Women’s basketball: International
In addition to Kalani Purcell, the best college women’s player you don’t know, head coach Jeff Judkins has recruited two more native New Zealanders to the Cougars: Shalae Salmon and Khaedin Taito.
As a transfer from USC, Taito will be sitting out this year. But freshman forward Salmon has already played solid minutes for BYU in two exhibitions, and appears to add some much needed depth down low as a powerful low-post scorer.
Apparently, the international flavor is not going to stop there. It appears BYU has also secured the commitment of Brazilian U-17 national player Maria Paula. Between these far-flung players and getting some of Utah’s best in the fold, recruiting for the Cougars appears to be on the uptick.
Interestingly, this also gives the team an almost representative quality for the school’s sponsor institution, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church is known for its strong presence around Utah, as well as its international membership and missionary program.