Women’s Basketball Inks Four High-Touted SigneesWomen’s Basketball Inks Four High-Touted Signees

Women’s Basketball Inks Four High-Touted Signees

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Four signees have inked their National Letters of Intent during the November signing period to join the Penn State Women's Basketball program and head coach Carolyn Kieger in Happy Valley.
 
The four-member class is comprised of Maddie Burke (Doylestown, Pa.), Kaci Donovan (Owego, N.Y.), Nan Garcia (Jeffersonville, Ind.) and Leilani Kapinus (Madison, Wis.). The four new Lady Lions, who will join the program as the Class of 2024, bring with them accomplished athletic and academic pedigrees.
 
"I'm so excited to welcome these four young women into our program and the Penn State family," Kieger said. "They are going to help us in the classroom, on the court and in the community. Fans are going to love watching them, the players are going to love playing with them, and I cannot wait to coach all four of these young women."
 


 
Maddie Burke
6-0 Guard | Doylestown, Pa. | Central Bucks West

  • Ranked in the top 50 of her class by Preferred Athlete (#27), Blue Star (#39) and Prospect Nation (#48). Ranked as the #80 overall recruit in the class by ASGR.
  • Has earned All-State honors and first team All-League accolades in all three of her high school seasons.  
  • Enters senior season at Central Bucks West with career numbers of 968 points (12.4 ppg), 493 rebounds (6.32 rpg), 193 blocks (2.5 bpg), 176 steals (2.26 spg), and 93 assists (1.2 apg) in 78 games played.
  • Led Central Bucks West to a 49-27 record through her three seasons, including a Suburban One League Championship as a freshman. Named team captain for junior and senior seasons.
  • Also helped Philadelphia Belles AAU team to Nike Indianapolis Championship.
  • Was an invitee for the 2018 USA Women's U17 World Cup Team Trials and was also a finalist for the 2017 USA Basketball Women's U16 National Team.

 
Personal: Full name is Madeline Burke…Daughter of Chris Burke and Carolyn Schwab…Has a twin sister named Allie who will be playing volleyball at American University…Father played basketball at Widener University before playing professionally in Europe…Born on August 5, 2001 in Doylestown, Pa.
 
Why Maddie Chose Penn State: "I chose Penn State because it's where I feel at home and I love the atmosphere."
 


 
Kaci Donovan
6-1 Guard | Owego, N.Y. | Owego Free Academy

  • A two-time All-State and three-time All-Conference pick from Owego Free Academy.
  • Tallied a single-season school record 542 points during junior year to lead the Indians to a 19-2 overall record, Metro Division Championship and Section IV Class B Runner-Up status. Earned first team All-State honors, second team USA Today All-USA New York Girls Basketball plaudits and Section IV Class B Player of the Year accolades for her efforts.
  • Has been a member of the varsity basketball team at Owego Free Academy since seventh grade, tallying career numbers of 1,456 points (14.1 ppg), 504 rebounds (4.9 rpg), 236 assists (2.3 apg), 229 steals (2.2 spg) and 71 blocks (0.7 bpg) in 103 games played.
  • Her 1,456 career points is currently second all-time in school history, needing only 271 to break Owego's all-time scoring record as she enters her senior season.
  • Holds school record for most points scored in a single game after dropping 35 points on two occasions.
  • Helped Philadelphia Belles AAU team to first place in the U17 bracket of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chicago in 2019.
  • Attended U17 U.S. National Team Trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado in May 2018.
  • Member of the National Honor Society who has attained high honors in every marking period of her high school career.
  • Has volunteered with the Tioga County Boy's and Girl's Club and Broome County Council of Churches Ramp It Up project.

 
Personal: Full name is Kaci Donovan…Daughter of Bill and Janet Donovan…Has one brother named Will…Mother, Janet, is a volleyball coach at Hartwick…Father, Bill, is a 1991 Penn State graduate…Born on April 30, 2002 in Johnson City, N.Y.
 
Why Kaci Chose Penn State: "I have always loved being on campus. My parents told me that I attended my first Blue and White game 10 days before I was born, so Penn State has always felt like home to me. I am so lucky to be going to college at the place that I love."
 


 
Nan Garcia
6-0 Guard | Jeffersonville, Ind. | Jeffersonville High School

  • Ranked as the No. 24 player at her position by College Girls Basketball Report.
  • Has totaled career numbers of 1,081 points (14.8 ppg), 486 rebounds (6.7 rpg), 138 steals (1.9 spg) and 88 assists (1.2 apg) at Jeffersonville High School.
  • Two-time recipient of News and Tribune Player of the Year award, in addition to being named an IBCA Supreme 15 All-State honoree and a three-time pick to the IBCA Top 100 Underclassmen list.
  • Averaged 19.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as a junior while shooting 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range. Scored more than 30 percent of her team's points as a junior.
  • Has led high school team in points, steals and blocks since she was a sophomore.
  • Represented Puerto Rico, her home country, in the summer of 2019 in the FIBA Centrobasket U17 Women's Championships.
  • A strong two-sport athlete, Garcia has also excelled at softball and earned All-Area honors in both basketball and softball.

 
Personal: Full name is Nangely Garcia…Daughter of Noel Gacia and Nancy Davila…Has one brother named Noel…Intends to major in business at Penn State…Born on January 1, 2002 in Puerto Rico.
 
Why Nan Chose Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I believe it will be a home far away from home. I love the family atmosphere."
 


 
Leilani Kapinus
5-10 Guard | Madison, Wis. | James Madison Memorial High School

  • Ranked as the No. 8 player at her position and No. 30 player in the Class of 2020 by ESPN Hoopgurlz.
  • Has averaged 14.7 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per contest throughout her career at James Madison Memorial High School.
  • Earned AP Honorable-Mention All-State honors in 2018 in addition to conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
  • Two-time All-Conference selection and two-time Team MVP.
  • Plays AAU ball for Wisconsin Flight Elite and earned Adidas USA invitation.
  • Holds school records in steals in a game (10), blocks in a game (9) and free throws made in a game (11).
  • Also excelled in track and field, placing in the top ten in the state of Wisconsin in triple jump and being crowned a three-time conference champion in high jump.

 
Personal: Full name is Leilani Tiana Kapinus…Has one brother and four sisters…Intends to major in Sports Medicine at Penn State with ambitions of becoming an athletic trainer or physical therapist…Born on June 25, 2002 in Madison, Wis.   
 
Why Leilani Chose Penn State: "I chose Penn State because it has the best coaching staff in the country and the players made me feel welcome. I'm ready to win some national championships."