PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Women's Basketball has announced the addition of three new players for the class of 2022-23: Rhyan Mogel, Dyani Ananiev and Lainey Spear.
"We are absolutely elated about our '23 class," Portland Head Coach Michael Meek. "We feel we are getting two of the top prospects in Oregon and a dynamic wing-type player out of Australia. All three of these athletes are committed to hard work and individual improvement while being great additions to our team culture. All three of these athletes are capable of making an immediate impact, and we are very excited to welcome them to the Portland Pilot family."
Lainey Spear – 6-2 – Forward – Portland, Ore.
Spear is a 6-foot-2 forward playing her high-school ball at Beaverton High School here in Oregon. She's been a first team All-Metro League selection the past two years and was the Metro League Player of the Year last season. The Beavers have won the Metro League Championship each of the past three years and won their first ever OSAA 6A State Championship last season. Her mother, Kristin Hepton Spear, is a member of the Portland Pilots Athletic Hall of Fame, having been a three-time All-WCC First Team selection and leading the Pilots to the NCAA Tournament in 1996 and 1997.
Coach Meek on Spear
"Lainey is an elite athlete that can guard all positions, and she's shown a tremendous commitment to developing her offensive game. She is excellent regarding her attention to the details of the game. She cares about being great defensively and that is a big part of why she is a perfect fit in for our program. She is a proven winner that wants to help contribute to the upward trend of this program. Lainey is an awesome competitor and we are all excited to coach her and welcome her to our team."
Rhyan Mogel – 5-10 – Guard – Happy Valley, Ore.
Mogel is a local prospect hailing from Happy Valley, Ore. The guard is a star coming out of Clackamas High School, having made the Mt. Hood Conference First Team and being named the Mt. Hood Conference Player of the Year. She also plays with the club team Northwest Select Black, a team that took third in the inaugural season of the Select 40 Tournament earlier this year. They've posted a team record of 32-5.
Coach Meek on Mogel
"Rhyan is also an elite athlete with an outstanding work ethic and drive to be great. She is another lockdown defender that will fit perfectly into our system. She is ultra-coachable, puts the time in to work on her craft and is committed to her skill development. Rhyan is a great teammate and also has strong leadership abilities. We are excited to have Rhyan join our great group and help her reach her potential."
Dyani Ananiev – 6-1 – Wing – St. Andrews, Victoria, Australia
Ananiev adds to a roster already loaded with Australian players, coming from St. Andrews, Victoria. She helped her club team, Wyndham, win the 2021-22 Basketball Victoria Big V Championship. She was also the top scorer in the league and was named the rookie of the year.
Coach Meek on Ananiev
"Dyani is a very versatile defender with the ability to guard 1-4. Dyani can really shoot the ball with great range. She has the potential to grow into an extremely versatile player and we are excited to have the opportunity to help her grow her game. She will not only add great length defensively and excellence as a three-point shooter, but is another athlete from this class that is committed to being an contributor to the program."
The Pilots are 1-0 to start the year after defeating the Willamette Bearcats 92-56. They are coming off a 20-11 season that saw Portland make the WNIT for the first time since 2009. It was the fifth 20-win season for the Pilots at the Division I level and the second under head coach Michael Meek.
Portland plays later tonight against the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine in a doubleheader with the men's team. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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