Nov. 26, 2012

MILWAUKEE - Sydney Snower of Chicago, Ill., and Christina Wakeman of Spring Lake Park, Minn., have both signed National Letters of Intent with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team, head coach Kyle Rechlicz announced today.

"We are very fortunate as a basketball program, school and community to be adding Christina Wakeman and Sydney Snower to our women's basketball team," Rechlicz said. "They are quality individuals both on the court and in the classroom and fit into the new culture we are trying to build at UWM."

Snower was a member of the Whitney Young High School squad in Chicago that went 34-0 and won the Illinois 4A IHSA State title a year ago. The first team to go undefeated in the state since 2004-05, the Dolphins were ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 9 nationally. Snower, a 5-foot-8 guard and proficient three-point shooter, averaged just over five points per game playing alongside a pair of seniors who signed NLI's with Kentucky and Virginia Tech. The team claimed the 2012 Chicago Public School League championship and ran its winning streak at home to 100 during the season.

"Sydney will be joining us from one of the most dominating high school programs in the country," Rechlicz said. "She knows how to win and has a refuse-to-lose mentality. Her confidence as a shooter will benefit us tremendously, especially with the offensive transition system we are putting in place."

Wakeman averaged 8.9 points per game as a junior at Spring Lake Park High School in Minnesota. The 6-foot-3 center earned Honorable Mention North Suburban All-Conference honors for the Panthers. The three-year letterwinner also led the team in rebounding.

"I knew from the first conversation I had with Christina that she was perfect player to join our Panther family," Rechlicz said. "She is a powerful, confident post player who works exceptionally hard. She will bring us immediate size in the paint next year and her toughness will take us a long way in games and in practice."