Buffs Sign California Trio To Letters Of Intent

Related Links

#articleRelated {
display: none;
}

BOULDER - Britney Blythe, Chelsea Dale and Brittany Spears have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball and continue their education at the University of Colorado in 2007-08, CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller announced Thursday during the NCAA early signing period.

Blythe, a 5-9 point guard from San Mateo, Calif., is getting set to begin her senior season at St. Ignatius Prep in San Francisco. She was a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American in 2006 and named to the Cal-Hi Sports Junior All-State second team. Blythe was an All-West Catholic Athletic League second team pick as a sophomore and an honorable mention as a junior. She has helped the Wildcats claim back-to-back CIF Central Coast Section Division III titles. The 2006 squad finished 26-8 overall advancing to the CIF Division III State semifinals while to 2005 team was 21-10, reaching the state quarterfinals. Rated as the 94th overall player and 23rd best point guard by All-Star Girls Report, Blythe was an adidas Top Ten Camp Underclass All-Star in 2004.

"(Britney) is a true point guard who really sees the floor well," McConnell-Miller said. "She comes from a great basketball background. Her father has really taught her the game and has a high basketball I.Q. as far as understanding offensive and defensive philosophy. She's a floor leader and will really compliment our inside game."

Dale, a 6-1 guard/forward from Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., begins her senior season at Palos Verdes High School this winter. As a junior Dale topped the Pioneer League in scoring with 358 points (11.9 ppg), leading the Sea Kings to an undefeated conference season (10-0) and a 24-6 overall record. She was second in the Pioneer League in 3-point field goals (45) and averaged 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game as Palos Verdes reached the Division IIIAA CIF Southern Section semifinals. Dale was a Division IIIAA All-CIF Southern Section first team selection and a Cal-Hi Sports Junior All-State second team pick. She averaged 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, helping the Sea Kings to a 20-9 mark, advancing to the second round of the CIF SS playoffs. She is ranked as the 26th best wing by All-Star Girls Report.

"Chelsea is a pure shooter," McConnell-Miller said. "I haven't seen many like her. She has great range and likes to shoot the ball. She also has a knack for taking care of other players on the floor. She can step up when she needs to and become a complimentary player when she needs to. I think her best days are ahead of her."

Spears, a 6-1 forward from Pasadena, Calif., is attending Notre Dame Prep School in Fitchburg, Mass., this season. She is playing basketball for Notre Dame Prep, recently scoring 26 points in a three-point loss to Monroe Community College, the defending national junior college champions. Spears was a two-time Pacific League and Pasadena Star-News Player of the Year for Pasadena High School. A 2006 All-CIF Southern Section Division I-A first team pick, Spears averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as a senior guiding Pasadena to its first league title since 1991 and a spot in the CIF Southern Section semifinals. She averaged 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game as a junior, leading the Pacific League in scoring and blocked shots and ranked third scoring and fifth in blocks in the CIF Southern Section. Spears helped the Bulldogs to an overall record of 22-9 and a second place showing in the Pacific League at 8-2. Pasadena advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IIAA Tournament.

"I'm pleased that Brittany Spears has another year to mature and grow academically and athletically," McConnell-Miller said. "She's surrounded by extremely good people, and I just think another year of developing her skills and her academic discipline, she'll be that much better for us a year from now. She's one of the most talented players that I've been associated with from the offensive and defensive end. She has great drive and great passion for the game and she is going to impact our program tremendously."

"We are bringing in three great young women. We're happy to have them as part of our Buffs family. I think our fans and academic community are really going to like these three. They have really gelled with our players and are a great compliment to our program."

Colorado will officially open regular season action on Friday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m., against the University of San Francisco in the Coors Events Conference Center.