Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball program entered the recruiting season with designs on filling a need in the low post. The coaching staff feels it took a big step in filling that need with the signing of highly regarded center Brooke Shaw from Waynesfield-Goshen High School.

Shaw, a 6'2" post player averaged a double-double throughout her high school career of 10.9 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. She was a District 8 All-Star in leading her squad to a sectional championship this past season. She was a 2^nd team all-conference performer despite missing a chunk of the season with an injury. She led the entire Lima area in rebounding in three of her four years in high school.  She was also very accomplished in volleyball and track, including holding the school record in the shot put and the discus.

In the classroom, Shaw is just as stellar. She is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. She earned a conference scholar-athlete award and has been her class secretary for the past two years. 

"Signing with the University of Rio Grande fees great," Shaw said. "I had the goal to play college basketball since I was little, and I've finally reached it."

"When I went to Rio Grande for my visit I automatically knew that's where I wanted to be," Shaw added. "It felt like home. The coaching staff and all the players were everything I was looking for."

Shaw said she feels her rebounding skills and ability to play inside are strengths, but said that there are a couple of areas that she feels she can improve upon as she makes the jump to the college game. "I feel my best assets as a player are rebounding and playing big on the inside," Shaw said. "I feel I need to work on more post moves and improve my outside shot."

Shaw said she really didn't know anything about Rio Grande prior to her visit except for knowing two players who attended there. "Prior to coming to Rio Grande, I knew nothing about the university, except a few players that have attended there, Lee Ann Mullins and (senior-to-be) Jenna Smith," she said. 

Rio Grande head coach David Smalley had been on Shaw's trail for an extended period of time and was pleased to be able to land her services. "Were excited to have Brooke joining our family," he said. "I think Brooke is going to give us a lot of immediate support in the post."

"Brooke's 6'1", 6"2" post player that is very versatile around the basket, runs the floor well, strong inside presence, good defensive player, does a nice job of blocking shots and rebounding," Smalley added. "She has good post moves and her ability to score on the block is one of the things that really excited us about Brooke coming into our program."

"She's a great student and we're excited to have Brooke wearing a Rio Grande uniform for next season," Smalley said. 

Smalley talked about the expectations that he has for Shaw in 2010-11. "I kind of expect and hope that Brooke comes in as a freshman and makes an impact in our post rotation," he said. 

She plans to major in nursing.

Shaw's goal while at Rio Grande is to help the team as much as she possibly can. "My ultimate goal as a player is to better myself as much as I can, and help be a huge asset to the team," she said.

Brooke is the daughter of Chris and Jamie Shaw of Waynesfield, OH. 

Shaw joins Kate Hammond of Greenfield McClain High School and Chelsea Delong of Coal Grove as the current members of the 2010-11 recruiting class. 

Rio Grande finished the 2009-10 campaign with a 16-15 overall record and went 7-7 in the Mid-South Conference.