Wayne State College head womens basketball coach Brent Pollari (paul – uh – rye) has announced three high school student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2020-21 season – Annie Guentzel of Lakeville, Minnesota, Aaliyah McMillan from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and Ella Skinner of Sioux City, Iowa.
Annie Guentzel (gent – zull) is a 5-9 guard from Lakeville South High School in Minnesota. She is a three year starter in basketball and played summer club ball with the Southern Minnesota Fury. Guentzel earned All-South Suburban Conference honors last season as a junior and earned Academic All-State honors. She also excels in track and field earning medalist honors in the high jump at the South Suburban Conference Championships last spring while also collecting Academic All-State accolades.
“Annie is an intense competitor both offensively and defensively and her grit and toughness will be a great fit for our program,” said Coach Pollari.
Aaliyah (uh – lee – uh) McMillan is a 5-11 shooting guard/small forward from Chippewa Falls Senior High School in Wisconsin where she is a three year starter in basketball and four year starter in track and field. Last season as a junior, she averaged 15 points and 7.8 rebounds per game shooting 48 percent from the field and 78 percent at the charity stripe. McMillan received Second Team All-Big Rivers Conference and All-Northwest honors and helped her team with a Big Rivers Conference title for an eighth consecutive season.
“Aaliyah is a small forward with deep range and has the ability to score in several ways,” commented Pollari. “Her versatility and length fit well with our system.”
Ella Skinner is a 6-0 forward from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa where she is a four-year starter in basketball and three year starter in track and field. This season, Skinner is currently averaging 19.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Crusaders, ranked fourth in Iowa Class 3A.
As a junior last year, Skinner accounted for 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 76.5 percent at the free throw line, helping Sioux City Heelan to a 19-6 record and the Iowa Class 4A state semi-finals. She received Class 4A First Team All-State honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sportswriter Association to go with First Team All-Missouri River Conference, All-District and All-Region honors. Skinner was also a state qualifier last spring in the shot put in track and field.
“Ella is a 6-0 post player with great hands and explosive moves to the basket,” stated Coach Pollari. “Her shooting range and physical play make her a tough matchup.”
Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wildcats are currently 10-4 on the season and tied for third place in the NSIC South Division with a 5-3 league mark.
