EVANSTON, Ill. – With the 2015-16 season just days away, Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown announced the addition of four members to the Class of 2020 as the early signing period opened on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Bry Hopkins, Abi Scheid, Byrdy Galernik and Abbie Wolf signed National Letters of Intent to join the Wildcats next year. The class is ranked No. 34 by Blue Star and No. 37 by Prospects Nation.
"As we are coming off a season that saw a top 25 ranking and NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 1996-97, we are really excited about our recruiting class for the 2016 season," McKeown said. "All four wildcats are first-class student athletes, and they bring a winning attitude to our program. They come from great families and will be great teammates! I think this is one of the top classes in the Big Ten and the country, and I usually don't say that! I'm proud of the hard work that our staff put into this group."
Bry Hopkins
6-2 • Forward
Palatine, Ill./William Fremd
High School/AAU: Two time All-Area and All-Midwest Suburban League Conference honoree … Four year varsity letter winner … Led high school team to two conference championships … Named All-Area Honorable Mention during freshman campaign … Helped AAU team (Midwest Elite) to the 2014 and 2015 State AAU Championships.
Personal: Born Bryana Krysten Hopkins … Parents are Byron and Kelly Hopkins … Mother played soccer and father played basketball at George Washington … Three-time honor roll member … Major currently undecided.
McKeown on Hopkins: "Bryana comes from a great high school program and will be a strong addition to Northwestern. Her potential as a college player is so high. She gets better every time we see her play. We love her work ethic and how selfless she is as a player. Bry is also an excellent student and will be a great teammate."
Abi Scheid
6-2 • Forward/Center
Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS
High School/AAU: Played volleyball, soccer and ran track along with basketball … averaged 20.1 points, 11 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game … three-time MVP at Elk River HS … three-time All-Northwestern Conference team member … Academic All-State honoree … recorded over 1,000 career points … Logged a program-best 40 points in a single game … Led Elk River to the 2014-15 conference championships …Played for North Tartan EYBL AAU team … Nationally ranked by ESPN Hoopgurlz (No. 68).
Personal: Born Abigail Claire Scheid … Member of National Honor Society … received honor roll and All-Academic accolades … Anticipated major is pre-med.
McKeown on Scheid: "We are really excited that Abi chose Northwestern and wants to be in the Big Ten. She really impressed us with her mobility as she can run the floor, shoot threes, guard inside and out, and plays with great intensity. She embraces the student-athlete concept of Northwestern and a great future."
Byrdy Galernik
5-8 • Guard
Perrysburg, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic
High School/AAU: Also played soccer and ran track … 2015 TRAC Player of the Year … 2015 District Player of the Year … Averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 assists, 3.4 steals and 5.2 rebounds per game … Named to All-Track and All-District 7 First Team … All-State Second Team member junior year … Led high school to TRAC Championship and District Finals … Played for Toledo Elite AAU Team.
Personal: Born Alyssa Rae Galernik … Parents are Jerry and Melissa Galernik …Three year member of National Honor Society … Presidential Ambassador at CCHS … Earned All-Conference and All-District academic honors … Plans to major in human communication science.
McKeown on Galernik: "Byrdy is one of the top point guards in the Mid-West and will make a great addition to the Wildcats. We love her toughness and the fact that she wants to run a team. Byrdy fits into the style that we want to play and is a great competitor. She is super quick and can run all day. What really excites us is that she fits our program as our goals are to compete for championships, and do it with the best student-athletes at Northwestern."
Abbie Wolf
6-4 • Forward/Center
White Plains, N.Y./Greenwich HS
High School/AAU: Nationally ranked by ESPN Hoopgurlz (No. 76) … Also played volleyball … Captain of her high school team … Two-time All-FCIAC First Team member … Two-time All-State team member … Averaged 16 points, three blocks and 11 rebounds per game during her junior campaign … 2015 Greenwich HS MVP for basketball and volleyball … Played for Connecticut Basketball Club team.
Personal: Born Abigail Anne Wolf … Father appeared in the 1984 Olympics … Has two brothers – Alex is a former basketball player at Dartmouth and AJ plays football at Duke … Earned Honor Roll accolades every quarter … major is undecided.
McKeown on Wolf: "Abbie is one of the most skilled players in the country. She can score, defend and hates to lose. I feel that she could have a great impact on any program. She is so unselfish that I will have to tell her to shoot. She is also very humble and has great leadership potential."
