Princeton University Athletics
Richard Barron Announces Five Newcomers For The 2005-06 Season
April 29, 2005 | Women's Basketball
April 29, 2005
PRINCETON, N.J. - Head coach Richard Barron and the women's basketball staff traveled to five different states, including the west coast, southeast and Midwest, to sign five new members for the 2005-06 basketball season. The class of '09 includes a lineup of three guards, Jessica Berry, Whitney Downs and Caitlin O'Neill, and two forwards, Julia Berger and Ashley Viehauser.
Next season's incoming class features two athletes that formerly played with two current Tigers and one whose father played for Princeton in the early 1970s. The class of '09 joins the Princeton squad that went 13-14 overall and 5-9 in league play last season. The Tigers also earned their first-ever Rookie of the Year selection and boasts a total of four All-Ivy selections and 11 letterwinners, who return for the 2005-06 season.
"I am so pleased with this year's recruiting class," says Richard Barron. "Every year we seem to do better and better. That is a testament to my assistant coaches and to our players. I can't think of a better group to coach. It is also indicative of the type of well-rounded and highly successful student-athlete that is attracted to Princeton, one of the most respected institutions in the world."
"This class will make an immediate and significant impact on the program. We have had five of the last 15 All-Rookie players in the Ivy League the past three years and this class can certainly continue that trend. These players were recruited heavily by major scholarship schools but believe strongly in what we are doing with our program and wanted to be a part of it."
Incoming Guards
Berry (Little Rock, Ark.) is a 5-8 guard that led her team to a 30-5 record her senior year while playing for coach Chuck Winkleman. Rated as one of the nation's top point guards by All-Star Girl's Report, she is the Pulaski Academy all-time leader in points and assists, eclipsing the 2000 and 1000 mark, respectively. Berry was named to the Arkansas All-State team three times and was a McDonald's All-American nominee.
"I feel honored and blessed to have this opportunity and look forward to the athletic and academic challenges of Princeton", says Berry.
"Jessica is a terrific scoring point guard and an ideal fit with Princeton. She will make an immediate impact on our team in the backcourt," says Barron. "She is such a creative player with great shooting range. She will be a tough match-up and will make the other players on the team better. I know her coach well and know that she has been well prepared for the challenges ahead."
Downs (Nashville, Tenn.) is a left-handed 5-11 slash player from Harpeth Hall School, the same school that Princeton junior Becky Brown attended while playing for Karen Schwartz. Downs finished her high school campaign with 1,087 career points, including 441 in her senior year. The Tennessean Sports Writers Association All State selection led her team to the state championship her senior year and earned Associated Press All-State honorable mention honors.
"Whitney is a great wing player. She has a good three point shot and she's great at driving to the basket," notes Barron. "At 5'11" and with long arms, she really can stretch to create shots or passing angles. She's fundamentally strong and has a great work ethic."
O'Neill (Ventura, Calif.) was a teammate of Katy O'Brien when Ventura High went 29-3 in 2000-01. At 5-9, she was the 2004 Channel League MVP and a two-time All CIF first team selection under Ann Larson. O'Neil recorded 1,348 points and 378 assists in her career, leading her team to the California State Final Four Division I with a 29-5 record in her senior year.
"My decision to attend Princeton wasn't hard after I met everyone on my visit," says O'Neil. "I love everything the school has to offer from education to basketball."
"Caitlin is a great two guard. She can also fill in at the point and that versatility is a plus," says Barron. "Caitlin is a great transition guard who sees the floor well, is athletic going to the basket, and has deep three point range. In addition, she is simply a winner having taken her team to a 105-20 record over four years starting in every game but the three senior nights her freshman, sophomore and junior years."
Incoming Forwards
Berger (Chatham, N.J.) is the daughter of John R. Berger, who played on the men's basketball team from 1971-74. Berger stands 6-2 and finished her career at Chatham High School as the all-time leader in scoring with 1,475 points. Berger was named conference player of the year her junior and senior years and was selected as the Morris County player of the year her senior year by the Coaches Association, Star Ledger, and Daily Record. As a McDonald's and Nike/WBCA All-American nominee, Berger posted 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks a game in her career.
"I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to come to Princeton in the fall," says Berger. "I can not only continue my basketball career with a great team and coaching staff, but also grow as a student and a person."
"Julia is a real jewel for us. She has a very athletic game and very good ball handling and passing skills for a player at her size - skills she certainly picked up from her father who played here," acknowledges Barron. "Julia will really help solidify our front line and her versatility will help her learn our system."
Viehauser (Minneapolis, Minn.) played five years of varsity basketball for coach Rob Gooding at Washburn High School and remarkably surpassed the 1,000 point total in her freshman year. She was the leading rebounder in the Metro League as an eighth grader and lead the state in scoring as a freshman with 22 points per game. Viehauser was a Ms. Minnesota Basketball nominee and holds school records in both scoring and rebounding.
"I'm so excited and grateful to be a part of the Princeton women's basketball program," says Viehauser. "I'm also excited to be part of the incoming class of 2009. I think that the five of us will be a great addition to the team, and will help the program to continue to grow in success."
"Ashley is a very strong and physical player," says Barron. "She is versatile and powerful around the basket and on the wing. She will certainly help our rebounding and could make significant contributions next season. We are very excited about what Ashley can do for us at the forward/post position."