Colorado State University Athletics
Local Stars, Clark and Hemingway, Plus a Top Washington Recruit Sign With CSU
11/13/2019 1:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Two of the top prospects in the state of Colorado plus a coveted recruit from the state of Washington signed national letter of intents to join the Colorado State women's basketball team as a part of the 2020 class.
The three newest Rams include Cali Clark, of Centennial, Colo.; Makayla Hemingway, of Aurora, Colo.; and Ellie Boni, of Spokane Valley, Wash.
Clark, the No. 4 recruit in the state according to Prep Hoops, attends Cherry Creek High School who are currently ranked No. 25 in the nation by Max Preps and are defending the CHSAA 5A title. The 6-foot-3 forward is ranked No. 26 nationally by ESPN in her position and 136th overall. As a junior, she aided the champion Bruins to a 24-4 record and a final national ranking of No. 28. She averaged 14.7 points per game as the second leading scorer and pulled in a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game en route to earning CHSAA 5A Second Team honors. Clark spent her first two years of high school at Lamar where she was a two-time CHSAA 3A first team recipient and a contributing member of the 3A championship team as a freshman, tallying 15.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg. Basketball is not the only sport Clark competes and excels in. She has played volleyball her entire HS career, earning an honorable mention in her sophomore season, and spent time in track (200m, 4x100m, 800m sprint medley, long jump, high jump) at Lamar. Outside of high school, she played club on the Colorado Basketball Club Elite GUAA U17.
The fellow Colorado native, Hemingway, attended Cherokee Trail High School and was a teammate of Clark's on the CBC Elite GUAA U17 team. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 14.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg to help the Cougars to the second round of the 5A CHSAA playoffs last season. The versatile guard added 4.4 steals per game and 2.7 assists per game, propelling her to earn an all-state honorable mention. She is a threat from distance as she drained 63 threes and had a season-high 26 points in an outing. Hemingway received All-Centennial League honors and earned a return in March to the A-Town All-Star Game – where she made a big debut in 2017. Her sophomore season was lost to injury, but her strong freshman campaign included 12.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.3 apg, and 2.3 spg in 18 appearances and another trip to the state tournament. Off the hardwood, Hemingway displays her strength by competing in shot put and discus on the track team.
Coming from out of state, Boni reigns from University High School and holds a 3.5-star rating on ProspectsNation.com. Additionally, she was named a player to watch prior to her junior season by ScoreBook Live Washington and she delivered. The 5-foot-9 guard was named first team All-Greater Spokane League after aiding the Titans to a 16-8 final record and a trip to the District 8 4A finals. In her sophomore campaign, she logged 16.7 ppg to help UHS to the quarterfinals of the WIAA Class 4A bracket. After the season, she scored eight points for team metro in the 25th annual Region vs. Metro Jack Blair Memorial girls basketball game. Away from UHS, Boni traveled to Chicago, to Boo Williams' tournaments, and more with one of the top AAU teams in the country, Nike EYBL Tree of Hope, shooting 41-percent from distance this past summer.
Coach's Corner
Head Coach Ryun Williams
On Cali Clark…
"One of the elite players in Colorado. Cali is a very versatile, talented player that can score, pass, and rebound at a very high level. Cali is a very competitive young lady that is used to winning. She has been a part of championship programs at Lamar High School, Cherry Creek High School, and one of the nation's top club programs, Colorado Basketball Club. We cannot be more excited that she chose CSU."
On Makayla Hemingway…
"Makayla is a versatile guard that is very comfortable at all positions on the floor. Her skill set is very impressive, and I like how she sees and thinks the game at a high level. Makayla is one of Colorado's finest and it's exciting that on of the best in the state is staying home."
On Ellie Boni…
"Ellis is one of the top players in the state of Washington who has a competitive motor and a nice ability to score the basketball. I love how passionate and dedicated Ellie is about the game. She is a true gym rat. Her feel for the game paired with her dynamic and instinctive skill set makes her difficult to guard."
