Sophie Tirtiaux, a 6-foot-1 native of Belgium who starred on the Urbana (Ill.) High School team last season, has signed a National Letter of Intent for basketball at Illinois State.
Tirtiaux calls Huy, Belgium, home, but spent the last year as a Rotary Club exchange student at Urbana High School where she helped the team to its first Illinois High School Association supersectional with a 24-4 record. She averaged 11.7 points per game and shot 64 percent from the field for Urbana. During the summer, Tirtiaux will play for the Belgian National Team.
Tirtiaux's signing gives Redbird coach Jenny Yopp four freshmen in the 2001-2002 class to go with last year's six-player recruiting class.
"We were looking for players with exceptional talent, great skills and competitiveness as well as the desire to win," said Yopp. "Sophie has the potential to add to the group we already have."
She joins 6-foot Canadian Katie Donovan plus a pair of Michigan natives and AAU basketball teammates, Chris Kutschinski and Michelle Harakas, as Redbird basketball recruits for 2001-2002. Kutschinski is a 5-10 guard from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. and Harakas is a 6-0 forward from Redford, Mich., who attends Ladywood High School.
2001-2002 ILLINOIS STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
Katie Donovan, 6-0, F, Kingston, Ontario (St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary) -- signed in April, 2001
Michelle Harakas, 6-0, F, Redford, MI (Ladywood H.S.) -- signed in November, 2000
Chris Kutschinski, 5-10, G, Ann Arbor, MI (Pioneer H.S.) -- signed in November, 2000
Sophie Tirtiaux, 6-1, F., Huy, Belgium (Urbana, Ill., H.S.) -- signed in April, 2001
names pronounced:
tih-ti-EW
kuh-CHIN-skee
HAIR-ah-kus
-- 30 --SOPHIE TIRTIAUX, 6-1, F
Huy, Belgium (Urbana H.S., Urbana, Ill.)
TIRTIAUX NOTES: All-conference and all-area pick while averaging 11.7 points and shooting 64 percent from the field for 24-4 Urbana high team in 2000-01 as exchange student ... team ranked as high as No. 4 in the state and made first supersectional appearance in school history ... averaged 12.3 ppg for Belgian Junior National Team at 2000 European Championships ... she attended Institute Ste. Begge in Belgium ... captained her club team in Belgium, BCSS Namur, to six straight Belgium Cup championships ... her father, Bernard, was a professional basketball player for 15 years in Belgium and played for the Belgian National team ... boys basketball coach Tom Brown and his wife, Mary Anne, were one of her host families in Urbana ... she also played tennis and is playing softball at Urbana ... she speaks French and Flemish in addition to English ... prep basketball coach at Urbana was Melissa Welch ... daughter of Bernard and Catherine Tirtiaux, with brother Martin and sister Fanny ... full name is Sophie Tirtiaux, born Nov. 22, 1982 ... name pronounced tih-ti-EW ... she plans to major in international business at Illinois State.
QUOTING SOPHIE: "After I came here, I wasn't sure I would get to play high school basketball, but the (IHSA) agreed to let me play. Then, I decided I wanted to stay and play in college and I was very happy Illinois State was interested. I really enjoyed my visit and the people at Illinois State. It's a nice campus and I'm hoping I can do my best to help Illinois State be successful."
Coach Jenny Yopp on Sophie Tirtiaux:
"Sophie is a strong athlete who will add sound offensive fundamentals to our team. Sophie has exceptional shooting and passing abilities and is the connsummate team player. She reminds our coaching staff of graduating senior Nadia Peruch in her maturity, versatility, intelligence and humble demeanor.
KATIE DONOVAN, 6-0, F
Kingston, Ontario
(St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Oakville, Ont.)
DONOVAN NOTES: Averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game her final year at St. Thomas, leading the team to a 35-3 record, four tournament titles and the silver medal in the all-Ontario tournament (similar to U.S. state tournaments) .. all-Ontario team her final season ... a member of the world-qualifying Canadian Junior National Team in 2000 ... played for Ontario Provincial Team ... an outstanding all-around athlete, she participated in basketball, volleyball, cross country, track, soccer and swimming ... attended St. Thomas Aquinas (about 2 1/2 hours from her home) because it had a basketball program ... prep coach was Tim McCue ... daughter of David and Pat Donovan ... full name is Katie Marie Donovan, born Aug. 19, 1982.
QUOTING KATIE: "I chose Illinois State because I love the coaches and players and because we have a chance to do something really special at Illinois State. Coach Yopp's style fits with me--an up-tempo style with an always positive attitude. I believe I can come in and make an impact on the program, and, with the players already there, Illinois State has a good chance to become much better. I have had some international playing experience, but I expect the college game to be more physical and demanding. Redbird Arena is amazing. With a good crowd, it will be a great place to play."
