Nov. 12, 2003

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A trio of Midwest prep standouts have signed National Letters of Intent to enroll at the University of Missouri and play basketball, head coach Cindy Stein announced today. The three will be the first recruits to play their entire careers in Mizzou's new basketball arena, which is slated to open next fall.

Brittany Mannings, a 6-foot-4 center from Duchesne HS in St. Louis; Kassie Drew, a 5-foot-9 guard from Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High, and Crystal Howard, a 5-foot-9 guard from Omaha (Neb.) Central High School will join Stein and the Tigers for the 2004-05 season.

"I am very pleased with these three young ladies," Stein said. "Not only are they gifted players, but they are also tremendous people. They all come from great families and have a genuine love and passion for the game."

Mannings is ranked as the No. 25 center in the country in the All-Star Girls Report's Top 100. She has twice earned All-America Honorable Mention plaudits from Street & Smith's, and was a an all-state second-team pick in 2002. Mannings was a third-team St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro selection last year after averaging 16.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.7 blocks a game. She helped lead the Pioneers to the Missouri Class 4 championship in March.

"Brittany gives us something that we really need, and that is a dominant inside presence," Stein commented. "This gives us a true center. Her ability to alter shots and her willingness and determination to do whatever it takes are so valuable to a team's success. I have been so impressed with her all-around improvement every year, especially this summer. We are very excited to have her as part of the Mizzou family."

Drew comes with numerous credentials entering her senior season. She already has scored 2,096 points in her three-year career, which is currently tied for 55th in Illinois State High School Association (IHSA) history. She's also 10th on the all-time 3-pointer list with 259 heading into this year, and needs just 36 to move into second place. She tied a state record by sinking 11 3-pointers in a game last December on her way to a career-high 55-point outing. She is ranked as ASGR's No. 35 point guard in the country. Drew was a consensus first-team Class A all-state pick last season, and as a sophomore was named first-team all-state by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

"Kassie has the ability to play the point or shooting guard. She is a tremendous shooter with excellent range," Stein says. "Her ball-handling and passing skills are very sound and her court sense is even better. Kassie has been dominating at our camps the last few years and we are thrilled that she chose Mizzou."

Howard was a member of the all-class all-state team as a sophomore in 2002, and was honorable mention all-state as a freshman. She has scored in double figures in each of her three seasons, averaging 14 points as a freshman, 16.2 as a sophomore and 17.5 as a junior. Like Mannings and Drew, Howard also earned a Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-America nod last year.

"Crystal is an extremely exciting player to watch. Her talent and athleticism gives her the versatility to play any of the three guard spots. She is a slasher and can shoot the three. She makes everyone around her better, and she will be a great addition to our team."

The signing of the trio of high-school standouts concludes Mizzou's recruiting efforts for the fall signing period. The women's basketball program will look to sign two more players during the spring period - April 14-May 19, 2004.