CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Virginia coach Debbie Ryan has announced the signings of five student-athletes to national letters of intent for the upcoming 2001-2002 academic year.
LaTonya Blue, Jocelyn Logan-Friend, Bethany LeSueur, Lynette O'Reggio, and Brandi Teamer will join the Virginia women's basketball program next year.
Blue, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward from Baltimore, Maryland, attended St. Frances Academy. She earned USA Today and Street & Smith honorable mention All-America honors. Logan-Friend, a 6-1 forward from Cheverly, Maryland, was named the 2000 Gatorade Player of the Year for the District of Columbia. She was ranked No. 81 by Blue Star. Logan-Friend averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game in her first three seasons at St. John's High School in Washington.
LeSueur, a 5-11 guard from Garden City, N.Y., was a USA Today All-American honorable mention selection. She led her Garden City High School team to the state tournament three times. LeSueur was named Honorable Mention All-NYC Area after scoring 1,000 points as a freshman. O'Reggio, a 6-4 center from Laurel, Maryland, averaged 10 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks per game for Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Md. She led her school to a 28-5 record and a second place finish in the Washington Catholic Association.
Teamer, a 6-2 forward from Joleit, Illinois, attended high school at the Berkshire School. She was listed as the nation's No. 48 recruit in the Class of 2000 by the All-Star Girls Report. Teamer is currently attending the Miller School in Crozet
Goestenkors gets two at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University women's basketball head coach Gail Goestenkors on Tuesday announced the signing of Monique Curry (Potomac, Md.) and Wynter Whitley (Atlanta, Ga.).
"Both Wynter and Monique are very gifted players," Goestenkors said. "They are not only athletic but very skilled as well. Each will give us an added dimension of strength that we don't possess much of right now. They are both very powerful, physical players that can hit the 3-pointer and will fit very well into our five-out motion style play."
Curry, a 6-foot shooting guard/wing, hails from The Bullis School in Potomac, Md., where she averaged 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists as a junior. She guided The Bullis School to a 27-2 record and to the Independent School League regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in the school history, while being named Player of the Year by the Washington Post. Last summer, Curry was selected Most Valuable Player at the adidas Camp in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Whitley is a 6-2 power forward from Holy Innocents Episcopal in Atlanta, Ga, where she averaged 22.1 points and 8.9 rebounds as a junior. Whitley guided her team to a 23-5 record and earned All-Region, All-State, and Class A Player of the Year honors.
Rutgers signs sixth signee
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Saona Chapman (Voluntown, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) has signed national letter of intent to play basketball at Rutgers, coach C. Vivian Stringer announced Wednesday.
Chapman brings the number of student-athletes formally commited to play for the Scarlet Knights next season to six. Chapman joins Chelsea Newton (Monroe, La./Carroll HS), Amber Petillon (Brick, N.J./Brick Township HS), Cappie Pondexter (Chicago, Ill./John Marshall HS), Rebecca Richman (The Bronx, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech HS) and Mariota Theodoris (Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast HS) on the Rutgers team next season.
"While the number of signees seems large in comparison to other classes, it is typical for us to bring in a 'core class' every few years and try to address every position with that class," Stringer said. "You have to be sure that a core class will elevate your level of play and that each person has a high level of expectations for themselves, and this group has both. We will work hard to ensure that they're challenged to play at that higher level each day."
Chapman, a 5-8 point guard who also was being recruited by George Washington, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, averaged 16 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals a game as a junior at Norwich Free Academy. Her conference's Most Valuable Player, Chapman is an honorable mention USA Today All-American, a Street & Smith's All-American and a Nike All-American. Also a first-team all-state selection, Chapman was rated 52nd by Blue Star.
The daughter of Clark and Tami Chapman, she is interested in pursuing communications or law at Rutgers. She also was being recruited by George Washington, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.
"A point guard is not born -- there has to be an intense desire to be in charge and take responsibility," Stringer explained. "Saona will challenge herself to new levels and she has those qualities needed in a point guard. She is intense, fundamentally sound, shoots the ball well and makes excellent decisions. Saona can flat-out play."
ODU inks juco All-Ameican
NORFOLK, Va -- Junior college Kodak All-American Evelina "Max" Nhassengo has signed a letter of intent to attend Old Dominion, coach Wendy Larry announced Thursday.
Nhassengo, a 5-10 guard from top-20 junior college program Central Florida Community College in Ocala, was an All-American and the Mid-Florida Conference Player and Rookie of the Year as a freshman last season. She averaged 21.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals. This season, Nhassengo is second in the nation for scoring, tossing in 31 points per contest.
