Princeton University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces Class of 2015
May 18, 2011 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. (5/18/11) - Princeton head women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart has announced the recruiting class of three student-athletes to join the the two-time defending Ivy League Champions as the Class of 2015.
Joining the Tigers are:
Blake Dietrick, 5-10, Guard, Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley High School
Jess Shivers - 6-3, Post, Eugene, Ore./South Eugene High School
Mariah Smith - 6-0, Guard, Peoria, Ill./Richwoods High School
"Recruiting is the lifeblood of any successful program," head coach Courtney Banghart said. "Here at Princeton, we're looking for talented scholar-athletes on and off the court, as well as for competitors and people of character that can enhance the collective identity and winning culture already in place. We found great additions in Blake, Jess and Mariah. These three competitors bring athleticism, a habit of winning, character, leadership qualities, and a sincere desire to be part of the Orange and Black. Since their first visits to campus, they've loved Princeton and our entire program, players and coaches alike, and we are counting down the days to their arrival so we can welcome their help in propelling us to the next level."
Blake Dietrick - 5-10,
Guard, Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley
A four-year letterwinner at Wellesley High School, Dietrick led her team to an 84-9 record during her tenure. She leaves Wellesley as the all-time leading scorer, male or female, with 1,440 points. As the captain her senior year, she averaged 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.9 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.
She was a nominee for the 2011 McDonald's All-American All-Star game and the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. Dietrick was recently named the 2011 Massachusetts Player of the Year by the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association and is a ESPNBoston first-team all-state selection. Dietrick helped the Raiders to the three Bay State Conference titles and the Massachusetts Division II state championship in 2008. A three-time Bay State Conference first-team all-star she was named the 2011 Bay State Conference MVP. Dietrick has earned multiple honors from The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Metrowest Daily.
A star on the lacrosse field as well, she is the school's all-time leading scorer, male or female, with 436 points. A two-time US Lacrosse All-America, she won three Bay State titles and has a slew of honors in lacrosse to match those she earned in basketball. Dietrick was also a two-year member of the cross country team.
Dietrick played two years of AAU with the Predators and five years with Bay State Jaguars. She has won six AAU state championships and participated in four National AAU Tournaments.
Jess Shivers,
6-3, Post, Eugene, Ore./South Eugene
Shivers played four years of basketball at South Eugene where she helped the Axemen to an 80-8 record. The team posted two undefeated seasons, at 23-0 and 22-0, during her sophomore and junior years. As a senior she shot 63 percent from the floor, while averaging 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.7 steals and 1.5 assists per game. Shivers was also team captain as a senior and was named second-team all-league twice.
Shivers plays her AAU with the Oregon Elite, and also competed in the high jump for the South Eugene track & field team.
Mariah Smith - 6-0,
Guard, Peoria, Ill./Richwoods
Smith is two-year captain and four-year letterwinner at Richwoods. She helped Richwood to a 50-21 record by scoring 1,897 career points, averaging 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. As a senior she averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals, 1.9 assist and 1.5 blocks. The Knights were the Class 3A State Champions in 2009 and Smith was named MVP of the semifinal game.
A McDonald's All-America nominee, she was the 2010 and 2011 Peoria Journal Star Player of the Year, while earning two first-team all-area honors from the newspaper. Smith was named all-state by five organizations as a senior, four as a junior and three as a sophomore.
Smith was named first-team all-Mid-State Six in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and was second-team selection in 2008. In addition she was named to eight all-tournament teams in her career.
She has been with the Illinois Hustle (AAU) since 2006.
Her father, the deceased Mark Smith, played at Illinois in 1977-81 along with Eddie Johnson. He ranks seventh all time in scoring with 1,653 and 10th all time in rebounds with 722. Mark was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1981 NBA draft.