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Nov. 9, 2011

Class of 2012 Women's Basketball Signings Nicole Kornet 6-0 | Guard Lantana, Texas Liberty Christian School • No. 5 Guard (Blue Star Report) • No. 6 Guard (ESPNU HoopGurlz) • No. 19 Overall (ESPNU HoopGurlz) • No. 68 Overall (Blue Star Report) Maddie Manning 6-0 | Guard Ankeny, Iowa Ankeny High School • No. 10 Guard (Blue Star Report) • No. 11 Guard (ESPNU HoopGurlz) • No. 33 Overall (ESPNU HoopGurlz) • No. 70 Overall (Blue Star Report)

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma head women's basketball coach Sherri Coale announced the two members of the Class of 2012 who filed National Letters of Intent with her program on the first day of the NCAA's early signing period.

Nicole Kornet of Lantana, Texas, and Maddie Manning of Ankeny, Iowa, signed to play for the Sooners on Wednesday. Both are members of top-third of the ESPN HoopGurlz 100, which currently has OU's signing class rated 14th nationally.

Kornet, a 6-foot combo guard, is rated No. 19 overall by ESPNU HoopGurlz and comes from Liberty Christian School (Argyle, Texas), the alma mater of junior guard Whitney Hand. Kornet was an all-tournament selection after helping Liberty Christian to the TAPPS 5A state championship her junior season.

"Nicole Kornet is one of the smoothest offensive players I have seen in a long, long time," Coale said. "She's one of those kids whose play looks effortless. She makes the game look easy. She's long and skilled, and she is a gifted shooter. Despite the phrase's overuse, Nicole really is the total package. She's a kid whose play and presence will make our program better."

Kornet's father Frank was a standout at Vanderbilt and played two seasons in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks. Her mother, Tracy, is an Emmy-winning news anchor for a CBS affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Manning, a 6-0 guard, is rated No. 33 overall in the ESPNU HoopGurlz 100 and starred in volleyball and track, in addition to basketball, at Ankeny High School. Manning averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 2.9 steals as a high school junior, earning all-state honors while leading her team to a 20-4 record.

"I loved Maddie Manning the first time I watched her play. She has an intensity about her, a competitive instinct and drive, and a passion for the game that is special. She sees things on the floor that a lot of players don't see, and she has a knack for bringing what she sees to fruition."

Also a star in volleyball and track, Manning's versatility has been compared to that of Stacey Dales, who became OU's first two-time women's basketball All-American.

Oklahoma begins its 2011-12 season Sunday, Nov. 13, hosting Sacramento State. The Sooners have a final exhibition game at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, versus Division II preseason No. 14 Grand Canyon University.