Boston College Athletics
Photo by: Billie Weiss
Women’s Hoops Announces 2021 Recruiting Class
November 11, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Four talented student-athletes sign National Letters of Intent
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee announced Wednesday the Eagles' 2021 recruiting class. The Eagles welcome Amaria Fields from McKinney, Texas; Maria Gakdeng of Lanham, Md.; Allie Palmieri from Trumbull, Conn. and Ally VanTimmeren of Allendale, Mich.
All four high school standouts are nationally ranked in various recruiting rankings.
"I am excited about the addition of these four highly competitive players," said Bernabei-McNamee. "Their length, speed and high character will be a great fit with our culture and style of play. On the court, they each bring something different to add depth, quickness, size and versatility to our team. I love that they are talented and have outstanding work ethic both on the court and in the classroom. They will be great additions to our Boston College community."
Amaria Fields
5'11" | Guard
McKinney, Texas | McKinney North High School
Ranked 128th nationally by Blue Star Basketball … rated the No. 44 prospect at her position in the class of 2021 by Dan Olson Collegiate Report … ranked among the Dallas area's leading scorers, averaging 20.5 points … District 10 Player of the Year as a junior … also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals for a 20-9 team that shared the district title … season and career-high of 39 points against Maypearl HS as a junior … finished seventh in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in scoring … has scored double-figures in 65 of her 82 career games played … most 10, 20 and 30-point games in McKinney North High School history … two-time all-district performer … finished in the top 10 in scoring in the Dallas area as a sophomore … first player in school history to average over 20 points per game during her sophomore campaign.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Amaria: "Amaria has good length for a guard and solid three-point range. Playing with the successful Texas U AAU organization has allowed her to compete and excel at the highest level. She is a hard worker and loves to be challenged. Her length and versatility will allow her to play multiple positions within our offense. I am eager to see her grow as a player."
Maria Gakdeng
6'3" | Forward/Center
Lanham, Md. | New Hope Academy
Ranked 76th nationally for the class of 2021 and 18th at her respective position by Blue Star Basketball … ranked 18th at her position by All Star Girls Report … honorable mention All-WCAC in 2018 … second-team All-WCAC last season … recipient of the Archbishop Carroll Lion Award in 2019 before transferring to New Hope … averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game as a sophomore.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Maria: "Maria possesses the size and speed that we need. With great timing on her blocks, she is a rim protector that aggressively pursues the boards. Her height allows her to play with her back to the basket and her speed allows her to be explosive off the dribble. Playing for a top high school program at New Hope Academy and also a high-level AAU organization in Team Takeover, she knows how to win. Maria will excel in our fast-paced system and shine as a great inside-out post player."
Allie Palmieri
5'10" | Guard
Trumbull, Conn. | Greens Farms Academy
Named the 2020 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Connecticut … averaged 24.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks as a junior … finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year … scored 22 points in the NEPSAC Class C quarterfinal win over Ethel Walker School, giving GFA a berth in the semifinals against Dexter Southfield … ranked 87th nationally in the class of 2021 by Dan Olson Collegiate Report … rated the No. 94 prospect nationally by Blue Star Basketball … No. 80 prospect in the nation according to All Star Girls Report … played shooting guard and small forward for GFA as a junior … first-team NEPSAC class C selection … played her freshman and sophomore season at Trumbull High School, where she averaged 18 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a sophomore en route to all-state honors.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Allie: "Allie has great instincts and a high basketball IQ. She is a competitor with superb court vision. Growing up and playing with the Bria Holmes Elite AAU organization, she has a great base of fundamentals to go along with her winning mindset. She is strong and athletic with the ability to hit the three, shoot the pull up shot and finish at the basket. I am eager to see her grow as a player and expect her to be a major contributor to our program."
Ally VanTimmeren
6'2" | Forward
Allendale, Mich. | Jenison High School
Four-star prospect according to ESPN … ranked 17th nationally at her position in the ESPN rankings … listed as the No. 44 prospect nationally in the class of 2021 by Blue Star Basketball … No. 10 prospect at her position in the country according to Dan Olson Collegiate Report … Prospect Nation's No. 76 prospect in the country … three-year letterwinner and three-time all-conference selection … 1,000-point scorer … excellent student in the classroom who was named academic all-state as well … three-year varsity starter for the Wildcats … averaged 20.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4 block shots per game as a junior … helped Jenison tie for second in the OK Black Conference … earned Michigan Associated Press All-State First Team honors, and she was a Grand Rapids Dream Team First Team selection … Michigan Associated Press All-State Second Team accolades as a sophomore.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Ally: "Ally is a lefty with a smooth stroke from the three-point line and has great moves inside with her back to the basket. Her versatility as a scorer and her high basketball IQ will allow her to excel in multiple positions within our system. Coming from successful Jenison High School where her dad was the coach and the Midwest Elite EYBL AAU program, she knows what it takes to win. She already has a college ready body. I anticipate her to be a commanding presence on the court and develop into a dominant player for us."