On the group…
"We are very excited about the addition of these three talented young ladies. They are exceptional players with great character and are great students in the classroom. Ram fans are going to really enjoy cheering this group on."
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
The three newest Rams include Cali Clark, of Centennial, Colo.; Makayla Hemingway, of Aurora, Colo.; and Ellie Boni, of Spokane Valley, Wash.
Clark, the No. 4 recruit in the state according to Prep Hoops, attends Cherry Creek High School who are currently ranked No. 25 in the nation by Max Preps and are defending the CHSAA 5A title. The 6-foot-3 forward is ranked No. 26 nationally by ESPN in her position and 136th overall. As a junior, she aided the champion Bruins to a 24-4 record and a final national ranking of No. 28. She averaged 14.7 points per game as the second leading scorer and pulled in a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game en route to earning CHSAA 5A Second Team honors. Clark spent her first two years of high school at Lamar where she was a two-time CHSAA 3A first team recipient and a contributing member of the 3A championship team as a freshman, tallying 15.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg. Basketball is not the only sport Clark competes and excels in. She has played volleyball her entire HS career, earning an honorable mention in her sophomore season, and spent time in track (200m, 4x100m, 800m sprint medley, long jump, high jump) at Lamar. Outside of high school, she played club on the Colorado Basketball Club Elite GUAA U17.
The fellow Colorado native, Hemingway, attended Cherokee Trail High School and was a teammate of Clark's on the CBC Elite GUAA U17 team. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 14.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg to help the Cougars to the second round of the 5A CHSAA playoffs last season. The versatile guard added 4.4 steals per game and 2.7 assists per game, propelling her to earn an all-state honorable mention. She is a threat from distance as she drained 63 threes and had a season-high 26 points in an outing. Hemingway received All-Centennial League honors and earned a return in March to the A-Town All-Star Game – where she made a big debut in 2017. Her sophomore season was lost to injury, but her strong freshman campaign included 12.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.3 apg, and 2.3 spg in 18 appearances and another trip to the state tournament. Off the hardwood, Hemingway displays her strength by competing in shot put and discus on the track team.
Coming from out of state, Boni reigns from University High School and holds a 3.5-star rating on ProspectsNation.com. Additionally, she was named a player to watch prior to her junior season by ScoreBook Live Washington and she delivered. The 5-foot-9 guard was named first team All-Greater Spokane League after aiding the Titans to a 16-8 final record and a trip to the District 8 4A finals. In her sophomore campaign, she logged 16.7 ppg to help UHS to the quarterfinals of the WIAA Class 4A bracket. After the season, she scored eight points for team metro in the 25th annual Region vs. Metro Jack Blair Memorial girls basketball game. Away from UHS, Boni traveled to Chicago, to Boo Williams' tournaments, and more with one of the top AAU teams in the country, Nike EYBL Tree of Hope, shooting 41-percent from distance this past summer.
Coach's Corner
Head Coach Ryun Williams
On Cali Clark…
"One of the elite players in Colorado. Cali is a very versatile, talented player that can score, pass, and rebound at a very high level. Cali is a very competitive young lady that is used to winning. She has been a part of championship programs at Lamar High School, Cherry Creek High School, and one of the nation's top club programs, Colorado Basketball Club. We cannot be more excited that she chose CSU."
On Makayla Hemingway…
"Makayla is a versatile guard that is very comfortable at all positions on the floor. Her skill set is very impressive, and I like how she sees and thinks the game at a high level. Makayla is one of Colorado's finest and it's exciting that on of the best in the state is staying home."
On Ellie Boni…
"Ellis is one of the top players in the state of Washington who has a competitive motor and a nice ability to score the basketball. I love how passionate and dedicated Ellie is about the game. She is a true gym rat. Her feel for the game paired with her dynamic and instinctive skill set makes her difficult to guard."
On the group…
"We are very excited about the addition of these three talented young ladies. They are exceptional players with great character and are great students in the classroom. Ram fans are going to really enjoy cheering this group on."
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
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