The FIBA Europe website has posted [URL="http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_E5ifGR1uIkI4WxOpAsNN31.container_frontpage.articleMode_on.html"][COLOR="Blue"]a great article on Avigiel[/COLOR][/URL] with lots of quotes. The dateline is June 11 so this is recent info.

Despite some occasionally awkward translation, Avigiel's intelligence and mature perspective come through in nearly every sentence. She also self-assesses her style of play and sounds like a terrific fit for our team.

She also gives some info on the injury that was mentioned on the Rebkell board:

[INDENT]"Last December I injured my knee and this kind of injury requires surgery which I went through in February."

"Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to participate in any youth or senior championship this summer because I am still undergoing treatment as a part of my rehabilitation."[/INDENT]

Her use of the word "probably" is reassuring, meaning she might be able to see action this summer if pushed. Sounds like she'll be ready to go in October!

This is the first that I've heard about it. There are meniscus cartilege tears and then are more serious, structural ACL type injuries. Often the latter takes up to two seasons to regain prior form (for example, Rama N'diaye & Harper Kamp). How serious was Cohen's injury? GO BEARS!

The only other reference to her injury that I could find was on [URL="http://boards.rebkell.net/viewtopic.php?t=57789&sid=1c46a5fbf1171a9331a104c108239cb0"][COLOR="Blue"]the thread on the Rebkell board[/COLOR][/URL]. A post dated 5/28 says:

" ... Avigiel got hurt late last year and will not play this summer for the national team but will complete her rehab by the end of July or early August."

The relatively short period of scheduled rehab tells me it was not a serious trauma but who knows if it's a nagging or chronic condition. We'll see in the fall.

By the way, all of our freshmen are now listed in the Cal student directory under their formal names:

Avigiel Sara Cohen
Afure Magdelen Jemerigbe
Mikayla Simone Lyles
Lindsay Christine Sherbert

Thankyou for all of your input. GO BEARS!

WayneBear, thanks for the article on Cohen. Sharmin Smith is evidently her chief recruiter, but I'm still curious how Cal found her to recruit. Perhaps, a family member in the Bay Area get Coach Boyle a tip, and touted all of Cal's basketball and non-basketball attributes to her? It sounds like the Hillel Foundation was a big factor, too. I think she will be a special player for Cal.

..has Cohen's addition to the class affected the ranking?

HG seems unaware we signed Cohen. On the men's side ESPN did notice Emerson Murray, but Canada is a lot closer than Israel.