Coach Jenny Yopp on Katie Donovan:
"Katie is an exceptional athlete with unparalleled passion for the game of basketball. Her aspirations include very high team goals during her college career at Illinois State, as well as the long-term goal of playing for the Canadian Olympic Team. Katie is one of the top players in the province of Ontario and will compete with the Canadian Olympic Team this summer. We expect Katie to succeed in all aspects of student-athlete life at Illinois State University and she will certainly add to the exciting young talent in our basketball program."
MICHELLE HARAKAS, 6-0, F
Redford, Mich. (Ladywood H.S., Livonia, Mich.)
HARAKAS NOTES: Honorable mention all-stater as a junior (senior prep season still in progress) ... all-area and all-league as a sophomore and junior ... averaged 14.8 points and 8 rebounds as a senior, 12 pts., 7 reb. as a junior and 12 pts., 3 reb. as a sophomore ... four-year varsity high school player whose teams got better every year: 12-12 as a freshman, 13-11 as a sophomore, 16-6 as a junior and 13-6 as a senior prior to post-season tournament play ... AAU teammate of fellow Redbird recruit Chris Kutschinski on the Motor City Blazer AAU team ... two-time all-Michigan AAU player ... also played high school soccer and was voted team's best defender as a junior ... played at the same high school as former Redbird star Char Govan, the No. 3 all-time scorer in ISU history ... prep coach Andrea Gorski played basketball at Bradley (and against Govan) from 1988-92 ... daughter of Greg and Corinne Harakas, with brother Mike and twin sister Melissa and younger sister Stephanie ... will join current Redbird freshman Beth Huston as ISU players with twin siblings ... her father played football at Grand Valley State ... major is undeclared ... full name is Michelle Louise Harakas, born Jan. 2, 1983 ... last name pronounced "HAIR-ah-kus."
QUOTING MICHELLE: "I really liked the people during my visit. The coaches are very encouraging. The campus is very safe and the people are very friendly. The players were very welcoming. The Missouri Valley Conference is very competitive. I'm excited for the opportunity to play for these coaches at this school."
Coach Jenny Yopp on Michelle Harakas:
"Michelle brings to our team a strong, physical presence inside who is a relentless rebounder and an efficient scorer inside and out. Her knowledge of the game and successful high school background combined with a mature, focused desire to achieve will help us continue to grow in our efforts to succeed. As a player and person, Redbird fans will embrace Michelle for her hustle, selflessness, work ethic and love for the game. An outstanding student, Michelle demands the best from everyone around her."
CHRIS KUTCHINSKI, 5-10, G
Ann Arbor, MI (Pioneer H.S.)
KUTSCHINSKI NOTES: Leads her team in scoring with 18.0 points per game (season still in progress), along with 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game ... her prep teams won district championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and a regional championship in 1998 ... AAU teammate of fellow Redbird recruit Michelle Harakas on the Motor City Blazers ... outstanding track athlete who has been all-state three times in 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays and part of 1998 and 1999 state championship teams ... also interested in participating in track at Illinois State ... her prep basketball coach, Crystal Westfield, is the No. 7 all-time scorer at Wichita State and played against Illinois State in college in the mid-1980s ... National Honor Society student and two-time academic all-stater for track and field ... daughter of Wayne and Sandy Kutschinski, with sister Sarah, who plays volleyball at Kent State ... her cousin, Harold Schock, played hockey at Michigan ... plans to major in special education ... full name is Christine Marie Kutschinski, born 4-29-83 ... last name pronounced koo-SCHIN-skee.
QUOTING CHRIS: "The minute I stepped on campus, I felt really comfortable. The coaches were great and the players were awesome. When I found out that the special education program was nationally recognized, it seemed like the school was a perfect fit for me in every way. I've never seen a college area better than that one. I can't wait to play there. We talked about it when we first realized we both were being recruited by Illinois State, but we made our decisions independently. She decided first. I love defense and I love to run, so the Illinois State style was just what I was looking for."
Coach Jenny Yopp on Chris Kutschinski:
"Our '94-40' game plan will be greatly enhanced by Chris' athleticism, speed and desire to compete. She is a tremendous athlete, a tenacious defender, and an unselfish player who compliments and enhances our current team. With the ability to score from beyond the arc and a quick first step past her defender, Chris will certainly create challenges for her opponents at both ends of the floor. An excellent student with a work ethic that is contagious, Chris will be a Redbird favorite during her tenure."
