Huskie basketball teams announce new recruits

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Summer Fitzgerald

Sophomore guard Jayden Marable (left), redshirt freshman guard Sidney McCrea, junior forward A’Jah Davis, freshman forward Laura Nickel and redshirt senior guard Paulina Castro on the court in the first matchup of the season against Bowling Green State University on Feb. 2 in DeKalb, where NIU fell 64-54. The Huskies were ultimately swept by the Falcons in 2022 after losing their second matchup against BGSU 81-52 Sunday on the road in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Summer Fitzgerald | Northern Star)

By DeOndre Saunders, Sports Reporter

Multiple new signees have been announced for both the NIU men’s and women’s basketball team rosters going into the 2022-23 season, according to NIU Athletics news releases. 

Men’s basketball recruits

Xavier Amos is a 6’8 forward from Chicago. He attended Whitney Young High school and was awarded IBCA First team All-State.

Armandas Plintauskas is a 6’4 guard from Kedaini, Lithuania.

Taku Youngblood is a 6’1 guard from Yokohama, Japan. 

Yanic Konan Niederhauser is a 6’10 forward from Geneva, Switzerland.

Zarique Nutter is a 6’6 guard from Newark, New Jersey.

Women’s basketball recruits

Tara Stauffacher is a junior forward, Columbus, Wisconsin, previous school: University of Wisconsin.

Tati Hodges-Johnson is a junior guard from Des Moines, Iowa. She previously attended Kirkwood Community College and was a  NJCAA DII National Champion.

Kortney Drake is a junior guard from Wilton, Iowa. She also attended Kirkwood Community College and was a NJCAA DII National Champion. Drake was awarded NJCAA DII First Team All-American.