Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball signs four for 2017-18
11/09/2016 | 4:10:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois University women's basketball head coach Cindy Stein has announced the signing of four student-athletes for the 2017-18 season.
The Salukis sign one of the most talented classes of Stein's tenure, adding four highly-decorated basketball players with a significant amount of playing experience: Abby Brockmeyer of Raymond, Ill., Criste'On Waters of Edwardsville, Ill., Makenzie Silvey of Glen Carbon, Ill., and Rachel Pudlowski of O'Fallon, Mo., are the newest members of the Saluki women's basketball program.
"We not only have improved our team with these young ladies from a competitive standpoint, but have also added four outstanding people," Stein said. "My staff and I have recruited all of these young ladies for quite some time and are thrilled they have chosen our Saluki Family."
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Abby Brockmeyer
Lincolnwood High School (plays basketball for Litchfield as a co-op)
Raymond, Ill.
AAU: BlueStar St. Louis
Forward, 6-1
Brockmeyer is a native of Raymond, Ill., and is a two-time All-State honoree. Three different publications chose Brockmeyer as an All-State selection following a junior year in which she led the Litchfield Purple Panthers to the IHSA Class 2A regional quarterfinals by averaging a double-double, scoring 21.4 points per game and adding 12 rebounds to go along with 2.8 blocks and 2.4 steals per contest. Brockmeyer has averaged a double-double in each of her three seasons at Litchfield, including earning Class 2A Second Team All-State honors following a sophomore campaign in which she averaged 16.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg, and 3.8 bpg and led her squad to the sectional finals. In addition to starring on the Purple Panthers' basketball team, Brockmeyer also competes on Lincolnwood's golf and softball teams, as well as playing AAU for BlueStar St. Louis. This season, Brockmeyer finished 13th at the IHSA State Golf Meet. In the classroom, Brockmeyer currently ranks first in her class with a perfect 5.0 GPA.
"Abby has such natural basketball instincts and athleticism," Stein said. "She is a power down low and has a sweet 3 point shot as well. Abby's passing and ball-handling skills gives her a skill set of a guard and her natural strength and savvy on the block makes her a tough matchup down low."
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Criste'On Waters
Edwardsville High School
Edwardsville, Ill.
AAU: BlueStar St. Louis
Forward, 6-1
Ranked 232nd out of 300 in the class of 2017 by Blue Star Basketball, Waters averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg for a Tigers team that went 30-2 and advanced to the IHSA Class 4A Bloomington Super-Sectional. The Edwardsville, Ill. native averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg en route to being named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) All-State Honorable Mention. Waters was coming off of a sophomore season in which she was named IBCA All-State Special Mention, averaging 10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 1.9 bpg for a Tigers team that was ranked no. 1 in the St. Louis Post Dispatch Large School Rankings and advanced to the Elite Eight of the Class 4A state playoffs. The duo of Silvey and Waters have done their share of winning while at Edwardsville, as the Tigers have won 88 of their 93 games during the duos three seasons.
"Criste'On is an explosive and athletic young lady," Stein said. "Cris may be the best athlete we have seen since we have arrived at SIU. She is a strong rebounder, shot blocker and runs the floor extremely well. She can play inside with the ability to step out and knock down the open jumper. She is someone that will just get better and better."
Makenzie Silvey
Edwardsville High School
Glen Carbon, Ill.
AAU: BlueStar St. Louis
Guard, 5-11
A two-time Belleville News-Democrat first team all-area and two-time All-State Honorable Mention honoree including a spot on the IBCA All-State first-team this past season, Silvey led the St. Louis area in free throw shooting, finished fifth in three-pointers made and 10th in points scored as a junior. The 5-foot-11 guard knocked down 89.6% (86-of-96) of her free throw attempts, nearly 40% (67-of-170) of her three-point attempts, and averaged 16.3 ppg for an Edwardsville team that finished 30-2 and advanced to the Class 4A Bloomington Super-Sectional. The Tigers have won the Southeastern Conference in each of Silvey's three seasons, and have won 88 of their 93 games during that stretch. Silvey currently has a 4.27 GPA on a 4.0 scale and is an active member of the Leadership Council at Edwardsville High School.
"What I love about Mak is she is so competitive and plays with a fire in her belly," Stein said. "She makes people around her better with her passing and basketball IQ. She is versatile and can play the 1, 2 or 3. We will look at her more at off-guard but she will be successful wherever we put her because she is that type of player."
Rachel Pudlowski
Fort Zumwalt North High School
O'Fallon, Mo.
AAU: St. Louis Hype
Forward, 5-11
Pudlowski is the highest-rated recruit of Stein's class this season, ranked a three-star recruit with a position ranking of #45 by ESPN. She is a three-time all-conference selection who led her team in scoring, rebounding and assists during her junior season. She's a four-sport athlete, competing on the Panthers' soccer, softball, and track teams while carrying a 4.0 GPA as a member of the National Honor Society.
"Rachel is a beast on the floor," Stein said. "She is driven, competitive and is a high motor player. Rachel brings tremendous energy and aggressiveness to the court. She can play any spot on the floor. She can handle the ball, drive, shoot the 3 ball or post up. She will be another very versatile athlete for our team."
