INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s basketball team had its incoming class grow from one player to three with the inking of Alex Thompson and Nevena Markovic to National Letters of Intent, head coach Austin Parkinson announced today. 

“This class gives us good balance as we needed to add size, and a guard that had some versatility. I like that the class has a high basketball IQ, good character kids, and all can score the basketball at a high level,” Parkinson said.

Thompson did a little bit of everything for Frankfort High School this past season leading the squad in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks. Standing 5’ 9”, Thompson collected 10 double-doubles this season with her most impressive performance coming on Jan. 4, 2011, at Clinton Prairie, when she poured in 23 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. Thompson averaged 20.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 4.9 apg, while concluding her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

A four-year all-conference, all-Clinton County, and all-area performer, Thompson was a Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 60 Senior and picked up IGCSA Honorable-Mention All-State plaudits for her work as a senior.

“Alex is a very tough kid with a knack for scoring the basketball,” Parkinson said. “She has excellent court vision and is one of those kids with tremendous intangibles, which will make her a great addition here at IUPUI.”

Markovic, who moved to Illinois from Serbia seven years ago, comes to Indianapolis from Glenbard South High School where she finished her career ranking third in school history in scoring. Due to her international background, Markovic is a versatile player who was asked to score, rebound, and distribute the ball evidenced by her 19.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg, and 3.5 apg as a 6’ 4” post.

Markovic broke Glenbard South’s single-game scoring record with 38 points against Riverside Brookfield earlier in her senior campaign, and racked up a long list of accolades including being named the conference MVP and Glen Ellyn News Player of the Year, in addition to earning all-conference, Daily Herald All-Area, and IBCA Honorable-Mention All-State honors.

“From an offensive standpoint, Nevena can create match-up problems because she has three-point range and the ability to score on the block,” Parkinson said. “Like Alex, she will probably be one of our better passers from day one, but she also adds size to our roster, which is something we have been missing.”