April 13, 2007

By Ken McDowell

Sports Editor - South Platte Sentinel

Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainswomen basketball coach Darrel Parker has added a couple of area stars to his 2007-08 roster.

Joining the Plainswomen will be Kassie Kroeger of Haxtun and Jacquie Neill of Yuma.

Neill was selected All-State in Class 3A last year for Yuma as she averaged 20.8 points-per-game, 6.2 assists-per-game and 6 rebounds-per-game. She scored 487 points, canned 46 3-pointers, had 69 steals and handed out 130 assists.

She was also Honorable Mention All-State her sophomore and junior seasons.

"Jacquie was one of our prime recruits that we noticed early in the season," Parker said. "We also knew that she was one of the top players in Class 3A, and we saw a lot of potential in her.

"She also comes from a good program in Yuma that teaches good fundamentals. We like to sign the best players out of our area, and Jacquie is one of them. So we are real happy to have her here."

Parker compares Neill to Roni Whitman, the former Peetz star who just completed her outstanding basketball career for the Plainswomen.

"We also feel that Jacquie can come in here and compete for playing time," he added. "We know that she has the skills and work ethics to do that, and those are the types of players we are trying to get in here.

"Jacquie knows what it takes to be a champion and she demonstrates those skills at the one, two or three guard positions."

Kroeger averaged in double figures in points and rebounds as a 6-0 forward for Haxtun. She also helped lead her team to a third place finish in the Class 1A State Tournament last month. She was also a Class 1A All-State selection.

Along with basketball, Kroeger is an outstanding volleyball player as well as a track and field athlete.

Just like Neill, Parker looks for Kroeger to be a big factor for the Plainswomen the next two years.

"Kassie is another all-state player from this area who will be joining our team," he said. "She is an athletic player who can also run the floor and we felt she could fit in with our style of play.

"Like Jacquie, Kassie comes from a very good program, so we know the type of talent we are getting when we sign these area athletes. Both of these girls are not only good players, but good people off the court.

"That's also part of the overall picture when we look at players to come here."

Kroeger was also an all-state volleyball player and had offer to sign at colleges in that sport as well.

Parker added that, "We have two very good area players are we're always looking for more. Having the northeast Colorado kids adds to the community interest and we would like to keep that going."

Parker still has some key positions to fill for next year's team.

"We have some kids coming in for visits this week and next week, and after that we will make some decisions," he said. 'Hopefully we will get those positions filled and get a good product out on the floor next year. I'm real comfortable with the kids who are coming in."

Parker coached the Sterling Lady Tiger basketball team for 27 years and resigned in 2005. After taking a year off he took over as head coach of the Plainswomen last August and just completed his first season at the junior college level.

He guided NJC to a 25-7 mark along with being named Co-Coach of the Year in Region IX this Spring. Now he is getting his first taste ever at recruiting at the junior college level.

"So far it's been fun," he said. "I'm a little naive at times and I need to be a little better salesman to the recruits we have coming in here.

"But visiting with the kids, coaches and the parents has been a real positive experience. Hopefully we can return that favor when the players get here and make NJC a positive experience for them and get them ready for the next level, which is their ultimate goal."