(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds haven’t had to look far to draft the first member of their recruiting class of 2020.
Erin Ingalls, of St. George, NB, a 5’10” wing player and current member of the Fundy High School Mariners, has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the Reds ahead of the 2020-21 Atlantic University Sport season.
“There is a deep graduating class in New Brunswick and Erin was on our short list,” said Reds head coach Jeff Speedy. “We’re really excited she’s decided to stay home and play at UNB.”
Ingalls has helped lead the Mariners to a 5-0 start to their NBIAA ‘AA’ season.
Earlier this year, she was a member of the Basketball New Brunswick team that compiled a 3-3 record at the national U17 championship tournament, in Victoria, BC.
“I was familiar with the campus and the coaches prior to my recruitment because of my experience with Basketball New Brunswick,” said Ingalls. “Still, I was nervous about the dynamic of the team and whether I could see myself fitting in. After spending a couple of days watching the team practice and interact with each other, everything that I was worried about started to fade away. From the competitive atmosphere in the gym, to the laughter and support in the locker room, everything came together for me. I knew I wanted to come to UNB.”
Coach Speedy likes what he’s seen from Ingalls, so far, in her final season of high school basketball, and feels she can fill any number of roles with the Reds.
“Her Grade 12 season is off to an amazing start and she’s going to have a great U SPORTS career,” said Speedy. “She can score in many different ways, is an elite defender, and plays hard every second. We can’t wait to get her on campus.”
Ingalls says she’ll bring a good basketball IQ to the Reds, along with good reads and quick decision-making skills.
“I want to be able to go into every situation looking for opportunities to get better,” she said. “Whether that be in the classroom, in the gym, or on the court, I’ll do my best to see a challenge as a privilege and a chance to get better.”
Ingalls will study Kinesiology while attending UNB.