STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Head Women's Basketball Coach
Anita Howard today announced the addition of four student-athletes to play for the Eagles beginning in the Fall of 2021.
Rachel Johnson (5-8, G, Eufaula, Ga.) and Thaniya Marks (6-1, F/C, Birmingham, Ala.) signed National Letters of Intent to join the Eagles for the upcoming 2021-22 season. Taya Gibson (5-11, G, Rome, Ga.) has been enrolled with the Eagles since the Spring and will be a part of the team this Fall. Hannah Fuller (5-8, G, Greenville, S.C.) is a walk-on who will join the team in the Fall as well.
All four players will join the 10 players returning from last season's squad that went 11-13 during the COVID-19 shortened season and advanced to the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Below are capsules on the two Eagle signees - Rachel Johnson and Thaniya Marks.
Rachel Johnson
5-8 • Guard
Eufaula, Ala.
Wichita State / Eufaula HS
Johnson played in four games in the Fall of 2020 for Wichita State, averaging 11.5 points per game and scoring a season-high 17 points against Northern Iowa on December 6 ... Played at Chipola JC in 2019-20 as a sophomore, averaging 13.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 2.1 apg while earning first-team All-Panhandle honors .. Earned NJCAA All-North First Team honors at Southern Union as a freshman, where she averaged 17.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg ... Two-time All-State honoree at Eufaula HS, where she averaged 15.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.4 apg and 5.5 spg as a senior for the Tigers.
Coach Howard: "Rachel is a hard-nosed competitor with a blue-collar work ethic. She will make an immediate impact in our backcourt, bringing defensive intensity and an ability to score from all three levels. Her energy and effort is electric! Rachel is a strong veteran guard that Eagle Nation will definitely fall in love with!"
Thaniya Marks
6-1 • Forward/Center
Birmingham, Ala.
Shelton State CC / Wenonah HS
Marks played for two seasons at Shelton State CC, where she averaged 11 points per game and shot 59.5% from the field as a freshman for the Bucs in 2019-20 ... Followed that up by averaging 10.9 points per game and shooting 54.9% from the field as a sophomore in 2020-21 ... Two-time All-State honoree at Wenonah HS, helping the Dragons earn a pair of State titles in 2016 and 2017 ... Led the state of Alabama with 24 double-doubles as a senior ... Also named the Area MVP in 2019.
Coach Howard: "Thaniya brings a powerful post presence to our frontcourt. She is a skilled forward, with incredible footwork and a nice mid-range jump shot. Thaniya's level of toughness in the paint will be key for us. She sacrifices her body on the defensive end by taking charges and making the hustle plays. We're excited that Thaniya is bringing her winning ways to Statesboro!"
