Photo by: WG Sports, Willis Glassgow
Davidson Incoming Class in W. Hoops Highly Ranked By All Star Girls National Report
9/1/2009 1:28:48 PM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin- Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Davidson women's basketball team is a few months out from starting practice, but when the season starts up, the Wildcats will have one of the best incoming freshmen classes in recent history according to All Star Girls Report.
For the 2009 season, the Wildcats will welcome the top ranked incoming class in the Southern Conference with a ranking of 105th nationally as reported by All Star Girls. Davidson was tops in the SoCon, ahead of Chattanooga (109) and Elon (119) marking the highest ranking that the Wildcats have ever had.
“Our staff has worked hard to bring the top student-athletes to Davidson,” said head coach Annette Watts who is the program's all-time winningest coach. “My recruiting coordinator and top assistant, Kelly Morrone, has an eye for talented young women who fit our needs and I'm excited for this coming season.”
Sophia Aleksandravicius, a 6-4 forward from Pound Ridge, N.Y., who is ranked 207th in the report and 37th at the post position by HoopGuriz at espn.com, headlines a very impressive class that includes center Sarah Davis (6-3 forward from St. Clair, Mich., ranked 368th), guard Barbara Sitton and fellow guard Katrin Chiemeka. Also joining the Class of 2013 is Jasmine Calin, a guard from Miami, Fla., who was an All-Dade First Team member in 2008-09 to give the 'Cats a great balance of talent for its incoming class.
“While garnering a top-40 post player like Sophia, we have brought in a group of wonderful, highly talented players,” said Watts. “Since stepping on campus the only thing Sophia and Sarah have spoken of are comparisons about their height and how excited they were to learn from our upperclassmen. Along with solidifying our post play we are equally as enthused about our perimeter. Barbara Sitton, Katrin Chiemeka and Jasmine Calin are three athletes that are fun to watch. They add speed, agility and an element of excitement. Whether it's a no-look pass from Barb, a slash to the basket from Katrin or Jasmine breaking away in transition, Davidson fans are going to love these young student-athletes.”
Aleksandravicius and Davis both earned all-league and all-state honors during their prep careers, and were honored as their team's MVPs. A native from Richmond, Va., Sitton averaged over 10 points and close to six assists as a starting point guard, while earning third-team all-state honors as a junior prepster.
Chiemeka comes to the states after a success career in France where she was an England Player of the Year for the U-16 and U-18 teams, and represented England as a U-18 player in Macedonia and led the national team in points and minutes played. Calin was a Miami Herald Player of the Year in 2007 and finished her career averaging nearly 15 points a game, closing with 1,225 career points during her prep career.
Although Davidson lost two starters from a year ago, including two-time first-team All-SoCon Mercedes Robinson, it returns three starters which includes the backcourt duo of Ashley Lax and Alex Thompson. The two guards ranked second and third, respectively, on the team in scoring, while also finishing first and second on the single-season school record books in made three-pointers.
Overall, the Wildcats return seven letterwinners from last season's squad.
Davidson will open the 2009-10 with a trip to Nebraska to take on Nebraska and Creighton, Nov. 13-15.
For the 2009 season, the Wildcats will welcome the top ranked incoming class in the Southern Conference with a ranking of 105th nationally as reported by All Star Girls. Davidson was tops in the SoCon, ahead of Chattanooga (109) and Elon (119) marking the highest ranking that the Wildcats have ever had.
“Our staff has worked hard to bring the top student-athletes to Davidson,” said head coach Annette Watts who is the program's all-time winningest coach. “My recruiting coordinator and top assistant, Kelly Morrone, has an eye for talented young women who fit our needs and I'm excited for this coming season.”
Sophia Aleksandravicius, a 6-4 forward from Pound Ridge, N.Y., who is ranked 207th in the report and 37th at the post position by HoopGuriz at espn.com, headlines a very impressive class that includes center Sarah Davis (6-3 forward from St. Clair, Mich., ranked 368th), guard Barbara Sitton and fellow guard Katrin Chiemeka. Also joining the Class of 2013 is Jasmine Calin, a guard from Miami, Fla., who was an All-Dade First Team member in 2008-09 to give the 'Cats a great balance of talent for its incoming class.
“While garnering a top-40 post player like Sophia, we have brought in a group of wonderful, highly talented players,” said Watts. “Since stepping on campus the only thing Sophia and Sarah have spoken of are comparisons about their height and how excited they were to learn from our upperclassmen. Along with solidifying our post play we are equally as enthused about our perimeter. Barbara Sitton, Katrin Chiemeka and Jasmine Calin are three athletes that are fun to watch. They add speed, agility and an element of excitement. Whether it's a no-look pass from Barb, a slash to the basket from Katrin or Jasmine breaking away in transition, Davidson fans are going to love these young student-athletes.”
Aleksandravicius and Davis both earned all-league and all-state honors during their prep careers, and were honored as their team's MVPs. A native from Richmond, Va., Sitton averaged over 10 points and close to six assists as a starting point guard, while earning third-team all-state honors as a junior prepster.
Chiemeka comes to the states after a success career in France where she was an England Player of the Year for the U-16 and U-18 teams, and represented England as a U-18 player in Macedonia and led the national team in points and minutes played. Calin was a Miami Herald Player of the Year in 2007 and finished her career averaging nearly 15 points a game, closing with 1,225 career points during her prep career.
Although Davidson lost two starters from a year ago, including two-time first-team All-SoCon Mercedes Robinson, it returns three starters which includes the backcourt duo of Ashley Lax and Alex Thompson. The two guards ranked second and third, respectively, on the team in scoring, while also finishing first and second on the single-season school record books in made three-pointers.
Overall, the Wildcats return seven letterwinners from last season's squad.
Davidson will open the 2009-10 with a trip to Nebraska to take on Nebraska and Creighton, Nov. 13-15.
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