July 3, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - UCF head women's basketball coach Joi Willliams announced on Tuesday that eight players, all hailing from Georgia, signed a National Letter of Intent or Grant-in-Aid to become members of the Knights, 2007-08 recruiting class.
"I am extremely excited about the student-athletes who are a part of this class," said Williams. "My staff did an excellent job identifying players who are capable of making an immediate impact. All of them are individuals with strong work ethics and they each have high expectations of winning."
The incoming class includes six freshmen - Jelisa Caldwell (Macon, Ga./Westside Macon HS), D'Nay Daniels (Atlanta, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian School), Tia Lewis (Poulan, Ga./Worth County HS), Jaleesa Morris (Augusta, Ga./Hephzibah HS), Leah Paige (Atlanta, Ga./Soutwest DeKalb HS) and Jasmine Stovall (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett HS).
Two transfers - Marcquitta Head (Conley, Ga./Forest Park HS) and Amber Kirkpatrick (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett HS) - will sit out the 2007-08 campaign due to NCAA rules. Head will have two years of eligibility at UCF, while Kirkpatrick will have three years.
The players join the trio of Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y./School of the Arts), Marshay White (Rochester, N.Y./School of the Arts) and Angelica Mealing (Dectaur, Ga./Avondale HS), who signed during the early period last fall.
Williams was hired as the 11th head coach in UCF history after serving in the same position at Murray State for the last four years. In the fall, the Knights will make their debut at the new Convocation Center on campus.
Jelisa Caldwell
5-10 * Guard
Macon, Ga./Westside Macon HS
A four-year letterwinner under coach Deb Baber at Westside Macon High School...averaged 13 points and five assists per game and shot 40% from three-point range in her senior season...earned first team all-state and second-team All-Middle Georgia honors for her efforts...selected as the Region 3-AAAA South Player of the Year...WMHS team went 96-31 over the four years, including a 27-7 mark during her senior season.
Coach Williams on Caldwell:
"Jelisa is a versatile guard who has the ability to play any position on the perimeter. She shoots the ball well and does a good job creating shots for both herself and her teammates."
D'Nay Daniels
5-10 * Guard
Atlanta, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian School
A standout guard for Greater Atlanta Christian School, where she helped her team win the Georgia 2A Championship in 2006-07... averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per outing last season...twice received all-state recognition...selected Georgia 2A Player of the Year...named most valuable player at the South Gwinnett Turkey Shootout...earned a spot on the Deep South Classic All-Tournament Team.
Coach Williams on Daniels:
"D'Nay is very athletic. She attacks the rim and possesses a good mid-range game. She is also a strong defender and a good rebounding guard."
Marcquitta Head
6-3 * Center
Conley, Ga./Forest Park HS (Georgia State)
A member of the Georgia State basketball team the past two seasons...recorded the first triple-double in program history with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocked shots at Hofstra on Dec. 3, 2006...owns the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and school records for blocked shots...also holds the GSU record for most blocked shots in a season with 67 as a sophomore...named to the 2006-07 All-CAA Defensive Team...selected most valuable player at the 2006 UCF Holiday Classic...led the Panthers in rebounding as a freshman...a three-year letterwinner at Forest Park High School...as a senior, averaged 17.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game, while shooting 60% from the field and 70% from the foul line...earned all-area honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that year...was a 2005 McDonald's All-America Basketball nominee...earned all-county honorable mention honors in 2003 and 2004...received the FPHS Coca-Cola Achievement Award as the school's top female athlete in 2004.
Coach Williams on Head:
"As a Division I transfer, Marcquitta brings experience to the post position. She is a strong, physical player and is also a very good shot blocker."
Amber Kirkpatrick
6-1 * Forward/Center
Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett HS (Eastern Kentucky)
Played one year at Eastern Kentucky, where she started 28 games...averaged 8.7 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Lady Colonels...scored in double figures nine times, including a career-high 23 points against Western Carolina...posted her first collegiate double-double against UT-Martin...named Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week...played two years at Laurel Hill before moving to Central Gwinnett High School for her final two seasons...twice earned all-state recognition...scored 1,344 points during her four years...averaged 13.5 points per game as a senior.
Coach Williams on Kirkpatrick:
"Amber will bring a physical presence to the paint. She can also face the basket and runs the floor well."
Tia Lewis
6-3 * Forward/Center
Poulan, Ga./Worth County HS
Played for head coach Tim Hathcock at Worth County High School...a three-time all-state selection...earned first-team all-state honors as a senior after recording 19 points, 17 rebounds and three block per contest...twice named Tifton County Player of the Year...also received Atlanta-Journal Constitution all-state recognition...helped the Lady Rams post a 25-5 record en route to winning the regional championship.
Coach Williams on Lewis:
"Tia is a talented athlete who will bring a much needed post presence. She can score in a variety of ways, runs the floor extremely well and is a very good rebounder."
Jaleesa Morris
6-0 * Center/Forward
Augusta, Ga./Hephzibah HS
Played basketball under head coach Wendall Lofton at Hephzibah High School...averaged 10 points and eight rebounds per contest in both her sophomore and junior seasons...posted eight points and seven rebounds per outing to earn honorable mention all-state honors during her senior year...helped her team go undefeated at 33-0 and win the state championship in 2005.
Coach Williams on Morris:
"Jaleesa gives us a physical presence at the post and uses her size to her advantage. She is good on the boards and provides solid defensive skills down low."
Leah Paige
6-0 * Forward
Atlanta, Ga./Southwest DeKalb HS
Played for Kathie Walton at Southwest DeKalb High School...helped the team post a 22-7 record and earn a berth to the state playoffs.
Coach Williams on Paige:
"Leah is a blue collar player with good athleticism and versatility. She is a strong defender and rebounder, who runs the floor well and brings tremendous energy to the court."
Jasmine Stovall
5-9 * Guard
Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett HS
Played for head coach Jason Adams at Central Gwinnett High School...helped the Black Knights earn a record of 17-6 and Gwinnett County Team of the Year in 2007...averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior...named most valuable player at the Powerade Tournament.
Coach Williams on Stovall:
"Jasmine is a very athletic guard. She is a good perimeter shooter, can also attack the rim and plays solid defense."
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