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Chicago's Big Team will be back in action next Sunday against Howard for its season opener. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Bry Hopkins, Abi Scheid, Byrdy Galernik and Abbie Wolf signed National Letters of Intent to join the Wildcats next year. The class is ranked No. 34 by Blue Star and No. 37 by Prospects Nation.
"As we are coming off a season that saw a top 25 ranking and NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 1996-97, we are really excited about our recruiting class for the 2016 season," McKeown said. "All four wildcats are first-class student athletes, and they bring a winning attitude to our program. They come from great families and will be great teammates! I think this is one of the top classes in the Big Ten and the country, and I usually don't say that! I'm proud of the hard work that our staff put into this group."
Bry Hopkins
6-2 • Forward
Palatine, Ill./William Fremd
High School/AAU: Two time All-Area and All-Midwest Suburban League Conference honoree … Four year varsity letter winner … Led high school team to two conference championships … Named All-Area Honorable Mention during freshman campaign … Helped AAU team (Midwest Elite) to the 2014 and 2015 State AAU Championships.
Personal: Born Bryana Krysten Hopkins … Parents are Byron and Kelly Hopkins … Mother played soccer and father played basketball at George Washington … Three-time honor roll member … Major currently undecided.
McKeown on Hopkins: "Bryana comes from a great high school program and will be a strong addition to Northwestern. Her potential as a college player is so high. She gets better every time we see her play. We love her work ethic and how selfless she is as a player. Bry is also an excellent student and will be a great teammate."
Abi Scheid
6-2 • Forward/Center
Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS
High School/AAU: Played volleyball, soccer and ran track along with basketball … averaged 20.1 points, 11 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game … three-time MVP at Elk River HS … three-time All-Northwestern Conference team member … Academic All-State honoree … recorded over 1,000 career points … Logged a program-best 40 points in a single game … Led Elk River to the 2014-15 conference championships …Played for North Tartan EYBL AAU team … Nationally ranked by ESPN Hoopgurlz (No. 68).
Personal: Born Abigail Claire Scheid … Member of National Honor Society … received honor roll and All-Academic accolades … Anticipated major is pre-med.
McKeown on Scheid: "We are really excited that Abi chose Northwestern and wants to be in the Big Ten. She really impressed us with her mobility as she can run the floor, shoot threes, guard inside and out, and plays with great intensity. She embraces the student-athlete concept of Northwestern and a great future."
Byrdy Galernik
5-8 • Guard
Perrysburg, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic
High School/AAU: Also played soccer and ran track … 2015 TRAC Player of the Year … 2015 District Player of the Year … Averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 assists, 3.4 steals and 5.2 rebounds per game … Named to All-Track and All-District 7 First Team … All-State Second Team member junior year … Led high school to TRAC Championship and District Finals … Played for Toledo Elite AAU Team.
Personal: Born Alyssa Rae Galernik … Parents are Jerry and Melissa Galernik …Three year member of National Honor Society … Presidential Ambassador at CCHS … Earned All-Conference and All-District academic honors … Plans to major in human communication science.
McKeown on Galernik: "Byrdy is one of the top point guards in the Mid-West and will make a great addition to the Wildcats. We love her toughness and the fact that she wants to run a team. Byrdy fits into the style that we want to play and is a great competitor. She is super quick and can run all day. What really excites us is that she fits our program as our goals are to compete for championships, and do it with the best student-athletes at Northwestern."
Abbie Wolf
6-4 • Forward/Center
White Plains, N.Y./Greenwich HS
High School/AAU: Nationally ranked by ESPN Hoopgurlz (No. 76) … Also played volleyball … Captain of her high school team … Two-time All-FCIAC First Team member … Two-time All-State team member … Averaged 16 points, three blocks and 11 rebounds per game during her junior campaign … 2015 Greenwich HS MVP for basketball and volleyball … Played for Connecticut Basketball Club team.
Personal: Born Abigail Anne Wolf … Father appeared in the 1984 Olympics … Has two brothers – Alex is a former basketball player at Dartmouth and AJ plays football at Duke … Earned Honor Roll accolades every quarter … major is undecided.
McKeown on Wolf: "Abbie is one of the most skilled players in the country. She can score, defend and hates to lose. I feel that she could have a great impact on any program. She is so unselfish that I will have to tell her to shoot. She is also very humble and has great leadership potential."
•••••
Chicago's Big Team will be back in action next Sunday against Howard for its season opener. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
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