"We are pleased that the recruitment process surrounding Max has come to fruition," said Larry. "Max will bring great athleticism and character to our program. She is a solid student-athlete."
Nhassengo is a native of Mozambique and hails from its capital Maputo, the same town that former Lady Monarch All-American Clarisse Machanguana is from. She currently owns a 3.27 GPA and will join the Lady Monarchs as a junior next season.
Wolverines sign three prospects
ANN ARBOR, Mich.. -- Michigan coach Sue Guevara has announced the signing of three high school prospects.
The Wolverines did not have to leave the state for any signatures as the Maize and Blue inked Katrina Mason (Detroit, Mich./Murray-Wright HS), Breanne McPhillamy (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) and Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS).
"We are very pleased and excited about the recruiting class we were able to sign this year," Guevara said. "We signed a very athletic group of kids, but more importantly, a very hard working group of kids. In addition to being athletic, this is a blue-collar group, which I think is a key ingredient in the development of young players."
Pool, a 6-1 small forward, is one of the highest ranked players ever to sign with the Wolverines. Pool was the preseason No. 1 player in the state of Michigan according to both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. In addition, Pool is ranked as the No. 4 player in the country by Women's Basketball Journal and the No. 3 player in the nation by All-Stater Magazine. Pool is the all-time leading scorer at Huron High School, is averaging 21.6 points per game as a senior and was named to the AAU All-American team at the 2000 Nationals in Tennessee.
McPhillamy, a 6-2 power forward, is second on the all-time scoring list at Portage Northern High School and should leave as the school's all-time leader in rebounding. She currently has 692 career rebounds and needs just 22 more caroms to break the school record of 713. The forward was a 1999 all-state selection as a junior and is a 2000 candidate for Ms. Basketball in the state of Michigan.
Mason, a 6-2 post player, is currently averaging 24 points and 20 rebounds per game at Murray-Wright High School. Mason also averages close to eight blocks per game and shoots 73 percent from the free throw line.
Bennett inks first recruit at Indiana
Coach Kathi Bennett has announced that Jenny DeMuth of Highland, Ind., has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the Hoosiers starting with the 2001-02 season.
DeMuth, a 5-11 forward, averaged 23.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game last season for the Lady Trojans, who finished the year 19-2 and ranked second in the state. The 2001 Miss Indiana Basketball candidate shot 38 percent from behind the 3-point line, 56 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free-throw line last season while scoring in double-figures in all but one game.
DeMuth became Highland?s all-time leading scorer as well as passing the 1,000-points barrier for her career midway through her junior year.
UCLA signs two recruits
UCLA coach Kathy Olivier on Wednesday announced the signing of two student-athletes to national letters-of-intent -- Krystle Johnson of Hoover (Alabama) High School and Paula "Sissy" Pickett of Martin High School in Coushatta, La.
"We are very excited to add these two players who are both outstanding students and athletes," said Olivier. "We had to address a need for inside players with good size, and both Krystle and Paula do that, and then some."
Johnson, who is 6-4, averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds last season at Hoover High. Last season, the all-state performer helped lead the Lady Buccaneers to a 31-2 record and an appearance in the state championship game, while being named to the 2000 state championship all-tournament team. She is a three-time gold medalist at the Alabama Sports Festival and holds career-highs of 25 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
The 6-7 Pickett averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field last season at Martin High. She helped her team to a 34-9 record a year ago while being named to the USA Today honorable mention All-America list. A three-time all-state selection, Pickett broke the school record for single-season scoring as a freshman and then again as a sophomore.
Purdue pens Illinois signee
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Emily Heikes, a senior at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Ill., has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Purdue.
"We're extremely excited to have Emily join our basketball family," Purdue head coach Kristy Curry said. "She brings both size and strength to our front line, and she has the ability to go inside and out. Emily has only scratched the surface with her potential. I believe she's one of the sleepers in this year's class."
Heikes chose Purdue over DePaul, Illinois and Virginia. Heikes, a 6-foot forward, averaged 14.7 points and 10.9 rebounds as a junior for the Chargers. The school-record holder in single game points (32) and rebounds (26), Heikes was a second team all-state selection last season.
Heikes' uncle, Bob Nommensen, played football for the Boilermakers from 1981 to 1982.
Southern Cal signs two
Rachel Woodward of Murrieta Valley (Calif.) High and Kimberly Gipson of Westchester (Calif.) High have signed letters-of-intent with the USC women's basketball team, head coach Chris Gobrecht announced Wednesday.
"Rachel is a perfect fit for USC because she will be able to bring all the qualities that we value most in this program," said Gobrecht. "Kim is a great addition because of our need for size next season."
