MOSCOW, Idaho—The Idaho women's basketball program loaded up on young talent this week, adding a solid core of players for the start of the 2018-19 season. Head coach Jon Newlee finalized a class of five incoming freshman that includes three guards, a post and a hybrid that can fit both positions.

Lauren Gustin, Chayse Milne, Gina Marxen, Janie King and Hailey Christopher all signed National Letters of Intent to continue their basketball careers at Idaho. Wednesday marked the first opportunity high school student-athletes could submit their NLI's.

"I think this class is potentially the best class we have ever signed," Newlee said. "It addresses every need from point guard, shooting guard and up through the post position. I really feel like this could be a true Fab Five type of class for us. The athleticism, skill and toughness of this class is fantastic. It was something we were really looking at—to get physically tougher. The work ethic is off the charts for every one of these players. I couldn't be happier with this class. It is a great time to be a Vandal."
  Lauren Gustin
6-foot-1 Post
Salem, Utah (Salem Hills H.S.)

Gustin is a three-time All-State selection, earning the honor in two different states. She has averaged a double-double in each of her three seasons. Gustin received Second Team All-State honors as a freshman at Salem Hills. As a sophomore, Gustin earned First Team All-State honors while leading her team to the state semifinals. She averaged 17.4 points per game and 13.4 rebounds per contest at Salem Hills.

Gustin transferred to Mesquite HS in Gilbert, Ariz., for her junior year.  She helped the Wildcats to their first-ever state championship. Gustin averaged 15.6 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. She posted 500 points, 400 rebounds and 100 assists, finishing ranked in the top-20-nationally in double-doubles and top-100 among all rebounders. Gustin has exceeded 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 50 double-doubles in her career.

Coach Newlee: "Lauren is a strong, physical and athletic post with a high motor. She is a big-time rebounder that can finish with either hand. She's a lockdown defender on the block and athletic enough to defend on the perimeter."


Chayse Milne
5-foot-10 Guard
Honolulu, Hawaii (Maryknoll H.S.)

Milne is a two-time Second Team ILH selection. She was selected to play for Team Aloha as one of Hawaii's top-9 players. Milne helped captain the Spartans to a runner-up finish at the State Tournament last season. She led Maryknoll in scoring and was an All-ILH Tournament selection. Milne has totaled 443 career points, averaging 7.8 per game. She is a standout on defense, earning All-League defensive honors.

Coach Newlee: "Chayse is an extremely athletic, tough and physical defender. She can also score in a variety of way. She can hit from the 3-point line or finish at the rim. She can defend 1-through-4 on the floor. She has a fantastic work ethic, having played on one of the top high school teams in Hawaii."


Gina Marxen
5-foot-8 Point Guard
Sammamish, Wash. (Eastlake H.S.)

Marxen led the Wolves to the Class 4A State Tournament last year in Tacoma, Wash. She scored 23 points in a win over Curtis H.S., securing a spot in the State Tournament.  She averaged 17.8 points, 5.2 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game. Marxen was the 2017 KingCo MVP. As a sophomore, Marxen was selected First-Team All-KingCo. Marxen is a two-time WIAA Athlete of the Week. She has scored 1,087 career points in her three seasons, shooting 41 percent from the floor. She handed out 136 total assists last season, giving her 337 total. Marxen also had a career-best 100 takeaways in her junior season.

Coach Newlee: "Gina has excellent handles and great court vision. She is a knock-down 3-point shooter who also has a nice pull-up jumper. She is not afraid of contact on the drive. She is extremely quick on defense. She does a great job of getting deflections and steals. She is the total package on and off the floor."


Janie King
6-foot-0 Guard
Eagle, Idaho (Eagle H.S.)

King has accumulated a multitude of honors in her career at Eagle H.S., including All-State, All-Conference and All-Tournament recognition. She has led the Mustangs to three straight State Tournament appearances, finishing as the runner-up in 2017. She has been a four-year varsity player and three-year starter for the Mustangs. King averaged 11 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2 steals per game last winter to lead Eagle to a 25-2 season, its first district title since 1998.
 
Coach Newlee: "Janie is a tall athletic wing who can really shoot the three. Defensively, she is able to guard multiple spots with her length and athleticism. She runs the floor extremely well and knows how to finish at the rim. She is a perfect fit for our style of play."


Hailey Christopher
6-foot-0 Post/Guard
Spokane, Wash. (Central Valley H.S)

Christopher is a four-year varsity star for the Bears. She has helped CV to a 72-6 record, including a Washington State Class 4A championship as part of a 28-0 record as a sophomore. She contributed 16 points, four blocks and three steals in the championship game. Christopher has led the Bears the past three seasons in blocks. As a junior, she averaged 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Christopher also set Central Valley records in the high jump.

Coach Newlee: "Hailey is a long, tough, athletic and versatile player. She can defend 1-to-5 because of her toughness and athleticism. She does a great job fighting through contact to get to the rim and can step out and hit from mid-range as well. She is just a stat filler."

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