"I am very excited to announce our 2013 class," said Kest. "This special group of talented players have been committed to us since last April, so it is a great day to finally be able to officially call them Zips."
Gary, a 6-1 forward, has built a strong career at the high school and AAU levels over the past three years. Last year as a junior, Gary averaged 11.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, in addition to 2.2 blocks. She received Honorable Mention All-State accolades from Hoosier Basketball Magazine, and was a 2012 IBCA All-State and All-Northeast Indiana First Team selection. Gary has also led her AAU team to the state championship title for the past three consecutive years.
"Keanna ('Key') is a very good athlete who will give us more depth in the post," Kest said. "She can play both the four and five spots on the floor. She is a very good rebounder and has good footwork defensively. Key also runs the floor well, which we really liked for our up-tempo style of play."
Plybon, a 5-9 guard out of nearby Orrville High School, comes to Akron as an ESPN 86 Grade, three-star recruit, the 107th best guard in the nation. In 2011-12, she averaged 20.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and three assists per game. Plybon has received all-state recognition for the last three years, including being named to the All-Ohio First Team as a sophomore and junior. The two-time Northeast Inland District Player of the Year currently ranks second in school history with 1,380 career points and one season left to play.
"It is always great to add another local player to our roster, and Hannah is a very special player," said Kest. "She is a great scorer who has the ability to run the point and play the two guard. Hannah has a very good understanding of the game and possesses great toughness. She is a gym rat and a winner."
Ricketts, a 5-11 shooting guard, has been named Offensive Player of the Year for the past two seasons after posting averages of 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. She is a three-time First Team All-Region honoree and earned the title of 2011 Miss Basketball Player of the Year.
"Alex is another great scorer at the guard position," noted Kest. "She is an excellent 3-point shooter who can also attack the basket or pull up. Alex will thrive in our system because of her ability to shoot the ball. She is also a very hard working player who is constantly working to improve her game."
Scipio, a 5-4 point guard from the Columbus area, was named one of the Top-10 players in District 10, in addition to earning Special Mention All-Ohio recognition and a spot on the All-OCC Capital Division First Team. Scipio averaged 14.1 points, 5.7 assists and 4.2 steals per game her junior season.
"Hannah is a feisty and extremely competitive point guard," Kest said. "She is a true point, in that she is a great floor general who knows what it takes to win. Hannah has very good speed and handles. She also possesses great leadership skills which are essential for any great point guard."
Together, the four commitments make up the Zips' early signing class for next season.
