The ISU women’s basketball team announced Wednesday the signing of three recruits for the 2008-09 season.

“For us, recruiting is about finding young people who fit the culture of Iowa State and our basketball program,” coach Bill Fennelly said in a press release. “The three players we signed will all bring with them a commitment, on and off the court, to help continue the tradition of our program.”

The only member of the trio from Iowa is forward Ashley Arlen. The 6-foot-1-inch Cascade native led her high school team to a 22-2 record during the 2006-07 season, putting up 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and two blocks a game for the Bruins. She was picked for the Iowa Newspaper Association All-State first team and named the Dubuque Telegraph Area Player of the Year. Arlen has accumulated 1,184 points, 720 rebounds, 97 blocks and 101 steals during her tenure at Cascade High School.

“We felt Ashley was the best player in the 2008 class in Iowa,” Fennelly said. “She is a great athlete who has a very competitive mentality. We will need a great deal of help in the post in the years ahead, and this is a great start for us.”

Whitney Williams should bring a dangerous outside presence to the Cyclones. Williams, from Fort Worth, Texas, hit 48.7 percent of her 3-pointers last season and averaged 24.3 points per game. Chosen as a member of the AAU Team Texas in summer 2007, the 5-foot-7-inch guard has tallied 2,828 points in her three-year career playing for Texas Home Educators Sports Association of Fort Worth.

“Whitney can play either guard spot,” Fennelly said. “She understands the game very well and can impact the game in a variety of ways, whether it is her 3-point shooting or her ball-handling.”

Alexis Yackley, another 5-foot-7-inch guard, started well since eighth grade and has led Sully Buttes High School to the South Dakota Girls State B Basketball Tournament four consecutive years.

Yackley was chosen first-team All-State as a sophomore and a junior and helped her team win the 2006-07 state title. She has already broken the school records for career steals and assists with one more season to play.

“Lex is a prototypical point guard,” Fennelly said. “She plays the game the way we like to play it and does a great job of making those around her better. I think she has a great shot to be Miss Basketball in South Dakota.”