THUNDER BAY – Jon Kreiner has never been one to shy away from bringing top-level NCAA talent to boost his team’s chances.
The Lakehead Thunderwolves women’s basketball coach may have done it again, announcing on Friday that England’s Rhianna-Mae Laing will suit up for the team starting this fall.
The 5-foot-10 guard comes to Thunder Bay Florida Atlantic, a Division One school, where she red-shirted in 2017-18 before returning home to England.
Prior to that she spent two seasons with the Cowley Tigers, averaging 9.1 points per game in 2016-17.
“I decided to choose Lakehead as I felt most comfortable with the coach. He has helped me through some difficulties and has been one of the most open coaches, with a balanced and prudent mindset,” explains Rhianna-Mae. “I also appreciated the ease I had speaking to the team whilst making my decision.”
Laing has a long list of basketball achievements.
In 2011 she played for the English national U16 team that took silver at the European Division B Championships and two year later she captained the 2013 squad. That same year she competed at the Youth Olympics in Australia and then in 2014 she was a member of the English national U18 team at the European championships.
“We are getting a very experienced and well-rounded student-athlete in Rhi. She has played at the National level for her country and had great success at one of the top Community College’s in the United States,” Kreiner said in a release.
She had some very unfortunate events happen to her which kept her from playing NCAA D1 ball but she is looking forward to the opportunity to play in Canada while earning a degree of her choice.”
Kreiner has had plenty of success with previous NCAA recruits.
Atlanta’s Jylisa Williams won national player of the year honours in 2015, while Leashja Grant was an OUA most valuable player in 2018 and 2019. Laing will have three season of eligibility at LU.
