Nikki Metcalfe Signs With Division Two Power Arkansas Tech
North Dakota State College of Science sophomore Nikki Metcalfe made her verbal commitment official on Wednesday, signing her National Letter of Intent with Division Two power Arkansas Tech.
North Dakota State College of Science sophomore Nikki Metcalfe made her verbal commitment official on Wednesday, signing her National Letter of Intent with Division Two power Arkansas Tech.
Metcalfe, a 6-foot-2 forward from Donvale, Australia, averaged nine points and 5.1 rebounds as a freshman, shooting 49 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.
Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers spoke glowingly of Metcalfe’s game.
“We are excited to have Nikki join our program here at Arkansas Tech next year,” said Wilbers. “She is an outstanding student, person, and player which when we start recruiting are the three areas that we feel are the most important qualities to our program. She is an excellent post player that is good in the high-low offense which we run here. She is playing in a great program and being coached by one of the most respected coaches in the nation with Coach Thomas Dryburgh. Nikki is coming to a program that has had great success in winning championships and looking to continue its winning tradition.”
Wilbers is 281-82 in his time at Arkansas Tech, which has one of the nation’s top all-time winning percentages (.783) nationally among D2 programs.
Metcalfe received several offers, including one from Division One Bradley, but the decision to spend the next two years of her career in Russellville was an easy one because of how the program not only met her needs, but also their consistency in recruiting her.
“The basketball program was a great fit for me,” said Metcalfe. “They have some great post players for me to compete against in practice which will help develop my game. There was a strong sense of community in the team and college which was a big draw for me. And they have been there from the start, they were the first college to contact me even before I came to NDSCS.”
ATU has started the 2019-20 season 2-0. NDSCS (3-1) will be in action this weekend, hosting Bethel’s JV on Friday night (5 p.m.) and Northeast (Neb.) on Saturday (3 p.m.). Both games will be streamed live online via the NDSCS Athletics YouTube account.