California Signing Day: Getting To Know Kristine Anigwe

BERKELEY – The 2014 women’s basketball national signing window has opened, and CalBears.com will highlight each member of the 2014-15 signing class in a special "Getting To Know You" series from Wednesday to Sunday. Today's feature is on Kristine Anigwe, a post player from Phoenix, Ariz.

Anigwe, a 6-4 center heralded as a top 15 prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz and a top five post player nationally by ESPN and Prospects Nation, gives the Golden Bears at least one player with international experience for the second consecutive season. She won a gold medal with the United States Under-17 team at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in the Czech Republic. Playing in every game at the championships, Anigwe averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in helping lead the USA to a perfect 7-0 record. In the semifinals against Hungary, Anigwe tied the USA Women’s U17 single-game rebounding record with 14 rebounds (July 15, 2014).

As a prep, Anigwe is a standout at Desert Vista High School where she led her team to a 30-2 record last season, averaging 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. She shot 60 percent from the field and lead her team to the Arizona state championship, a game in which she scored 25 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and added three steals and three blocks. She was named the Arizona Preps Girls Player of the Year last season while also being named to the All-USA Arizona first team and the Arizona All-Star Underclassman Team.

“When Kristine committed last fall, we knew we were getting an immediate-impact post player,” California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “She is long and incredibly athletic, with a skill set that makes her a threat in multiple facets of the game. What is most remarkable, however, is how significantly she has continued to improve. She has become one of the nation’s best prospects, and even made waves internationally as part of Team USA. With Kristine’s work ethic and natural ability, there is no limit to what she can accomplish on the court. Kristine is warm, funny, smart and driven: she is going to be a wonderful addition to our program and to the entire Cal community.”

Anigwe was born in London to Chris and Annette Anigwe. The second of four children, she has one sister and two brothers, including her older brother Chris who is enrolled at Arizona State University in the Barrett Honors College. Angiwe began playing basketball in the seventh grade and is an avid fan of Kevin Durant. She anticipates majoring in marketing at Cal.

“I knew Cal was the right place for me because it had all of the things I was looking for in a school,” Anigwe said. “I chose Cal because of the amazing coaching staff and outstanding academic program. I’m looking forward to us dominating the Pac-12 next year.”

Visit CalBears.com tomorrow for our next Signing Day feature.

Kristine Anigwe Recruiting Rankings By Publication
ESPN HoopGurlz – 13 (No. 2 Post)
Blue Star Basketball – 26
Prospects Nation – 27 (No. 4 Post)
All Star Girls Report – 29

What They're Saying
"Cal got a deep, strong class. Kristine Anigwe stands out. She is a tremendous athlete who can jump and run. She just keeps getting better, and she will be tough to contend with on the block." - All-Star Girls Report analyst Brett McCormick

"Anigwe has all the physical tools and is really starting to use them. She is good going over her left shoulder, and it's almost automatic against a smaller defender. She has a great frame and uses it well, getting low wide feet for an immoveable base in the post. She also sets a terrific on-ball screen. She's just scratching the surface." - Jump Off Plus analyst Chris Hansen

"(An) Ultra-athletic interior prospect with explosive interior game ... quick and agile, defends out of key ... elite shot blocker with mobility ... among the elite athletes and post prospects in the class of 2015." - ESPN HoopGurlz