Melissa Hopkins, the Idaho State Class 3A High School Basketball Player of the Year from Priest River High School, has signed a letter-of-intent to play for the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team, Warrior coach Brian Orr has announced.
The 5-foot-10 Hopkins led her team to the state title during her junior season and was a three-year starter. She, however, suffered a knee injury prior to her current senior season, which forced her to miss the entire year.
“We are thrilled to have Melissa part of our women’s basketball program,” Orr said. “She is extremely athletic and has a skill-set which will allow her to play a number of different positions. We recruiter her as a point guard because the first time I saw her play (at an All-Star game) whenever she got a defensive rebound she would explode up the floor with great vision and a play-maker’s mentality. On her high school team, she would get it inside and rise up and shoot it over anyone, because she jumps so well.
“Did I mention that she is an unbelievable rebounder! Melissa is a tremendous competitor who has the ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. She really is everything we look for in a recruit; a good student, a good person and teammate, and we think she is going to be a great player.”
Hopkins served as team captain her sophomore and junior seasons and earned all-Intermountain League honors both seasons. She was also the league MVP as a junior and the MVP of the state 3A title game that season. The Spokesman-Review selected her to the All North Idaho Team and the North Idaho Player of the Year her junior seasons.
During her junior year, she averaged 17.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. She led the team in rebounds and assists as a sophomore.
In volleyball, Hopkins was a four-year starter and captain her senior season prior to the injury. She earned all-league honors as a sophomore and junior.
She also excelled in track and golf during the spring. She was the team MVP as a sophomore in golf, and in track, she was the team MVP as a junior. She finished fourth at the state meet in both the triple jump and 800-meter relay. She holds the school record in the triple jump at 34-8 and also holds the school mark in total rebounds.
