The BG women's basketball team will have only one scholarship available after the 2011-12 season. Bailey Cairnduff already has claimed it.
Cairnduff, who will be a senior at Morley Stanwood High School in Morley, Michigan., has verbally committed to join the Falcons for the 2012-13 season. And her coach, Bob Raven, feels BG will add an outstanding player to the program.
"She's probably the best player I've ever coached," Raven said. "We are 75-4 in the three years she has been on the varsity. Her type of player doesn't come along very often."
The BG coaching staff is prohibited by NCAA rules to comment on potential recruits until the recruit signs a national letter of intent, which should take place in November.
Last season Cairnduff averaged 19.5 points per game, shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 38.2 percent on 3-pointers while making 80.6 percent of her free throws. The 5-10 Cairnduff also has averaged 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
"She can play the point or the wing, and she has played the post for us," Raven said of Cairnduff. "I think she will play the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in college. But she's a tough match-up: if she's at guard, she's bigger and some times quicker [than her opponent], and if she's in the low post, she's definitely quicker. She's very versatile.
"She has a knack for scoring. She has a nose for the ball, and she's a very 'heady' player. And she always defends the other team's best player. BG is really getting a total player."
Last year Cairnduff led the Mohawks to a 23-1 record and the Class B regional finals. She was named honorable mention all-state in Class B, while the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan named her one of 10 “Best of the Best” players on their all-state team. Only two other juniors received that honor, which spanned all four divisions
"Our goal was an undefeated season, but I was proud overall of what our team accomplished," Cairnduff said. "I've been blessed to play with good teammates and great coaches."
Cairnduff, who is second in school history with 1,160 career points -- and should break the school record before her senior year ends -- also has 455 career rebounds.
"I am going to work this summer on making my teammates better," she said. "I'm really trying to work on my overall game. I think my 3-point shot could be better, and I know there is a big jump from high school to college so I'm working on becoming stronger, faster and quicker."
Cairnduff, who said some of her other college choices included Mid-American Conference rivals Toledo and Central Michigan as well as Michigan, Oakland, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Grand Valley State, said there was a lot to like about Bowling Green.
"The distance from home was good, and I love the coaches at BG," Cairnduff said. "I get along with the girls very well, and I like their style of play. And Bowling Green has the major I want: I like their visual communications program."