Ducks Sign Aussie Ironmonger to National Letter of Intent
EUGENE, Ore. ? University of Oregon head coach Bev Smith announced the latest recruit to join the Ducks for the 2007-08 season Wednesday, following the inking of 6-4 Australian center Ellyce Ironmonger to a National Letter of Intent.
“Ellyce is a important addition to our program,” Smith said. At 6-4, she will give our team a strong presence at the center position, both offensively and defensively. She will play a pivotal role alongside 6-4 Nicole Canepa in providing us with a very strong, hard-working, and versatile front line.”
Ironmonger is currently a member of the Australian National U19 squad that is preparing for the World Championships. Sixteen countries will compete in the U19 World Championship for Women that will be held July 26-Aug. 5 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Current Oregon guard Taylor Lilley is attempting to make the tournament as a member of Team USA.
She has represented Western Australia on Under-16, U18 and U20 teams and played in the National U20 Championships earlier this year, averaging 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes per game.
In 2006, she was one of only twelve young high school players to be offered a basketball scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), a centralized training center for Australia’s most promising junior players.
She has spent the past two years living, training and playing at AIS while completing her high school education at Lake Ginninderra College. The AIS, formerly coached by UO assistant Phil Brown, competes each year in Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League, where the young women gain invaluable playing experience competing against the best senior players in Australia.
"It's exciting to have another Aussie player out of the AIS - one of the best developmental programs in the world," Brown said. "Ellyce will bring a sound fundamental base, a strong work ethic and an inside presence to the Ducks."
Ironmonger toured the west coast of the U.S. with AIS last November that included a stop in Eugene, where the Ducks won 76-58.
“Both on and off the floor, Ellyce is a dedicated,
ambitious and determined young woman, and we can't wait to have her in
a Duck uniform,” Smith said. Her addition to our 2007 class makes it
one of our finest classes ever and we look forward to her time here at
the University of Oregon.”
Ironmonger is just the latest in a long line of Aussie imports to wear the Green and Yellow. Following in the footsteps of fellow Western Australia, AIS and Oregon graduate Eleanor Haring, she now joins compatriots Victoria Kenyon and Ellie Manou on the Ducks roster for 2007-08.
