Toni Kokenis/Sun-Times News Group
Stanford's women's basketball team picked up its second commitment for the class of 2010 when Toni Kokenis, a point guard from Illinois, gave a verbal commitment on Thursday to play at Stanford, according to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Kokenis joins Sara James, who committed to Stanford a few weeks ago.
Kokenis, who recently completed her junior year at Hinsdale Central High School, is not listed among ESPN.com's top 100 players of the class of 2010, but she is considered the best point guard in the state. She averaged 17.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.1 steals during her junior season.
Kokenis told the Sun-Times she committed after Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer called with an offer this week.
"I felt like it was unreal in a way," Kokenis told the Sun-Times. "I've wanted to go there for a long time and I'm really happy and excited. I had also looked at Vanderbilt and DePaul, so I had good choices if it didn't (get Stanford."
Northwestern and UCLA were the other schools that interested Kokenis, who is 5-10. She reportedly has a 5.77 grade-point average, taking advance-placement classes in every subject except English.
Kokenis helped guide her high school team to a 31-3 record this past season despite the unexpected resignation of her coach in December and the loss of two players, one who transferred and another who tore her anterior-cruciate ligament. Kokenis is considered a smart player who makes the right decisions at the right times and controls the game with a confident, even-keel demeanor. She's one of those players who just makes the team play better.
Kokenis is also a standout soccer player, but she is not certain whether she will play soccer as a senior.
Kokenis' oral commitment is not binding. She cannot sign an official letter of intent until November.
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