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YSU’s Crane talks recruiting with Curbstone Coaches
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
In just two seasons as a member of Youngstown State women’s basketball coach John Barnes’ staff, Andy Crane has left his mark on the recruiting trail.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting, Crane — the team’s recruiting coordinator — noted that a 21-win season and WNIT appearance last year was fun to be a part of, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be done in order for the program to keep moving forward.
“We have a great group of women and pound for pound, the support that we receive from our fans and community is second to no place that I’ve ever been,” Crane said. “We really have one of the best fan bases for a school our size.”
Last season, the Penguins’ roster featured seven freshmen on a squad that advanced to the Horizon League semifinals for a second consecutive season.
“We want to be known as a team that perennially can make the NCAA tournament, but like other teams we’re also trying to dethrone league champion Wisconsin-Green Bay,” Crane said. “We really inherited a good culture from [former] coach [Bob] Bolden as the players are all great students and high-character individuals.”
With five incoming recruits set for next season, three of whom stand 6-foot-5, 6-3 and 6-2, the Penguins will go from the smallest team in the league to the tallest while remaining one of the youngest in the nation.
“Our goal as a staff is to recruit within a five-hour radius and we need to be strong in both northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania,” Crane said. “All five recruits next year hail from Ohio, which can also be a challenge when there are 12 other options in the state from which to choose. We want to draw players form the area that want to be here and can help us.”
The recruiting process, according to Crane, can get very engrossing.
“You want to know everything about the players that you are recruiting, hoping to develop a relationship with their coaches so you are always in the mix,” he noted. “I need to watch a player six or seven times before I really know exactly where they’re at, in terms of what level they can play at. Each recruit is different as they have different selling points.”
YSU’s incoming class is ranked 64th according to Blue Star and 76th by All-Star Girls Report.
Also honored by the organization was Howland High School state wrestling champion, David-Brian Whisler.
In 60 years of Tigers wrestling, Whisler now joins Brad Gintert (1984 and ’85) and Gabe Stark (2013) as the school’s state champions.
“To be mentioned in the same conversation with our other state champs is humbling,” Whisler said. “Having Jordan [Radich] place at state was great as well. He’s my cousin, best friend and drill partner so that, too, was special.”
Whisler, who went 46-2 this past season, is 153-23 overall for his career and holds six individual or career marks, including career points with 879.50.
Next week, Terry O’Halloran, Boardman High School swim coach will serve as guest speaker.