By JOHN VARGO - Tribune Chronicle (jvargo@tribtoday.com) , Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN - John Barnes had a dilemma before school officially started at Youngstown State University.
The YSU women's basketball coach had one of his five freshmen leave the program because of health issues, according to the program.
Wintersville Indian Creek 6-foot-5 freshman Bre Berryman, according to ysusports.com, was ranked by ESPN as a five-star recruit, the 17th-best center in the country, the 21st-best player in the region and the third-best player in Ohio in the class of 2015.
That leaves the Penguins with 12 on the roster, including four freshmen.
What does YSU do with that extra scholarship?
"We will probably save it for the next class," Barnes said.
Jill Blacksten, a 6-2 guard/forward recruit from Newark Catholic, was named first-team All-Ohio three times and was a two-time Central District Division IV Player of the Year. Blacksten scored more than 1,700 points and grabbed 1,000 rebounds. She was instrumental in leading Newark Catholic four straight league and district titles.
However, last season, en route to leading her team to a regional final, she was battling knee problems.
"Barnes said Blacksten is 100 percent and has been so since she and the other freshmen arrived on campus on June 28.
"We were obviously concerned with what happened to her during her senior year," Barnes said. "She recovered great. She's doing very well."
Besides Blacksten, there is 5-9 guard from North Royalton, Alison Smolinski. Her senior year she was named to the All-Ohio first team and was the Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year in Division I. Then there is West Branch graduate Melinda Trimmer, a 5-7 guard was the Division II Co-Player of the Year and a two-time Northeastern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year. The other freshman is Marissa Brown, a 6-3 forward from Columbus Bishop Hartley. She was a third-team All-Ohio and first-team All-Central District at Division II as a senior.
"It's exciting because they're very talented," Barnes said. "They have a lot to learn. It was nice to get them in early. We're allowed one hour per week per NCAA. We were able to practice with them and teach them our terminology, touch on the basics of our offense and defense.
"They're coming along very well."
The 2015-16 team will be a young team, filled with many freshmen and sophomores. Janae Jackson is the team only senior, while Jenna Hirsch and Kelsea Newman are the only juniors on the roster.
"The returners are doing a great job of guiding them along," Barnes said. "The freshmen are eager to learn and not afraid to ask questions. I think it's been a great combination so far."
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