TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University head women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced that Iris Junio has signed a letter of intent to study and play basketball at ASU.
Hailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, Junio, a 6-1 guard/forward, has represented Spain in several FIBA competitions, including the 2013 U16 Women's European Championship, the 2014 U17 Women's World Championship (12.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg), the 2014 U16 Women's European Championship (14.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.6 apg), the 2017 U18 Women's European Championship (12.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 apg) and the 2017 U19 Women's World Cup (8.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.6 apg).
Junio, who has been invited to play on this year's Spain team that will compete at the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championship, has earned 19 gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal while playing for teams competing in the Championships of Spain and the national team. Individually she has accumulated more than 15 awards recognizing her outstanding play.
"We feel so incredibly blessed and excited to add a player of Iris' caliber to our roster," Turner Thorne said. "Iris has great skill and versatility for a player her size. She can probably play any position on the floor. She can shoot the ball, get to the rim and is an outstanding passer and rebounder. She is going to be fun to watch and fun to coach.
"(ASU assistant coach) Angie Nelp knew about her, but everybody thought she was going pro because she was a superstar player and so no one was really recruiting her. We found out she wanted to go to college and we were fortunate to be one of the schools she wanted to consider.
"Iris has an incredible passion and love for the game of basketball. Much like (former Sun Devil) Quinn Dornstauder, Iris wants to be an Olympian for her country one day and we want to help her realize that dream. The fact that she gave up a lucrative contract to play in college says a lot. She values education and she wants to come to one of the best schools in the world to get a great education."
Junio will be joining a Sun Devil squad that is coming off a campaign in which it tied the school records for consecutive NCAA appearances (five) and 20-win seasons (five). The team will return all of its core players next season including 2018 All-Pac-12 standout and leading scorer Kianna Ibis and 2018 All-Pac-12 honorable mention/Pac-12 defensive honorable mention selection Robbi Ryan.
Hailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, Junio, a 6-1 guard/forward, has represented Spain in several FIBA competitions, including the 2013 U16 Women's European Championship, the 2014 U17 Women's World Championship (12.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg), the 2014 U16 Women's European Championship (14.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.6 apg), the 2017 U18 Women's European Championship (12.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 apg) and the 2017 U19 Women's World Cup (8.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.6 apg).
Junio, who has been invited to play on this year's Spain team that will compete at the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championship, has earned 19 gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal while playing for teams competing in the Championships of Spain and the national team. Individually she has accumulated more than 15 awards recognizing her outstanding play.
"We feel so incredibly blessed and excited to add a player of Iris' caliber to our roster," Turner Thorne said. "Iris has great skill and versatility for a player her size. She can probably play any position on the floor. She can shoot the ball, get to the rim and is an outstanding passer and rebounder. She is going to be fun to watch and fun to coach.
"(ASU assistant coach) Angie Nelp knew about her, but everybody thought she was going pro because she was a superstar player and so no one was really recruiting her. We found out she wanted to go to college and we were fortunate to be one of the schools she wanted to consider.
"Iris has an incredible passion and love for the game of basketball. Much like (former Sun Devil) Quinn Dornstauder, Iris wants to be an Olympian for her country one day and we want to help her realize that dream. The fact that she gave up a lucrative contract to play in college says a lot. She values education and she wants to come to one of the best schools in the world to get a great education."
Junio will be joining a Sun Devil squad that is coming off a campaign in which it tied the school records for consecutive NCAA appearances (five) and 20-win seasons (five). The team will return all of its core players next season including 2018 All-Pac-12 standout and leading scorer Kianna Ibis and 2018 All-Pac-12 honorable mention/Pac-12 defensive honorable mention selection Robbi Ryan.