Women?s Basketball Signs Four to 2008-2009 Team
12/21/2007 5:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern head women's basketball coach Rusty Cram announced the signing of four high school standouts to join the 2008-2009 Lady Eagles squad: Ashley McKenzie, Brittney Nelson, Krista Tate and Samantha Williams.
“That's what we like about all four of these signees,” said Cram. “They're good competitors and winners. On paper, this is probably the best recruiting class we've had in a while. Now that's before they get here. We'll have to see how they gel when they get here and find out what areas they have to work on. But on paper, we're very excited. It's been a long time since I've been as excited as I am about a class coming in.”
| | Name | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown
/ School |
| | Ashley McKenzie | 6-1 | F | Loganville, GA / South Gwinnett |
| | Brittney Nelson | 6-0 | G | Rochester, MI / Stoney Creek |
| | Krista Tate | 6-0 | G | Atlanta, GA / St. Pius X |
| | Samantha Williams | 5-10 | G | Kingsport, TN / Sullivan South |
Ashley McKenzie, a 6-1 forward comes to Statesboro from Loganville, Ga. and attends South Gwinnett High School. During her junior season, the Comets went 29-3, finishing second in the state after winning the region. Her team was also the Kruel Classic national high school girls basketball champion.
“We feel like she's going to give us some depth in the post game,” said coach Cram. “She's got a big, strong upper body. We feel like she's going to come in and give us some much needed post game. Around the basket she's really good, has a good grip on the basketball, a good touch, good, strong hands.”
A Rochester, Mich. native, Brittney Nelson is a standout at Stoney Creek High School where she averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals per contest as a junior. The 6-0 guard is a member of the National Honor Society and was named Academic All-State. Nelson holds single game, season and career records at Stoney Creek in assists, rebounds and three-point field goals. The team's Most Valuable Player as a freshman, sophomore and junior, Nelson has earned all-league honors her last three years.
“Brittney shoots the ball extremely well and is a very highly-touted player,” said Cram. “We feel like on paper we've got a steal. She's very smart and understands the game of basketball very well. She's got great size to her. We're excited about having Brittney.”
Krista Tate, a 6-0 guard joins the 2007-2008 team and comes from Atlanta where she attends St. Pius X High School. Tate tallied 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per game during her junior season, which culminated in the team's third Georgia State title in four years. She was also a McDonald's All-America nominee.
“Krista is a very smart basketball player,” said Cram. “She is very quick and is a great defensive player. We're excited about the things that we're going to be able to do with her on the defensive side. She's runs the floor well. We're excited about her because it will change the way we play defenses and to be able to put her in situation where smaller guards are going to have to guard her in our conference. So she gives us a lot of versatility.”
A 5-10 guard from Kingsport, Tenn., Samantha Williams attends Sullivan South High School where she surpassed the 1,000-point mark during her junior season. Her athletic talent crosses over onto the links where she helped lead the Lady Rebels golf team to their first-ever District 1-AAA title.
“Samantha is a good shooter,” said Cram. “She's very steady, gutsy, plays hard and isn't afraid to get on the floor. She's just a great, great shooter. We're super excited to have her down here. She's another good-sized guard and is a very strong young lady. She's got a great head for basketball and is a fierce competitor.”
