The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Basketball signs Isabel Palmer for 2019-20
04.17.2019 | Women's Basketball
Palmer is a 5-9 guard from Newcastle, Australia.
The University of Texas women's basketball program on Wednesday signed standout Australian guard Isabel Palmer to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Karen Aston announced. She will join the Longhorns for the 2019-20 season.
Palmer is a 5-foot-9 guard from Newcastle, Australia, and is one of the top basketball prospects in her home country. She competes for the Centre of Excellence, which helps prepare athletes for the Australian National Teams.
"I am thrilled that Issy has chosen The University of Texas to continue her academic and basketball career," Aston said. "She and her family have been a joy to get to know and I believe she will add a very dynamic dimension to our program. Issy has an energy about her that is contagious. She loves the game and plays it with the passion that is expected and required at this level.
"She will bring depth at the combo position for us and leadership that is needed from the guard position. Due to her experiences internationally and at the Centre of Excellence, Issy has a complete understanding of team and sacrifice. She will be a great addition to Texas Basketball."
Palmer has represented her country in multiple World Cups and she expects to compete on Australia's U19 World Cup squad in Bangkok, Thailand, this coming July. On Australia's 2018 U17 World Cup Team, Palmer was a team captain and starter, who battled through an injury before scoring 17 points in the semifinal. In the 2017 U16 World Cup Qualifier, she averaged 11.0 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game as a starter.
Palmer, the 2018 New South Wales Female Player of the Year, represented the Newcastle Hunters from 2011 through 2017, with her team winning several regional and state titles. She was the leading scorer in her age group in both 2016 (23.2 points per game) and 2015 (18.0 ppg).
Palmer led her New South Wales team to the finals of the national U20 Championship in 2019. She averaged 18.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game and was awarded the Bob Staunton Medal for the Most Outstanding Player.
Palmer joins Ashlee Hannan (6-4, F/C, Bruce, Australia) and Celeste Taylor (5-11, G, Valley Stream, N.Y.) as the three members of Texas' signing class for 2019-20. Hannan and Palmer currently are teammates at the Centre of Excellence.
2019-20 TEXAS SIGNING CLASS
|
Name |
Ht. |
POS |
Hometown/High School |
|
Ashlee Hannan |
6-4 |
F/C |
Bruce, Australia / Centre of Excellence |
|
Isabel Palmer |
5-9 |
G |
Newcastle, Australia / Centre of Excellence |
|
Celeste Taylor |
5-11 |
G |
Valley Stream, N.Y. / Long Island Lutheran |
