November 12, 2003
USI women’s basketball inks early signee
The University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball team announced the signing to 6’1” forward/center Jessica Minnick (Carmi, Illinois) to a national letter of intent for the 2004-05 season. Minnick is the first player to sign with Head Coach Rick Stein’s Screaming Eagles for next season.
“We are excited to have Jessica become a ‘Screaming Eagle’ in the early signing period,” Stein said. “She is a versatile player who can make plays on both ends of the court.”
A senior at Carmi-White County High School in Carmi, Illinois, Minnick averaged 17.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a junior in 2002-03. She scored a career-high 29 points on three occasions and earned honorable mention All-State honors.
Minnick is a two-time All-Conference and All-Southeastern Illinois performer. She also earned All-Southern Illinois honors as well as fourth-team accolades by the Illinois Girls Basketball Coaches’ Association in 2003.
In addition to her season honors, Minnick’s performances at the Harrisburg and Eldorado Tournaments have earned her multiple All-Tournament honors. She also earned most valuable player honors at the Eldorado Tournament last season.
Minnick holds the CWCHS season record for field goal percentage (.650) and is second on CWCHS’s list for points (509) and rebounds (229) in a single season. She also is sixth all-time with 913 career points as well as seventh all-time with 410 career rebounds.
As a sophomore 2001-02, Minnick averaged 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Minnick’s accomplishments are not limited to the court. She was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior.
“Our style of play will be a good fit for Jessica,” Stein explained. “Her best basketball is still ahead of her and she will just continue to improve as a player.”
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
