Versyp picks up 2019 St. Louis post
Purdue picked up a 2019 commitment on Sunday, getting one of the country's top prospects in St. Louis forward Rickie Woltman.
ESPN ranks the 6-foot-3 forward as the 34th-best prospect nationally in '19, the fifth-best at her position. Committing during an unofficial visit this weekend, her third such trip to West Lafayette since September, she picked Purdue over Illinois, Kansas and Marquette.
The Incarnate Word Academy junior had plans on committing during her visit, after Purdue had jumped into the lead a couple months ago.
"I think really it was a feel," Woltman said during her drive back to Missouri. "If you're going to play for a big-time college, they all have great facilities and all that, but I think a lot of that is the feel.
"It was my third time on campus and I think it was a feeling, it's a huge family atmosphere with all the students there who have a bunch of school spirit. I know the coaching staff, they seem to have really good relationships with each other and the girls. I felt like I really connected with them and would really fit in.
"... By the time it came to this week, I was like 100-percent no doubt, I'll commit to Purdue."
Woltman, who ESPN had ranked as the No. 1 forward prospect in her class when she was an eighth grader, is a stretch 4, able to face-up to the basket but also slip down into the paint.
"My game is pretty versatile, because I can dribble out and face-up a little bit," she said, "but at the same time depending on matchup go back-to-the-basket and post up down low."
Woltman, who joins Bria Harmon, a guard from Georgia, in Sharon Versyp's 2019 class, could help bring some balance to what is a guard-heavy program right now, including the '18 class with guards Kayana Traylor and Cassidy Hardin, along with post Nyagoa Gony.
"I know that's something Coach has talked to me about, that they have really good guards who can shoot and handle the ball," Woltman said. "They'll get it inside to you. They said they don't have a lot of size (in the classes). ... In my position, they said that's where they really, really need somebody. That's a big thing because I didn't want to pick a school where I'd be behind a 4 player every single year."
Purdue also got a walk-on commitment this weekend from Ajah Stallings, a 5-9 2018 guard from Indianapolis North Central.
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