MADISON, Wis. -- Kendra Van Leeuwen from Brantford, Ontario, has become the first player signed by new Wisconsin women's basketball coach Jonathan Tsipis. The 5-foot-10 guard joins the Badgers for the 2016-17 season, becoming the sixth member of the incoming freshman class.

"Kendra is a skilled combo guard who can really stretch the defense with her 3-point shooting," Tsipis said. "She is an excellent passer who sees the floor well, likes to play in transition and understands how to get people the ball where they can be successful."

Van Leeuwen played at St. John's College High School where she was a four-time team most valuable player, guiding the Eagles to four city and four regional championships as well as advancing to the provincial finals twice. She was also a three-time high school athlete of the year while winning the Phyllis Gretzky Award for female youth leadership in sports.

A multi-sport athlete, Van Leeuwen also participated in badminton, tennis, track, cross country, volleyball and softball. She was a four-time team MVP in tennis and cross country.

Van Leeuwen played club basketball with TriCounty Thunder in the Junior Elite League of Ontario (JUEL). She was a JUEL All-Star in 2015 and was named to the all-rookie team in 2014.

A three-time member of Team Ontario, Van Leeuwen was named All-Canadian in 2014 as a member of the U17 team and in 2013 as a member of the U15 team.  She was named the MVP in 2013, leading Team Ontario to the championship title.

"She has represented Team Canada on the junior national team and will continue to play for them during her time at Wisconsin," Tsipis said. "Kendra is a multi-sport athlete who is ultra-competitive and is the youngest of three collegiate student-athletes. We are very excited to have Kendra join the Wisconsin women's basketball family."

On the national level, Van Leeuwen was a member of the Canadian U17 national team in 2014. The team placed sixth at the World Championships with Van Leeuwen as the second-leading scorer on the squad. She is also one of 18 athletes up for consideration to be a member of the Canadian U18 team that will compete in the Americas Championships in Valdivia, Chile, from July 13-17.

Van Leeuwen is ranked as the eighth-best international player for 2016 by Prospects Nation.

She joins Courtney Fredrickson, Suzanne Gilreath, Gabby Gregory, Abby Laszewski and Grace Mueller as signees for this fall.