NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Women's Basketball head coach Larry
Joe Inman announced his first signing class at Tennessee State. The 2013-14
incoming class consists of Imani Davis (Tulsa, Okla.), Alexis Haddock
(Collinwood, Tenn.), Jayda Johnson (Knoxville, Tenn.), Jemilah Leonard
(Nashville, Tenn.), and Julie McCarthy (Honefoss, Norway).
"You
just do not replace six or seven seniors," Inman said. "It is a very inopportune
situation for us to have to sign six or seven players. But I am very excited
about our early commitments and I just hope we can continue what we are
doing."
Davis, a 6-0 wing, is listed as the No.
21-ranked athlete at her position according to ESPN Hoopgurlz. The Union High
School product is a three-year starter for Jim Stacy and averaged 12.4 points,
6.9 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. She is a three-time All-Conference and
two-time All-State team member and was named to the VYPE Oklahoma Sports
Magazine Top 100. Davis has had success in track and field as she claimed the
2012 Oklahoma 6A state championship in the high jump. At the same meet, she
placed sixth in the 400 meters and ninth in the long jump.
"The
fact Imani is the Oklahoma state high jump champion shows her athleticism. She
has a poise most freshmen do not have and we look to her to contribute right
away. She still needs to learn how to make the transition from high school to
college, but has the right mental attitude and work ethic to make that
adjustment. We are very excited for her to be a part of our program."
Haddock, a 5-8 guard from Collinwood High School
averaged 13.2 points a game, while playing in all 28 games as a junior. The
four-year starter plays AAU ball for Beth and Zac Stark on the TN Team
Pride.
"Lexi is an extremely aggressive young lady who
plays hard. She is a very gifted shooter who plays for an AAU team with a much
respected coaching staff. We are very excited with what she brings in work ethic
and versatility. We also like how aggressive she is when guarding her opponent."
Johnson, a 6-0 forward, is projected as the No.
91-ranked forward by ESPN Hoopgurlz. She averaged 16.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and
2.8 steals per game as she led Coach John Fisher's Fulton High School team to a
26-3 record. FHS claimed a District 3-AA Championship and a spot in the Region
2-AA semifinals. Johnson earned a spot on the All-State team after her freshman
and junior seasons and was named to the Prep Xtra 1st team during the same two
campaigns. In July, 2012, her TN Flight Silver summer team won the Nike National
Championship.
"Jayda was the first one to commit to us here at
TSU. She is a strong young lady and is the kind of young athlete who does not
take a back seat to anybody. She is very physical, very aggressive, very
dominating, and is a great finisher around the basket. She is also the type of
kid who can step outside and shoot the three. Most of the kids we are signing
early are very versatile with their skills and abilities."
Leonard, a 5-7 guard, is regarded as the No.
37-ranked point guard according to ESPN Hoopgurlz. A four-year starter for
Cherish Stringfield at Hillsboro High School averaged 11 points, four rebounds,
five steals, and four assists per game as a junior. As a sophomore, she assisted
the Burros to a District championship, while earning All-City and All-Region
recognition. Leonard continued her success as a junior by being named to the
All-District and All-City teams.
"A
very similar player as Haddock has nice ‘quicks', a nice jump shot from all
spots on the court, and is really good off the bounce. She will also get in your
face and guard you tough. We need help playing defense for 40 solid minutes and
it takes very dedicated kids who are sold out to play defense and we feel she
will do this for us. "
McCarthy, is a 6-2 forward/center who comes to
TSU from Norway where she is a member of the U18 national team. At the European
Championships, McCarthy registered three double-doubles while averaging 12.2
points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Her top game came against Israel as she
scored 24 points and pulled down 24 boards. McCarthy transitioned to basketball
after spending time on the world renowned Norwegian junior national team
handball squad.
"Julie has a little more maturity than the
average freshman due to her international experience. She will have to
transition in styles as she is more use to a finesse style and we play more of a
physical game. Her time playing on the team handball national team shows the
type of talented athlete she is and she will be asked to play early."
With
the departure of a large class, Inman's first class will be asked to make the
transition quickly.
"Everyone who comes in has to contribute," Inman
stated. "We don't like to look at freshmen and say they are freshmen. We look at
them as basketball players. They all have experience internationally or through
AAU. There are adjustments that need to be made, but they come in game ready.
They all bring in a strong work ethic and a winning attitude. And that is what
we need to change things here."
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
MARQUETTE, Wisconsin -- The unadorned numbers reflect that Marquette finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 9-3 record.
