Brady Sallee couldn’t wait for the news.

The recruiting plan for Eastern’s second-year women’s basketball coach became clearer after three players signed Tuesday.

“Being able to see the big picture, I couldn’t be more excited with the three ladies we got,” Sallee said.

Over the last week, Sallee was quietly whispering that he had a recruiting class that, mixed with this year’s eight newcomers, could take Eastern out of the basement of the Ohio Valley Conference.

“These are the players we targeted from day one and thought ‘if we could get them, wouldn’t that be special,'” Sallee said.

The effort of Sallee and his staff was centered on the perimeter duo and post player that signed National Letter of Intents.

“All of our money was used on getting them and I’m so happy that we were able to make a connection with all three,” Sallee said. “I took a red-eye to Vegas to watch one play and then immediately got on a second to watch the another in Georgia. Somebody on our staff saw every one of their games.”

The pair of guards that Sallee said could make an immediate impact their freshman year are Ashley Thomas and Laurent Sturtevant.

Thomas is a dual-threat perimeter player that can play the point and shooting guard positions. The Moline native was a Third Team All-State selection by the Illinois Coaches Association and is her high school’s all-time leader in steals.

“I can tell you after playing with her for a couple of years, she’s a great player,” Edwards said. “It’s so nice to have her here in the future.”

The three-year starter will likely surpass the 1,000 career point mark in her senior year this winter

“In Ashley, I feel like we signed one of the best guards in the state of Illinois,” Sallee said.

In Sallee’s new up-court system that provides several opportunities to outside shooters, Thomas should get the chance to fill up the basket from long range.

“I can’t tell you how good a shooter Thomas is,” Sallee said. “She is a complete player don’t get me wrong but the first thing people notice is her shot.”

After playing on the same AAU team as Edwards, Sallee used his current player to recruit a future one.

“I told her that her job is to get Ashley Thomas,” Sallee said.

“It’s nice to hear that people you’ve already played with are coming,” Edwards said. “She’s a great shooter that plays with intensity and is such a smart player.”

Sallee remembers two years ago watching the trio of Edwards, Thomas and another Tuesday signee, Marie Baker, play for the same Moline AAU team.

“It’s funny because I didn’t know at the time that I was looking at our future backcourt and post threat,” Sallee said.

Thomas’ perimeter partner will be Indiana native Lauren Sturtevant. The athletic wing player will join Eastern freshman Lindsey Kluempers as the duo from Fishers, Ind. Sturtevant was the only junior named to the Indianapolis Star’s All-City team after posting double figures in scoring her last two season.

“Lauren is more confident going to the basket and making plays driving through the lane,” Sallee said. “She simply makes plays and can get in your shorts on defense.”

In 2006-2007, Marie Baker will make it three players on the Panthers roster at 6-foot-2. The three-year starter at Prospect High School in Chicago was named to the Daily Herald All-Area team after averaging a double figures in scoring and rebounds last season.

“She has the greatest pair of hands I’ve ever seen out of a post player. I can’t teach that,” Sallee said. “If we get her comfortable and in a college weight room, she could be a serious force on the block.”

Baker received a McDonald’s All-American nomination this fall and was named to the All-State Honorable Mention list.

“Physically, she could quickly become a go-to post player,” Sallee said.

Sallee didn’t fail to mention how he signed the Moline AAU trio from a rival area.

“The cool thing is we went into Western Illinois’ backyard and got them,” Sallee said. “These girls could’ve and make have in the past gone to Northern Illinois, Loyola or Illinois State. They all want to be a part of something.”

Now Sallee has a coaching dream of a problem of how to get playing time for all 10 underclassmen on next year’s roster.

“I’m not really worried about that, but what I do think about is when they are juniors and seniors, what’s this team going do,” Sallee said. “With this group, we should be able to compete for championships.”