HOT RECRUIT IVERSEN COMMITS TO OTAHKS

Oral commitments for women's basketball in this area normally don't draw a whole lot of attention.

But a commitment that Southeast Missouri State University's Otahkians recently received figures to break that mold.

Pam Iversen, a 6-foot-2 senior at Denison Community High School in Denison, Iowa, is rated among the better college prospects in the midwest. She recently gave an oral commitment to Southeast.

Oral commitments are not binding, meaning Iversen can still change her mind. But she said she fully intends to sign a letter of intent with Southeast on Nov. 12, the first day of the early signing period.

"I plan to sign the first day I can," said Iversen. "I'm looking forward (to attending Southeast)."

Under NCAA rules, college coaches are not allowed to comment on a recruit until he or she officially signs with the program. But all indications are that Southeast head coach Ed Arnzen will be landing his top high school prospect since Southeast moved up to the Division I level in 1991.

Iversen, who averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, was recruited heavily by several major Division I programs. She said she picked Southeast over Missouri primarily because her sister is already at the school.

Allison Iversen, a 6-4 center, signed with Southeast out of junior college. She is not eligible this year but will have two seasons of eligibility beginning next year.

"I didn't get to play with Allison in high school. She hurt her knee her senior year when I was a freshman," said Pam. "Missouri recruited me hard, but it pretty much came down to me wanting to play with Allison."

Pam Iversen played this past summer on an AAU team that finished fifth in the nation. One of the players off that squad has already committed to Southwest Missouri State.