All four high school standouts are nationally ranked in various recruiting rankings.
"I am excited about the addition of these four highly competitive players," said Bernabei-McNamee. "Their length, speed and high character will be a great fit with our culture and style of play. On the court, they each bring something different to add depth, quickness, size and versatility to our team. I love that they are talented and have outstanding work ethic both on the court and in the classroom. They will be great additions to our Boston College community."
Amaria Fields
5'11" | Guard
McKinney, Texas | McKinney North High School
Ranked 128th nationally by Blue Star Basketball … rated the No. 44 prospect at her position in the class of 2021 by Dan Olson Collegiate Report … ranked among the Dallas area's leading scorers, averaging 20.5 points … District 10 Player of the Year as a junior … also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals for a 20-9 team that shared the district title … season and career-high of 39 points against Maypearl HS as a junior … finished seventh in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in scoring … has scored double-figures in 65 of her 82 career games played … most 10, 20 and 30-point games in McKinney North High School history … two-time all-district performer … finished in the top 10 in scoring in the Dallas area as a sophomore … first player in school history to average over 20 points per game during her sophomore campaign.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Amaria: "Amaria has good length for a guard and solid three-point range. Playing with the successful Texas U AAU organization has allowed her to compete and excel at the highest level. She is a hard worker and loves to be challenged. Her length and versatility will allow her to play multiple positions within our offense. I am eager to see her grow as a player."
Maria Gakdeng
6'3" | Forward/Center
Lanham, Md. | New Hope Academy
Ranked 76th nationally for the class of 2021 and 18th at her respective position by Blue Star Basketball … ranked 18th at her position by All Star Girls Report … honorable mention All-WCAC in 2018 … second-team All-WCAC last season … recipient of the Archbishop Carroll Lion Award in 2019 before transferring to New Hope … averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game as a sophomore.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Maria: "Maria possesses the size and speed that we need. With great timing on her blocks, she is a rim protector that aggressively pursues the boards. Her height allows her to play with her back to the basket and her speed allows her to be explosive off the dribble. Playing for a top high school program at New Hope Academy and also a high-level AAU organization in Team Takeover, she knows how to win. Maria will excel in our fast-paced system and shine as a great inside-out post player."
Allie Palmieri
5'10" | Guard
Trumbull, Conn. | Greens Farms Academy
Named the 2020 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Connecticut … averaged 24.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks as a junior … finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year … scored 22 points in the NEPSAC Class C quarterfinal win over Ethel Walker School, giving GFA a berth in the semifinals against Dexter Southfield … ranked 87th nationally in the class of 2021 by Dan Olson Collegiate Report … rated the No. 94 prospect nationally by Blue Star Basketball … No. 80 prospect in the nation according to All Star Girls Report … played shooting guard and small forward for GFA as a junior … first-team NEPSAC class C selection … played her freshman and sophomore season at Trumbull High School, where she averaged 18 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a sophomore en route to all-state honors.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Allie: "Allie has great instincts and a high basketball IQ. She is a competitor with superb court vision. Growing up and playing with the Bria Holmes Elite AAU organization, she has a great base of fundamentals to go along with her winning mindset. She is strong and athletic with the ability to hit the three, shoot the pull up shot and finish at the basket. I am eager to see her grow as a player and expect her to be a major contributor to our program."
Ally VanTimmeren
6'2" | Forward
Allendale, Mich. | Jenison High School
Four-star prospect according to ESPN … ranked 17th nationally at her position in the ESPN rankings … listed as the No. 44 prospect nationally in the class of 2021 by Blue Star Basketball … No. 10 prospect at her position in the country according to Dan Olson Collegiate Report … Prospect Nation's No. 76 prospect in the country … three-year letterwinner and three-time all-conference selection … 1,000-point scorer … excellent student in the classroom who was named academic all-state as well … three-year varsity starter for the Wildcats … averaged 20.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4 block shots per game as a junior … helped Jenison tie for second in the OK Black Conference … earned Michigan Associated Press All-State First Team honors, and she was a Grand Rapids Dream Team First Team selection … Michigan Associated Press All-State Second Team accolades as a sophomore.
Coach Bernabei-McNamee on Ally: "Ally is a lefty with a smooth stroke from the three-point line and has great moves inside with her back to the basket. Her versatility as a scorer and her high basketball IQ will allow her to excel in multiple positions within our system. Coming from successful Jenison High School where her dad was the coach and the Midwest Elite EYBL AAU program, she knows what it takes to win. She already has a college ready body. I anticipate her to be a commanding presence on the court and develop into a dominant player for us."
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