Michigan Women's Hoops Gets First 2014 Commit: Jillian Dunston

Submitted by Raoul on

Kim Barnes Arico today secured her first commit for 2014: Jillian Dunston, a 6-1 wing out the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Maryland. On the women's hoops recruiting board, I had mentioned her as a new Michigan target last week. There isn't a great deal of info out there on her, but I did find this brief—but recent—scouting report from Next Sports Phenom:

Jillian played some of the best basketball I've seen her play since I've known her, I have seen her shoot the 3, seen her get rebounds, seen her drive, seen her post smaller defenders up, but never all at the same time.  Jillian put it all together this weekend then add to that she played the passing lanes well getting multiple steals leading to fast break layups.  She appears to have gotten quicker and added a few offensive tricks that I like.

This came out of an event last month at which she was considered one of the top performers, with her "stock" rising considerably. So while she's not to my knowledge currently listed in any national rankings, Dunston looks like a solid pickup and a player with some real upside.

There's also a page on her at ESPN dating back to late 2011, when they ranked her as a 3 star and said this:

Thick frame, good size. Right hand dominant. Hit a floater at 6 feet. Solid production, see her more as an undersized 4 player.

If I find anything else, I'll post it either here or on the recruiting board.

UPDATE: Bret McCormick has tweeted that ASGR has Dunston ranked #98 in the nation.

Also, here's an interview with Dunston from the fall of 2011 posted on 695Hoops.

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Raoul

May 12th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^

Here's a tweet from someone else who was at the same April event, the Deep South Classic, indicating Dunston is a player on the rise:

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 13957

Wenham Wolverine

May 12th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^

Hello: Jillian.
Hopefully she and her future classmates will help build on a strong season from KBA and the ladies.

(Also, TIL MGoBlog has a MWB recruiting board.)

Joined: 08/10/2010

MGoPoints: 2002

Raoul

May 12th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^

Here's the tweet with the ASGR ranking for Dunston:

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 13957

Raoul

May 13th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^

Washington Post article—Jillian Dunston of Holy Cross commits to Michigan—has some quotes from Dunston and some details on other schools she considered:

The 5-foot-10 Dunston, an honorable mention all-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference pick last season, said she did not feel any pressure to commit but could find no reason not to make her decision. She visited North Carolina State on Saturday but canceled a planned trip to Northwestern.

“I visited [Michigan] last October when they were on the top [of my list], and as I visited more schools, that never changed,” said Dunston, who also had visited Villanova, Indiana and others. “I loved everything about it. Once I got to know more about the school, it became like the dream school.”

Other sources have her as either 6-0 or 6-1, so I have to think this writer is using some outdated info on her height.

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 13957