Woodward, a 6-foot-1 forward, is considered to be among the nation's top 50 prep players by various recruiting publications. She averaged 22.3 points and 14 rebounds a game as a junior and was honored as a Nike All-America, All-CIF first team selection and all-area pick. She averaged 21 points, 15 rebounds as a sophomore, and 19.5 points and 13.7 rebounds as a freshman. The All-Star Girl's Report rated her 33rd among the 2001 recruits.
Also a much sought-after recruit, Gipson was ranked as high as 39th by the All-Star Girl's Report. She received All-L.A. city first team honors as a junior after averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks per game. The 6-foot-5 center was a 2000 Nike Camp invitee. She averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds as a sophomore.
Badgers get two recruits
Stephanie Rich, the top player in the state of Iowa, and Shawna Nichols, the 2000 Wisconsin Player of the Year, signed national letters of intent to play basketball for Wisconsin in 2001, Badger Coach Jane Albright announced Thursday. Both players are Street and Smith Honorable Mention Prep All-Americans among their other accolades.
Rich, a 5-11 guard at Washington High School, was the MVP of the Iowa Class 3A State Tournament the last three years and the 3A state player of the year as a sophomore and junior. She is ranked No. 64 in the Blue Star Index Top 100 seniors list, a national recruiting magazine, and was the 74th pick in the Top 80 overall players' list. She averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.4 steals, 5.4 blocks and 4.1 assists as a point guard last season.
Nichols, Wisconsin's Gatorade State Player of the Year as a junior at Milwaukee Pius XI, has led Pius to three consecutive state private school titles. She earned first team all-state honors as a sophomore, and second team recognition as a junior. She was named all-conference in 2000 and is listed as the No. 51 best guard according to the All-Star Girls Report. The only sophomore ever chosen as a captain at Pius, she has been a captain three years and is also a two-time team MVP. The 5-10 point guard averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 6.2 assists per game. She hit 54 percent from the field, and 82 percent from the line as a junior. She was also a two-time all-conference and all-area selection in softball playing shortstop.
"Steph is a Larry Bird-type of shooting guard," Albright said. "She is very versatile, can score from outside or by slashing to the hole. She's a great passer and rebounder.
"Shawna is a true point guard who runs the team and makes everyone else better. She is a proven leader, most effective in open floor, a great decision maker and playmaker."
Iowa inks two recruits
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder has received letters of intent from Jenna Armstrong and April Calhoun.
Armstrong, a native of Stockton, Mo., is a 5-9 point guard/shooting guard that has been a starting guard on six Missouri State AAU Championship teams and National AAU Qualifiers. She was also a starting guard on the 1999 fifth-place U.S. Junior National Team in Washington D.C. At the 16-and-under 2000 AAU National Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., Armstrong averaged 24.5 points and 7.0 rebounds.
At Stockton High School, Armstrong led her team (23-5) to an eighth-place finish in the state tournament. She collected single-season school records for most points (666), field goals (211), free throws (164), 3-point field goals (80) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.6 percent).
"Jenna is a tremendous offensive player," Bluder said. "She can pull up for the 3, or create offense with a variety of moves to the basket. Her defensive tenacity is also an incredible asset."
Calhoun, a 5-8 point guard from New Hope, Minn., has been a varsity player since the eighth grade and starter since her freshman
season. She currently has tabulated 709 career points, which ranks her eighth all-time in the state of Minnesota. Calhoun also holds Armstrong High School's career assists mark with 356. She also ranks second in steals (249) and third in three-point field goals (43) at her high school. Armstrong High School is 64-10 since Calhoun has started at point guard.
"April is the epitome of a true point guard," Bluder said. "She's an excellent athlete who dives on the floor and constantly pushes herself and her teammates. We are so excited for her to be joining us."
Huskers sign three players
Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford has announced that three players -- Katie Robinette, Jina Johansen and Keasha Cannon -- have committed to the Huskers.
Robinette, a high school All-American who has been ranked among the top 10 recruits in the nation, headlines the trio. The 6-2 senior forward from South Sioux City (Neb.) High School was ranked as the No. 1 junior in the nation by USA Today in 1999. She is on track to become South Sioux City's all-time scoring and rebounding leader this season after averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a junior.
Robinette said she chose Nebraska over Connecticut, Iowa State, Georgia, Tennessee and Houston.
Junior college All-American Keasha Cannon from Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo., adds a talented back-court player to Robinette's front-court presence. Cannon, who also considered Kansas, Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma
State, led NJCAA Division II in assists (7.9 apg) last season, while ranking fourth nationally in scoring (20.7), fourth in free-throw percentage (81.9) and sixth in field-goal percentage (57.3).
