BOULDER ? The University of Colorado women’s basketball team has signed three players in the National Letter of Intent early signing period, head coach Ceal Barry announced Monday. Jasmina Ilic, Jackie McFarland and Kara Richards are the newest additions to the CU program.
Ilic is eligible to play after she is certified, and started practicing with the Buffaloes on Monday. Colorado has two scholarships to give in the late signing period and is likely looking for a point guard and a post player.
Jasmina Ilic ? 6-0 ? G/F ? Becej, Serbia (Laza Vostic)
Club: Most of Ilic’s pre-Colorado career consisted of club basketball, most recently with the Vojvodina club. Her team was second in the first division for three years in a row, and participated in the European league. She has played for all the youth national teams in Serbia for each age group she’s been eligible for, and in 2000 she was on the team that took second in the European Championships in Budapest. In 1999, Ilic was named the most outstanding player of the European Championship as she led her team to the championship in Bulgaria. This past year, she became the youngest player in Serbian history to play for the senior national team. During high school, she set the league record for points in a game when she scored 68.
Personal: Jasmina Ilic was born April 11, 1985, and is the daughter of Predrag and Verica Ilic. She graduated from Laza Vostic High School in Novi Sad, Serbia in June of 2003. She is interested in studying history and geography at Colorado, where she will enroll for the spring semester of this school year. Her father was a professional soccer player in the Yugoslavian second division, and her mother was a first division professional team handball player, and captain of her team. Her uncle was a first division water polo player and is now a referee.
Barry on Ilic: “Jasmina is a skilled guard-forward who will help us at both positions. We are excited to finally have her in the States and I hope that she’ll be able to contribute this season.”
Jackie McFarland ? 6-3 ? F ? Derby, Kan. (Derby)
High School: Jackie McFarland signs with Colorado after an impressive prep career to date. As a junior, she was named second team All-State after averaging 21.6 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. She was named All-6A, First Team All-Ark-Valley League and also First Team All-Southeastern Kansas her junior year, as her team went 15-7 under coach Bill Shaw. Her sophomore year Derby was 20-2, while McFarland averaged 12.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg, en route to second team All-Ark-Valley League honors as well as honorable mention for All-Class 6A. As a freshman, McFarland was a member of the Derby team that went 19-6 on the season, averaging 8.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg, also earned Honorable Mention All-League honors. She holds three Derby records including single season scoring (476 points), single game scoring (35 points) and free throws in a game (15). Her club team, the KS Fastbreak, won the MAYB National Championship in 2002 and 2003, and her AAU Topeka Bauersfield squad were national runners-up in 2002. She also played for the Mile Hi Magic, the same club team that produced current Buff sophomore Amber Metoyer. In summer ball, she was named the AAU Missouri Valley Player of the Year and was selected an Adidas All-American Top Ten All-Star.
Personal: Jacqueline Jayne McFarland was born Oct. 2, 1985, and is the daughter of Jay and Jennifer McFarland. She has one brother, Jacob (16) and two sisters, Jessica (19) and Joanna (13), and will see Jessica at least twice a year as she plays basketball for Kansas State. She plays on majoring in accounting at Colorado, but is also interested in kinesiology and hopes to someday either own a business or become an optometrist. She also competes in volleyball and track at Derby, and will graduate as a 12-time letterwinner.
Barry on McFarland: “Jackie comes from an athletic family; her brother plays football, her sister plays at K-State"she understands athletics. She understands everything that comes with being on a team. She is an outstanding athlete. We expect her to contribute at either forward position.”
Kara Richards ? 6-4 ? C ? Graham, Texas (Graham)
High School: Kara Richards comes to the Buffaloes after three seasons as an All-District player for Graham High School. She was named the District Most Valuable Player for District 5-3A as a junior, and was also selected to the 2A-3A Texas Women’s Magazine All-State team. As a sophomore she was the Offensive Player of the Year in 6-3A, and a Texas Women’s Magazine All-State pick. Her freshman year she was named the Defensive Player of the Year for District 6-3A.
Personal: Kara Richards was born October 19, 1985 in Mineral Wells, Texas. She is the daughter of Richard Richards and Cheryl Roberts. She is interested in photography and cinematography, and is undecided on her intended major at Colorado. Her hobbies include taking pictures and acting, and she is the publicity chairperson of her high school Thespian Society, the Beta Club.
Barry on Richards: “Kara was the most highly pursued player in our recruiting class. We’re excited about her decision to come to CU. We hope that she will be our post player of the future.”
