SCSU Announces 2009-10 Women's Basketball Signees

[Bornthrilla]

www.scsuathletics.com/news/2009/5/20/WBB_0520091450.aspx

SC State Announces 2009-10 Women's Basketball Signees
5/20/2009 6:11:14 PM


Orangeburg SC— South Carolina State head women’s basketball coach Doug Robertson, Wednesday (May 20), announced the signing of four prospects to national letters of intent.

Inking pacts with the Lady Bulldogs were freshmen Cherisha Floyd, Trinese Fox and Lauren Johnson, and JUCO transfer Joi Walker.

Floyd, a 6-0 guard/forward from Orangeburg (Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS), averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in 2008-09. She was twice named to the All-Region team.


Fox, a 5-8 guard from Suffolk, VA (Nansemond River HS), averaged 12.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.5 steals as a senior. She was a three-time All-City, two-time All-District and the 2009 Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

A Chesapeake, Va (Western Branch HS) native, Johnson, a 5-9 guard averaged 17.8 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and shot 85 percent from the charity stripe as a senior. Her postseason accolades include All-City and All-District honors three seasons and All-Tidewater during the 08-09 campaign.

Walker, a 6-0 junior forward from St. Louis, MO (Clyde Miller Career Academy), played the last two seasons at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, AL. She was a member of the JUCO team that won back-to-back regional championships. During her two seasons at Shelton, her team made consecutive trips to the National JUCO Tournament. In 2008-09 Walker averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.

The four join Paris Alston (6-2, forward, Greensboro, NC) who signed with SC State during the November signing period.

“I think that at each of these young ladies will make an immediate impact on our program,” said Robertson. “Each of them, as well as Alston, brings something different and therefore will help fill some of the voids that we had last season.”

[Bornthrilla]

Anybody know the skinny on this Paris Alston chick?

[numberonebrave]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Bethune-Cookman University Women's Basketball program would like to announce the signing of three new Lady Wildcats for the 2009-2010 season. With only two seniors on last years' team, the three recruits, one guard and two post players, will add to and compliment a solid core of returning talent for the upcoming season.

This is Head Coach Vanessa Inge's inaugural recruiting class and she is optimistic that the newest Wildcats will have a big impact on the program. On the class, Coach Inge noted, "we are excited about the signing of Parress Davis, Porche Anderson, and Iaellan Walters, and the expected impact that they will have both athletically and academically for years to come."

Parress Davis, from Fort Washington, Md., is currently finishing up at Jericho Christian Academy. "Parress Davis is a 6'1", aggressive post player," said Inge. "She is very strong and tenacious on the boards. She has soft hands and a very soft touch around the basket. Parress also possesses the ability to shoot the short jumper and is a decent ball handler as well." At Jericho, Davis averaged 10 points, 2.3 blocks, 8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.

Porche Anderson, from Atlanta, Ga., comes to Bethune-Cookman from Maynard Jackson High School, where she finished with over 1000 points and 1000 rebounds in her four-year career as a varsity letter winner. Anderson, a 6'1" post player, was named to the Region 5AAA honorable mention team (07-08) and the 4AAA All-Region team (08-09), averaging 15.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. Of Anderson, Coach Inge says she is "a true center with a very strong and solid frame. She will provide us with strong rebounding and post defense. Porche posts very strongly and she can finish around the basket. She is able to run the floor and finish in transition, and she is also a decent shot blocker."







The final signed player is Iaellan Walters, of Nottingham High School in Syracuse, N.Y.. "Walters is a 5'8" perimeter guard. She has the ability to hit the open jumper and can create her own shot off the dribble," notes Coach Inge. "She is strongly built which allows her to get to the hole and finish. She possesses a nice mid-range game and has definite three-point range." Walters finished her high school career with 1207 total points, averaging 16 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals per game. She was also named All-League for four consecutive seasons, and recently named 3rd team All Central New York.

Coach Inge feels that her first recruiting class addresses some current needs for the Lady Wildcat program and, with her returning players, will provide a strong team to face the always tough MEAC schedule. After this year's breakthrough season, Inge and the Lady Wildcats look to take continue their progress in the 2009-2010 season and, she feels, this recruiting class is a big step in that direction.

[numberonebrave]

Howard Announces 2009-10 Women's Basketball Recruiting Class


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard women's basketball team has announced the signings of eight recruits for the 2009-10 season. Cheyenne Curley Payne (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake), Kara Smith (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), Cabria Johnson (Washington, D.C./Elizabeth Seton), Jerelle Gorham (Durham, N.C./Hillside), Tomaria Holmes (Durham, N.C./Hillside), Julee O'Neal (Durham, N.C./Hillside), Portia Deterville (Toronto, Canada/Weston) and Nicole Deterville (Toronto, Canada/Weston) form the talented class of freshmen that will join the Lady Bison on the hardwood.

