WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue women's basketball head coach Sharon Versyp announced a third player to her 2019 recruiting class Tuesday, welcoming Roxane Makolo to the Boilermaker family. The late signee is now the third Canadian on the Boilermaker roster, joining the Boilermakers from Dawson College in Montreal, Quebec.
"Roxane brings a high-level skill set to our team and we're beyond excited to have her join us in West Lafayette," said Versyp. "Her experience and extensive playing time with the Canadian National Team adds great confidence and basketball IQ to her already exceptional presence on the court."
Makolo has been a member of the Canadian National Team for three seasons, competing in the FIBA Americas Championships in 2015 and 2018, and playing six games in the U17 FIBA World Championships in 2016. She helped Canada to the gold medal at the U16 FIBA Americas Championships and a silver at the 2018 FIBA Americas, where she averaged 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game.
She appeared in 28 games in two seasons at Dawson College, averaging 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals in 2018-19 and 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 14 games in 2017-18. Makolo was the MVP and Rookie of the Year of the RSEQ (Quebec Student Sports Network) in 2018, and a first-team all star in 2018, leading her team to provincial championships in both seasons.
"Roxane gives us added depth in the backcourt with her ball handling and one-on-one abilities," added Versyp. "She has a strong scoring mentality and has a strong ability to score at the rim and in the mid-range, while her 3-point shooting continues to develop and will make her even more dangerous."
"Defensively she has great length and can really help out on the boards. Her ability to chase down loose balls and push tempo will be a huge asset in our transition game and help us speed up our pace of play."
Makolo joins a class that already includes standouts Rickie Woltman and Bria Harmon, who signed with the Boilermakers in November. Makolo will spend the summer playing for Team Canada before joining her teammates in August prior to the start of the fall semester.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Competed in two seasons for Dawson College, appearing in 28 games with 14 starts
• Averaged 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game in 2018-19, starting 11-of-14 games and playing 26.6 minutes per game
• Posted 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 14 games in 2017-18, averaging 25.7 minutes over 14 games
• Led her team to back-to-back RSEQ Provincial Championships
• Named to the RSEQ 1st Team All-Star Team
• Voted 2017-18 RSEQ Most Valuable Player and RSEQ Rookie of the Year
NOTEWORTHY
• Three-year member of the Canadian national team with 20 games of experience
• Led her team to a second-place finish at the U18 FIBA Americas, averaging 20.9 minutes, 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game
• 2018-19 CCAA All-Canada and bronze medalist
• Averaged 6.0 points and 5.2 rebounds at the 2016 U17 FIBA Worlds
• Earned a gold medal at the 2015 U16 FIBA Americas, posting 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20.0 minutes per game
• Won gold at the 2017 Canada Summer Games with Team Quebec
• Named the No. 2 overall recruit and No. 1 guard in Canada by CrownScoutGirls.com
• Named an "Under The Radar" standout by BlueStar Media in 2017
PERSONAL
• Full name: Roxane Makolo
• Intended Major: Business
• Birthday: May 30, 2000
• City Born: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Parents: Mac-Yves Makolo and Veronique Mbokolo
• Sibling: Ronald Mpia
"Roxane brings a high-level skill set to our team and we're beyond excited to have her join us in West Lafayette," said Versyp. "Her experience and extensive playing time with the Canadian National Team adds great confidence and basketball IQ to her already exceptional presence on the court."
Makolo has been a member of the Canadian National Team for three seasons, competing in the FIBA Americas Championships in 2015 and 2018, and playing six games in the U17 FIBA World Championships in 2016. She helped Canada to the gold medal at the U16 FIBA Americas Championships and a silver at the 2018 FIBA Americas, where she averaged 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game.
She appeared in 28 games in two seasons at Dawson College, averaging 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals in 2018-19 and 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 14 games in 2017-18. Makolo was the MVP and Rookie of the Year of the RSEQ (Quebec Student Sports Network) in 2018, and a first-team all star in 2018, leading her team to provincial championships in both seasons.
"Roxane gives us added depth in the backcourt with her ball handling and one-on-one abilities," added Versyp. "She has a strong scoring mentality and has a strong ability to score at the rim and in the mid-range, while her 3-point shooting continues to develop and will make her even more dangerous."
"Defensively she has great length and can really help out on the boards. Her ability to chase down loose balls and push tempo will be a huge asset in our transition game and help us speed up our pace of play."
Makolo joins a class that already includes standouts Rickie Woltman and Bria Harmon, who signed with the Boilermakers in November. Makolo will spend the summer playing for Team Canada before joining her teammates in August prior to the start of the fall semester.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Competed in two seasons for Dawson College, appearing in 28 games with 14 starts
• Averaged 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game in 2018-19, starting 11-of-14 games and playing 26.6 minutes per game
• Posted 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 14 games in 2017-18, averaging 25.7 minutes over 14 games
• Led her team to back-to-back RSEQ Provincial Championships
• Named to the RSEQ 1st Team All-Star Team
• Voted 2017-18 RSEQ Most Valuable Player and RSEQ Rookie of the Year
NOTEWORTHY
• Three-year member of the Canadian national team with 20 games of experience
• Led her team to a second-place finish at the U18 FIBA Americas, averaging 20.9 minutes, 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game
• 2018-19 CCAA All-Canada and bronze medalist
• Averaged 6.0 points and 5.2 rebounds at the 2016 U17 FIBA Worlds
• Earned a gold medal at the 2015 U16 FIBA Americas, posting 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20.0 minutes per game
• Won gold at the 2017 Canada Summer Games with Team Quebec
• Named the No. 2 overall recruit and No. 1 guard in Canada by CrownScoutGirls.com
• Named an "Under The Radar" standout by BlueStar Media in 2017
PERSONAL
• Full name: Roxane Makolo
• Intended Major: Business
• Birthday: May 30, 2000
• City Born: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Parents: Mac-Yves Makolo and Veronique Mbokolo
• Sibling: Ronald Mpia