Cannon will be joined in the Nebraska backcourt by Johansen, a 5-6 point guard from Centura, Neb. Johansen, who was a first-team All-Nebraska selection by the Omaha World-Herald last season, is a two-time first-team Class C-2 all-state pick. She averaged 26.2 points, 8.8 assists and 5.6 steals per game while leading Centura to a state runner-up finish with a 25-1 record in 1999-2000. Johansen, who attended Nebraska Women's Basketball Camp in the summers of 1998 and 1999, also considered Creighton, Kansas State, Colorado State and Iowa State.
"All three of these players are very mobile with outstanding quickness and can run the floor. We didn't get the big center this year, so we will have to be athletic," Sanderford said. "We felt like we needed a go-to player offensively, and I think in Keasha Cannon and Katie Robinette we got those kinds of players. We also looked into the future and thought we needed a point guard. Jina Johansen
gives that to us because she is a great leader who sees the floor so well and creates opportunities for her teammates.
Mulkey-Robertson signs five
First-year Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson has signed five student-athletes to national letters of intent, including two ranked in the nation's top 100.
Signing on the dotted line to attend Baylor were
Steffanie and Tiffanie Blackmon, Jordan Davis, Melanie Hamerly and Lauren
Selmon. Steffanie Blackmon and Davis are both among the nation's top
recruits.
Baylor's class includes Rowlett High School twins Steffanie and Tiffanie Blackmon, two of the most highly recruited athletes in the state. Steffanie, a 6-2 post, is the highest ranked player signed by Mulkey-Robertson, ranking 57th nationally by All Star Girls Report and No. 4 by Texas Girls Basketball Report. Steffanie averaged 19.8 points and 13.7 rebounds last season at Rowlett HS while
Tiffanie, a 6-0 post, played at Dallas Lincoln last year.
According to Mulkey-Robertson, "This set of tall twins bring us depth and size at the post position. Tiffanie is more of a finesse player who can shoot the high post shot. Steffanie has the ability to play with her back to the basket, or facing the goal. She likes to mix it up down at the low post. Both have the ability to pull down rebounds. Having them in our program will pay dividends and I look forward to coaching them."
Celina 5-9 point guard Jordan Davis, rated one of the top recruits in the state, has made a commitment with the Baylor women's basketball team. Davis is ranked 90th nationally by the All Star Girls Report and No. 7 by the Texas Girls Basketball Report. Davis, a two-time Class 1A all-state pick, Davis averaged 23.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists for Valley View last year. She also shot 91 percent from the free-throw line and is an outstanding 3-point shooter.
Melanie Hamerly is a 6-5 post from Cypress-Mauriceville High School. The Orange, Texas native averaged 17.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals last season. She was named the most valuable player of the Beaumont Enterprise's super gold team.
Lauren Selmon, an all-state forward from Norman, Okla., averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season for Norman High School. The 5-10 forward, led the Lady Tigers to the Class 6A state semifinals last season.
Hurricanes ink two players
Miami coach Ferne Labati announced the signing of 5-8 point guard Yolonda McCormick (Miami, Fla.) and 5-11 swing player Melissa Knight (Philadelphia) to national letters of intent.
McCormick enters her senior season at Monsignor Pace High School ranked as the nation's 29th best player and the fifth best point guard prospect in the country by All Star Girls Report. Last season she averaged 21.5 points, 10.5 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game in leading Monsignor Pace to a 26-2 record.
Knight, the 23rd ranked wing player in the country by the All Star Girls Report, averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game last season at William Penn Charter High School. Knight, an honors student and the only player in school history to record 1,000 career points, earned All-League, All-City and All-Area honors as a junior. A tremendous all-around athlete, Knight lettered four seasons
in soccer and earned two letters as a member of the lacrosse team.
Colorado signs two players
BOULDER, Colo. -- Two top-ranked prep players have signed national letters of intent to play basketball for Colorado, coach
Ceal Barry said Thursday.
Veronica Johns-Richardson, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Troy High School in Fullerton, Calif., and Cecily Jones, a 6-foot-3
center from Katy, Texas, will be great additions to the team, Barry said.
Johns-Richardson, a senior, averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists a game. Her team was 27-5 last season.
Jones, also a senior, averaged 10.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and just under one block a game last season. The Katy High School team
was 21-10 and finished second in a three-way tie for second in the district.
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ALSO SEE
Women's basketball letters of intent
Tennessee's Summitt signs top high school prospect
Girl's Basketball preseason prep All-Americans
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