CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University women’s basketball head coach Cindy Stein has announced the signing of three highly-decorated student-athletes for the 2021-22 season.
Signing national letters of intent with the Salukis are forward Zoe Belcher (Chicago, Ill.), guard Tyranny Brown (Indianapolis, Ind.) and guard Paige Clubb (Fulton, Mo.).
“These three young ladies will be great role models for SIU women’s basketball both on and off the floor,” Stein said. “I love their different and unique personalities and their drive to be better people, players and teammates. I am very excited about this class and the future of SIU Women’s Basketball.”
Zoe Belcher
Kenwood Academy // Chicago, Ill.
5-11 // Forward
Zoe Belcher is a senior at Kenwood Academy in Chicago, Ill. where she helped the Broncos to their fourth-straight regional title in 2020. The five-foot-eleven forward averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game during the 2019-20 season and reached double figures in 19 of Kenwood’s 32 games, which included five double-doubles.
Ranked as the 19th-best player in the state in the 2021 class by Prep Girls Hoops Illinois, Belcher averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 boards and nearly two steals as a sophomore on a Broncos squad that went 20-12. The Chicago, Ill. native plays travel ball for Chicago Hoops Express, the same club as freshman Sydney Prochaska.
“Zoe is a long and lanky athlete that just gets better and better,” Stein said. “She has the ability to create her own shot and cause havoc defensively. We will look for her versatility to have an immediate impact on our program. She comes from one of the best high school programs in our state and one of the elite AAU programs in the country. Super excited to get her here!”
Tyranny Brown
Indianapolis, Ind.
Heritage Christian High School
5-8 // Guard
A senior at Heritage Christian in Indianapolis, Ind., Tyranny Brown has helped the Broncos win three-straight city championships, which included a 20-point effort in last season’s 62-56 win over Cathedral in the city tournament title game. A do-it-all guard, Brown led Heritage Christian all the way to the Class 4A semi-state championship round a year ago and is a two-time all-state and all-conference honoree.
Brown was recently ranked as the No. 43 player in Indiana in the 2021 class by Prep Girls Hoops Indiana and the Indianapolis, Ind. native plays travel ball for Midwest Elite.
“We have gotten to know Tyranny throughout the last few years from coming to our summer camps,” Stein said. “She was always the person headed home with all the awards and trophies! She plays with passion and is the true definition of a high-energy player. She can play any of the guard positions with ease and plays physical enough to be able to mix it up down low if needed. She will be another great addition to our program both on and off the court.”
Paige Clubb
Fulton, Mo.
South Callaway H.S.
5-11 // Guard
A terrific three-point shooter, Paige Clubb averaged 16.5 points, 4 assists and 4 steals as a junior to lead South Callaway High School in Mokane, Mo. to a 21-3 record. Clubb helped the Lady Bulldogs advance to the elite eight of the Class 3A state tournament as a sophomore and South Callaway has amassed a 71-11 overall record in Clubb’s three seasons, which included a school-best 26-1 overall record during her freshman campaign.
A two-time all-state honoree, Clubb scored her 1,000th career point as a junior and also competes for South Callaway’s track and field team where she is a two-time All-State recipient as part of South Callaway’s 4×100 relay team.
“Paige is a versatile athlete that can play any position from one through four,” Stein said. “She has a really high basketball IQ and a nose for the ball. She is a tireless worker that will use her length on defense, her vision to share the ball and her aggressiveness to find a way to score or rebound.”
