Women’s Basketball Announces Recruiting Class
MEDIA, Pennsylvania -- The Penn State Brandywine women's basketball team and Head Coach Larry Johnson released the class of 2020 student-athletes who will enroll at Brandywine in the fall and compete for the Lions this winter on Friday.
A group of four freshmen will be added to the roster, which is currently composed of seven returning letter winners from the 2015-16 team that reached the PSUAC Tournament semifinals for the 10th consecutive season. Additionally, the Lions will have Brandi Johnson back after missing last season with a torn ACL and the coaching staff also expects to add a pair of transfer student-athletes during the summer months.
Brandywine's 2016 incoming class includes guards Kendra Stanford, Nikki Velez and Alison Wilson and forward Madison D'Ambrosio.
D'Ambrosio comes to Brandywine after closing out her playing career at local Springfield High School. A two-sport athlete competing for the girls basketball and soccer teams at Springfield, D'Ambrosio was named All-Delco honorable mention in basketball during her senior season.
"I chose Penn State Brandywine because of the education and it's a nice, small campus located close to home," said D'Ambrosio.
Stanford served as captain of the Bodine High School girls basketball team as a senior and was named most valuable player at the Germantown Academy Tournament this winter. She also earned MVP honors for her AAU team, ISAA Sports Academy.
"I came to Penn State Brandywine because it was a great opportunity close to home and I loved the environment," said Stanford.
Velez, who will compete in both women's basketball and softball at Brandywine, scored over 1,000 points during her career at Gloucester City High School in New Jersey. An All-State Group I and All-Tri-County First Team selection, Velez was the South Jersey three-point champion in 2016 after setting a record by sinking 14-of-18 shots during the championship round.
"I chose Penn State Brandywine because all-around, it's great. The people are great and I liked the environment," said Velez.
Wilson attended St. Hubert's High School in Philadelphia where she was a three-sport standout in basketball, field hockey and lacrosse. A Second Team All-Catholic League selection in field hockey, Wilson earned the Aria Hospital 3B and Northeast Times Student-Athlete sportsmanship awards.
"I chose Penn State Brandywine because it is a great school that best met my academic needs," said Wilson.
Brandywine opens the 2015-16 season on November 15 with a home game against NCAA Division II Mansfield.
