by FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Alaska head coach Cody Burgess announced today that the women’s basketball team has added guard Brianna Kirk (Iñupiat Eskimo/Noatak, Alaska/Napaaqtuggmiut Village). Brianna signed National Letter of Intent today and will enroll at the university this upcoming fall semester.
Kirk, a 5-8 guard from Noatak, was named the Alaska 2A State Player of the Year after she led Napaaqtuggmiut School to a sixth-place finish at the Alaska state tournament this past season. She averaged 30.0 points per game during the regular season, but in the regional tournament, Kirk poured in 51 points in the first round and averaged 39 points per game over four contests to help the Lady Lynx qualify for the state tournament for the first time during her career and the first time since 1998.
Aside from basketball, she also made it to state for cross country running back in the fall sports season. During city league last summer, she had a season-high 51 points and averaged better than 30 points per game. Kirk graduated from Noatak as the 2012 class valedictorian and became the first Alaska signee for the women’s basketball program this year.
“I’m really excited to come play in Fairbanks,” Kirk said. “It’s a huge step but I’m ready to take on the challenge. I didn’t think it was possible because we’ve never seen anyone from my era make it [to the collegiate level].”
“Brianna had an outstanding senior season,” Burgess said. “She averaged an obscene number of points and is an all-around go getter. She’s a competitor and we’re really excited to have her here. Having Marissa (Atoruk) on the team has inspired her knowing she can come from the village to play at the collegiate level.”
Kirk will join fellow new recruit Ruth O’Neal (Fort Washakie, Wyo./Sheridan) on the list of Native American women’s basketball signees for next season.
Read press release @ http://alaskananooks.com/news/2012/5/8/WBB_0508123455.aspx
