PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots are adding four recruits to the women's basketball program as MJ Bruno (Spokane, Wash./Central Valley HS), Maddi Condron (Woodend, Australia/Braemar College), Emily Sewell (Melbourne, Australia/Centre of Excellence), and Emma Strelein (Perth, Australia/Kennedy Baptist College) have each signed a National Letter of Intent, announced head coach Michael Meek. The foursome with join the Pilots as freshmen next year.
 
"We couldn't be more excited about our 2021 recruiting class," said Meek. "We have added a group of outstanding student-athletes who care about their academic experience. They are a group with a plethora of abilities, both offensive and defensively, that will help continue to develop and progress our program forward. Equally as important, they are all outstanding people that will continue to help our program be one that is committed to great team culture and team-first attitude."
 
From Spokane, Wash., MJ Bruno is a 6-0 all-region guard/forward for the Central Valley Bears, who won the state championship in 2020. Bruno averaged 11.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 steals as a junior to help the Bears go 23-3, and she collected 15 points and seven boards during the state title game. Bruno also landed on the All-Greater Spokane League First Team, and she was named all-state by the Seattle Times. The Bears finished sixth in the state during Bruno's sophomore campaign, and they've won the GSL title twice.
 
"MJ brings an abundance of leadership and enthusiasm to our team that will be apparent from day one," noted Meek. "Another player that brings outstanding versatility as a 6'0" guard, she can play multiple positions. What stands out about MJ plays is her incredible effort and defensive aggressiveness. She is a player that can guard any position and has a high ceiling with her offensive development. She is another player that will bring attributes both on and off the court, and in the classroom, that will impact our program and where we are going."
 
Maddi Condron is a 6-7 post out of Woodend, Australia. Representing Victoria, Condron and her squad won the Bronze Medal at the 2020 U-20 Australian Championships, and she was a member of the winning team at the 2019 U-18 Country Championships. She took part in the Victorian State Development Program in 2016 and 2018, and Condron played with the Victoria A State Team at the 2020 Australian National Championships.
 
"Maddi brings solid experience and is a player that got a later start to playing the game," Meek said. "She is fully committed to greatness and has worked hard to improve each season. At a legit 6'7" she will bring an immediate presence as a rim protector and inside low post player. Maddi has a desire and work ethic to improve and we are very excited about the opportunity to coach her and help her develop. Like the others in this class, Maddi is an excellent student and an awesome person and teammate, and we are very excited to have her as part of the Pilot family."
 
Emily Sewell is a 6-3 forward who comes to The Bluff from Melbourne, Australia. Sewell played for Victoria Metro at three Junior National Championships, and the team won three gold medals going undefeated in 2017, 2019, and 2020. She also played for the Dandenong Rangers in the Victorian Championship Youth League, winning the U-23 championship in 2019. Additionally, Sewell was a part of the Victoria National Performance Program in 2017-2018, she attended an Asia NBA Basketball Without Borders Camp in Japan in 2019, and she was a member of the U-17 Oceania Australian squad, also in 2019.
 
"We are thrilled to be adding Emily to our 2021 class and Pilot family," said Meek. "Emily brings us another player with International experience on the Australian National team. She has had fantastic coaching from the COE in Australia and is used to high-level training. At 6'3" Emily has tremendous versatility and has an awesome foundation of guard skills, and she can also post up on occasion. She is an outstanding person and teammate that has the ability to make an immediate impact. Emily may be the most multi-faceted player we have recruited and is going to make an outstanding impact in the West Coast Conference."
 
Emma Strelein also represents Australia, hailing from Perth. A 5-10 guard, Strelein played with the Perth Lynx of the WNBL and was teammates with a handful of WNBA players. In 2020, she scored a season-high 18 points for the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, who compete in the WSBL. Previously, Strelein was an all-star for the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (WABL) U-18's, and she was the U-16 Team MVP in 2018. Strelein was also named a Top 20 Australian Player for the Class of 2021 in Aussie Basketball USA's 2020 Scouting Report.
 
"Emma is an elite guard that can play both the one and two position," Meek said. "Emma has had great coaching and experience playing with the Perth Lynx. An elite shooter and scorer, Emma will help bring ball handling and great competitive playing experience from that position. She is an outstanding student and person who will immediately add leadership. Emma is a tireless worker that is driven to excel and exemplifies greatness from the hard work she commits to the game."