Payne, a 5-5 point guard, led the nation with 328 steals as a senior at Eastlake High School, breaking the old mark set by WNBA standout Candice Wiggins. Curley totaled 1,065 career steals and set new state and local California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) marks during her storied high school career.

The rising freshman was a 2009 McDonald's All-American candidate and garnered ESPN RISE West Region Player of the Week honors on January 14.

""We are really excited to bring Cheyenne into our program. She is a true point guard, and she is going to bring a great deal of creativity and ball-handling to our team," observed head coach Niki Reid Geckeler. "Cheyenne is extremely tough and is an excellent defender."

Smith, a 6-0 forward, averaged 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds as a senior at Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago, Ill. The Dolphins posted a 31-2 record in 2008-09, finished No. 10 in the USA TODAY Super 25 poll to close out the season, and finished in second place in the state 4A championship game, falling to eventual national champion Bolingbrook.

Smith was named best team defender for two consecutive years and joins three teammates who have gone on to sign NLIs with NCAA Division I basketball programs.

"Kara is a great asset and will bring creativity and toughness to the floor for us," stated Geckeler.

The 5-11 Johnson starred at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Md. and has been rated a top-25 prospect in the Real Basketball Report (MD/DC/VA/WV Region). Johnson was a McDonald's All-American candidate before suffering a season-ending injury prior to the start of her final campaign. Seton finished an impressive 24-7 in 2008-09 and 14-4 in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) play. The Roadrunners advanced to the WCAC semifinals under head coach Jasmina Perazic.

"Cabria fits in with our system and I think she's going to have an opportunity here to really advance her game. I'm really looking forward to working with her," Geckeler said.

Gorham, Holmes and O'Neal each played for head coach Ovester Grays at Hillside High School in Durham, N.C. The trio helped their squad to a 4A state championship in 2008 and a sectional championship in 2009.

The 5-8 Gorham is a standout athlete on and off the court. She is ranked sixth in a class of 182 with a grade-point average of 4.4 and is versatile athlete, having lettered in basketball, track and volleyball. Gorham helped the Hornets to a 26-6 mark in 2009.

"Jerelle is a gifted athlete with an ability to score and create," Geckeler said. "She will have an immediate impact on our team."

Holmes, a 5-6 guard, was a 2009 McDonald's All-American nominee for the Hornets. She was invited to the Michael White Top Ten All American Camp in 2008 and received academic honors throughout her four years at Hillside.

"Tomaria is an extremely versatile basketball player who will be able to fill a number of roles on our team," said Geckeler.

O'Neal helped her squad to a perfect 12-0 home record in 2008-09. The Hornets finished 13-1 in league play and the 6-2 post was named to the 4A East Regional All-Tournament team for her efforts.

""Julee's versatility of being able to play inside and outside will contribute to our overall depth," Geckeler said. "She is a blue-collar worker at both ends of the court."

Twin towers Portia and Nicole Deterville round out the recruiting class for HU. Portia, a 6-1 forward/center, had career averages of 18 points and 12 rebounds per game at Weston Collegiate Institute and helped her squad to the provincial championship semifinals in 2009.

"Portia will be a great asset to our team," said Geckeler. "I am super excited to have her. Most importantly she is consistent. Night in and night out you can count on the same numbers from her."

Nicole was co-captain in her final campaign at Weston and helped her team to the City of Toronto ‘Final 4' qualifier. The 6-1 forward/center was invited to the All-Canada Classic for her efforts. A talented athlete, Nicole was also a silver medalist in the track program at Weston.

"Nicole can play two positions. She is a tough kid, mentally and physically, and plays well fundamentally," Geckeler added.

[numberonebrave]

Here are the 2009 NCPreps.com All-State Girls Basketball Teams!!

3A GIRLS

Helen Terry - Dudley
Keyrra Gillespie - Statesville
Krystal Moore - Rockingham
Shaniqua Clay - Beddingfield
Monique Williams - SW Edgecombe
Alyse Hall - Southern Nash
Shannon Smith - Forestview
Tee'Ara Copney - TC Roberson
Courtney Arrington – Ragsdale
Paris Alston – SE Guilford SC State
Lauryn Kobiela – Charlotte Catholic
Kayla Dayton - Piedmont
Alisha Mosley - Union Pines
Ayana Avery - West Rowan
Ny'neka Euwell - SW Edgecombe
Nyshia Hammonds - Concord
Janitsha Williams - Statesville
Jazmin Cromartie - WS Parkland