Judkins announces signees

PROVO, Utah (Nov. 21, 2014) —  The BYU women’s basketball program has signed three new recruits who will begin their college careers in 2015-16. The three are Jasmine Moody from Honolulu, Hawaii, Utah standout Shelbee Molen from Ogden, and Kalani Purcell, from Brisbane, Australia, and Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

“I think that we will have a good mix of two players that will provide us with a strong inside presence and an outside shooter that can handle the ball as a combo guard,” BYU head coach Jeff Judkins said. 

Moody, a 6-foot-2 forward prepping at Radford High School in Honolulu, was the second-leading scorer in the state last year, averaging over 17 points and 15 rebounds per game. Moody was named the 2013-14 Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) Basketball Western Division Player of the Year, OIA 2013-14 Basketball First Team, All-Hawaii Girls Basketball Team Division I Second Team and all-tournament at the Oregon End of the Trail AAU Tournament. She maintains a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Society of High School Scholars and received the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence. Moody has been in the high school Navy ROTC program and currently holds the rank of Ensign.

“Jasmine is a strong, physical player like Morgan Bailey, that will give us an inside presence. Her shooting and rebounding will strengthen our inside game, ” added Judkins.

Molen hails from Ogden and Fremont High School where the 5-foot-10 guard helped guide Fremont to its first-ever 5A championship title last season. Molen was named the state tournament MVP. In her junior season she was named the 5A Player of the Year. She was also named the 2013-14 Deseret News Ms. Basketball and was on the 5A Deseret News First Team and the All-Salt Lake Tribune Team. During her sophomore campaign she garnered 5A Second Team honors. Molen was selected as team co-captain for her senior year and is a member of the National Honor Society.

“Shelbee is one of the top players coming out of the state of Utah. She has a good outside shot—is a versatile player that can play the one or two guard for us,” commented Judkins.

Purcell, a 6-foot-2 forward, is the top player coming out of the junior college scene. In her first season at Hutchinson Community College (HCC), the team compiled a 36-1 record advancing to the championship game of the NJCAA. Last year Purcell averaged 13.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg, recording 15 double doubles.

Prior to her stint at HCC, she played on the Queensland U18 team that won three-straight Australian State Championship silver medals.  In 2009 she was on the New Zealand U17 national team. Purcell, a native of New Zealand, prepped at John Paul College High School that won back-to-back national championships. She has played on the New Zealand Force Cougars club team and in 2012 received an invitation to try out for the New Zealand Tall Ferns, the national team.

“Kalani is a versatile player that can play at both the four and five position,” coach Judkins said. “She is a great passer and is an excellent rebounder who will bring us an inside presence. Her international playing experience and the two years she’ll have at the JC level will be an added plus.”