MOSES LAKE - Big Bend appears poised to end a lengthy playoff drought.

So far, head women's basketball coach Preston Wilks has brought in six players, five of which earned All-State honors in high school.

"Right now we're super optimistic about the class we're bringing in," he said. "Five of the six kids have been All-State in high school. That's quite an accomplishment to have that many kids in your class coming in being All-State so we're really optimistic about this group and what they'll be able to do once they get up here and play for us."

The recruiting class includes Burley guard Chelsee Baker and her former teammate Brooke Bowers. Wilks was also able to convince Bowers, the former Burley basketball star, to pull double duty for the Vikings.

Bowers initially signed on to play volleyball for Big Bend, but after the women's basketball team was decimated with injuries Bowers volunteered to help during practice and realized she made a mistake giving up hoops.

"She was really missing just getting in there and mixing it up with people underneath the basket," Wilks said. "When the season was all done she happened to be in my office one day just chatting with me and so I just told her I really, really appreciated her coming and sacrificing and practicing with us three or four times a week."

Bowers expressed her interest in playing next season and Wilks was quick to oblige. The 5'11" Bowers scored over 1,000 points in her high school career and was a two-time All-State basketball player.

Bowers' presence underneath the basket should improve a Big Bend team that was 22nd in total defensive rebounds this season.

"She's just a tough nut," Wilks said. "Just really, really a physical presence inside. Very athletic, can jump really well but loves contact. Just loves mixing it up with people so that's going to be nice for us to have next year."

Big Bend seemed like the front runner to land Baker as another one of her former teammates, Aubrie Vale, plays for Wilks. Vale was named to the All-Defensive team this season.

Wilks had been coveting Baker since she was a freshman and with good reason as the 5'8" guard was second team All-State her senior year.

"The cool story about Chelsee that I will probably never forget is when Chelsee did her recruiting visit we were towards the end of our office visit, kind of our exit interview excuse me, sort of the tail end of our exit interview and she said, 'Boy, I like it here, I like everything about it,' then I said, 'Well, how much longer do you think you'll need to make your decision?' And she says, "Well, if it's alright with you I've already made up my mind.'"

And with that, Wilks received the verbal commitment he had been waiting for.

"She's a great shooter, a great driver, a great all-around player, defender, great rebounder and she was recognized as being an all-state player too," he said.

To fill the role of departed Sophomore All-Star Jessica Sorensen, Wilks nabbed Grace's Mackenzie Windley. The 5'9" forward averaged 16.3 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game and 2 assists per game. Windley also graduated as Grace's all-time leading scorer with 1,198 points.

"Her style of play is really similar to Jessica's," Wilks said. "She's got a little bit better outside game than Jessica had, but as far as athleticism and a hard worker she's real similar."

Wilks was able to tap an old confidant who tipped him off to Makena Shelly, a 5'9" guard who was All-State her junior year. Wilks' uncle-in-law told him about Shelley, the Snake River product, whose grandfather had played with the uncle-in-law.

Small world.

After about nine months of courtship, Shelley committed to Big Bend.

"She's such a talented kid," Wilks said. "We didn't know what she was going to eventually decide to do and we're just thrilled that she chose to play basketball for us."

Wilks also recently inked Firth's Kayla Jensen, the 2013-14 Sports Line Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Jensen averaged 10.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.7 steals per game en route to a state championship.

Wilks said he also received a verbal commitment from a point guard, but couldn't divulge her name due to league rules.