-Ranked Signing Class
November 09, 2016 | Women's Basketball
The Cardinals signed three five-star recruits in the 2017 class.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville women's basketball head coach Jeff Walz and his staff consistently have shown their ability to succeed on the collegiate level, evident by the program's continuous stronghold on weekly top-10 rankings.
It helps when the group has a keen eye for special players at the prep level.
For the second time in the last three years, the Cardinals' coaching staff compiled the nation's No. 1 signing class, according to espnW HoopGurlz. Three five-star prospects signed and submitted their National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to continue their basketball careers at Louisville.
The Cardinals' coaching staff secured commitments from elite stars in three different states, consisting of Lindsey Duvall, a 5-foot-9 guard from Mt. Washington, Ky.; Dana Evans, a 5-foot-6 guard from Gary, Ind.; and, Loretta Kakala, a 6-foot-3 forward from Manteca, Calif.
Since 2010, Walz and his staffs have built six top-10 classes. The Cardinals welcomed the No. 6 class last year, the No. 1 class in 2015, the No. 5 class in 2010, and the eighth-best group in 2014. Overall, Walz and his staff have signed seven McDonald's All-Americans – with this year's honorees still yet to be announced.
Lindsey Duvall, 5-9, Guard, Mt. Washington, Ky. (Bullitt East)
Lindsey Duvall, a 5-foot-9 guard, comes to Louisville as the No. 22-ranked player in the class of 2017, according to espnW HoopGurlz. The five-star prospect is tabbed as the seventh-best player at the guard position. She was named a USA Today second team all-state selection in 2015 and 2016, earning all-state honorable mention status in 2014.
Duvall eclipsed 1,000 career varsity points during her sophomore campaign in 2014, averaging 23.7 points and 7.5 rebounds that year. While missing most of her junior season after having a tumor removed from just below her left knee, she returned to produce 18.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in seven contests, while leading her program to the state championship game.
The Mt. Washington, Ky., native also is among the top-rated players by other scouting services: No. 29 by Preferred Athlete Scouting Service; and No. 45 by the All-Star Girls Report. Duvall began playing for the Bullitt East varsity team in seventh grade. As early as eighth grade, she was named to The Courier Journal's all-Sixth Region first team after averaging 14.8 points.
Duvall chose Louisville over Colorado, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State, and South Carolina.
-- What they're saying about Lindsey Duvall –
"(Lindsey is) a savvy game manager with a scoring punch. She can simply fill it up, with a smooth combo-game, capable of beating you deep or off the dribble, pick your poison. She is among the elite playmakers in the class." – Dan Olson, owner and director of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and director of espnW HoopGurlz
"Lindsey is a fundamental floor leader and makes teammates better. She knows the game and creates for others. She drives and finishes with ease and is a triple-threat player." – Harry Elifson, Southern Girls Basketball Report
"Lindsey brings the hometown flair to our talented line-up. She is a great open court player with an uncanny ability to score off the bounce or dial it up from long range. She plays hard and can create her own shot as well as distribute in transition. She's a proven winner with an ability to carry a team on both ends of the floor. Her confidence and passion will be something Louisville fans will gravitate to." – Jeff Walz, Louisville Head Coach
Dana Evans, 5-6, Guard, Gary, Ind. (West Side)
Dana Evans, a 5-foot-6 guard, is a five-star prospect that is ranked seventh overall in the class of 2017, according to espnW HoopGurlz. Currently rated No. 3 at the guard position by espnW, Evans averaged a remarkable 35.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in her junior season.
The No. 3 recruit by ProspectsNation, eighth by All-Star Girls Report, and 10th by Preferred Athlete Scouting Service, Evans was named a Naismith High School All-American in 2016. That year, she also earned USA Today all-Indiana first team accolades.
In the summer of 2016, Evans helped USA Basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U-18 championship in Valdivia, Chile.
Evans also averaged better than 20 points during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. She started all 23 contests as a freshman, producing 21.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, before contributing 26.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.0 steals as a sophomore.
Evans, a 2015 Indiana Basketball Coaches Association underclass all-state honoree, chose Louisville over Purdue and Tennessee.
-- What they're saying about Dana Evans –
"Evans may be the quickest, most explosive prospect in the 2017 class. Her forte is exploiting defenders off the dribble, breaking down defenses, completing the play. But, Evans keeps you guessing with an adept jumper to the arc as well." – Dan Olson, owner and director of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and director of espnW HoopGurlz
"Dana is a super athletic lead guard, who is hard to contain in the open court. She handles the ball well and creates for teammates. She knows the game, has a high IQ for it, and is college ready." – Harry Elifson, Southern Girls Basketball Report
"Dana is perhaps the quickest point guard that I've recruited. On defense, she can change the game with her ball-hawking pressure and ability to lock down the opposition's best player. Offensively, she's an explosive scorer from all points on the floor. Her ability to accelerate and create in the open court separates her from her peers. She comes from one of the top AAU programs in the country and has been exposed to high level competition. Last summer, she represented USA Basketball in the U-18 national championship and brought home a gold medal." – Jeff Walz, Louisville Head Coach
Loretta Kakala, 6-3, Forward, Manteca, Calif. (Manteca)
Loretta Kakala, a 6-foot-3 forward, comes to Louisville as a five-star recruit and the 25th-best player in the class of 2017, according to espnW HoopGurlz. She is tabbed as the second-best post player in the class by the outlet. She also earned high rankings from All-Star Girls Report (No. 26) and Preferred Athlete Scouting Service (No. 31).
Kakala, a first-team all-district player last year, averaged 16 points and 8.5 rebounds in her junior season. She was named to the CalHiSports Underclass all-state team that season as well as the first team all-Valley Oak League.
The Manteca, Calif., native, who also competes in volleyball and throws the shot put and discus for the track and field team, chose Louisville over Arizona State, San Diego State, California, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Utah, Washington, and Kansas.
-- What they're saying about Loretta Kakala –
"Kakala blends a power game in the post with nimble footwork and a soft touch. A physical defender, she gives Louisville a formidable presence in the block." – Dan Olson, owner and director of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and director of espnW HoopGurlz
"Loretta is a mobile insider, scoring inside with polished moves. She can score away from basket, which makes her difficult to guard. She runs the floor, rebounds, and will have an instant impact at the next level." – Harry Elifson, Southern Girls Basketball Report
"Loretta brings a tough, physical presence to the low block. She's got some of the best footwork, agility and counter-post moves in the game. She brings added size and mobility to the interior as well as being able to stretch the defense with her perimeter shooting. Defensively, she creates mismatches with her size in the paint and will be able to have a dominant presence down low." – Jeff Walz, Louisville Head Coach
--
For the latest information on Louisville women's basketball, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/UofLWBB or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UofLWBB.
Recruiting Class Rankings at Louisville Under Jeff Walz (per espnW HoopGurlz/ESPN.com)
2017 – No. 1
2016 – No. 6
2015 – No. 1
2014 – No. 8
2013 – NR
2012 – NR
2011 – No. 10
2010 – No. 5
