ELITE 150 Forward Liz Balogun is headed to Georgia TechCubaj in 2017 and Balogun in 2018 for Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech coach Machelle Joseph and her staff managed to land two impact targets last week with the signing of 2017 post Lorella Cubaj of Venezia, Italy and the commitment of 2018 forward Elizabeth Balogun of Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the 2017 class, Cubaj’s addition gives the ACC school on of the best back to the basket posts in the class and a top 3 international talent. Last summer at the U17 World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain, Cubaj helped lead her Italian national team to a fourth-place finish and then moved on to the European under 18 Championships where she scored 10.4 points per game and averaged 7.3 rebounds per game.
For the class of 2018, Elizabeth Balogun will give the Yellow Jackets one of the best two-way players in the class. Balogun is a threat to score in the post, shoot the three off the catch and has improved as a decision maker in ball screen situations. Defensively she has the size and length to guard around the rim but the foot speed to play on the perimeter. Her addition will put Georgia Tech in the top 5 for recruiting class rankings as they now have ELITE 150 commitments from four players.
For More on Tech’s 2018 class click here.
Te’a Cooper Visits Then Picks South Carolina
Since winning the national championship in April, South Carolina has been active on the recruiting trail. The SEC program has had five-star post Olivia Nelson-Ododa on campus for an unofficial visit, and they have also landed a graduate transfer for next season, Lindsay Spann from Penn State. Another area that South Carolina has focused on is the transfer market. Earlier in the Spring, they were in the mix for Nebraska transfer Jessica Sheppard who ultimately picked Notre Dame. Notre Dame transfer Erin Boley also considered the SEC program. Last weekend, South Carolina played host to Tennessee transfer Te’a Cooper who would have three years to play for Dawn Staley and her staff. Like two players who helped South Carolina win a national championship, Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray, Cooper is a potential impact transfer that could help Staley and her staff fill the void that Aja Wilson will leave upon graduation.
Early Monday, Cooper made a commitment to South Carolina.
Amaya Brown to Florida State
Florida State was able to expand their recruiting reach and pluck an impact guard from New Mexico when Amaya Brown of Cibola, New Mexico made a verbal pledge to the ACC school. Brown, a four-star guard, missed a considerable part of last year with a knee injury but at 5-foot-10 she has the ability to give coach Sue Semrau and her staff an impact combo guard with the capacity to finish drives at the rim and create her shot off the bounce. With the departure of Brittany Brown to graduation, after a gap year, another Brown may be able to step in and play a very similar role for Florida State.
Reese Picks Zona
Sunday, Arizona coach Adia Barnes and her staff added a verbal commitment from 6-foot-3 forward Cate Reese of Cypress, Texas. As a member of the 2018 class, Reese has earned a reputation as one of the best energy forwards in the class. Her ability to rebound, run the floor, and defend at a high level will be welcomed on campus at Tucson. The four-star forward is another healthy addition to a 2018 recruiting class that is shaping up nicely for coach Barnes and her staff. In addition to Reese, the Wildcats currently have commitments from ELITE 150 ranked prospects Shalyse Smith and Bryce Nixon.
Fast Break
Three-star Guard Washington to Drexel – Drexel was able to snag Canadian guard Keishana Washington of Hamilton, Ontario for their 2018 class. Washington will give the Colonial Association school a dynamic athlete at the lead guard who can run a team, control tempo, and still create her scoring opportunities.
Four-star Forward Tollie to Southern Methodist – The geographic growth of the American Conference is starting to show the benefits for member schools. A great example of this is BriShonne Tollie of Bartow, Florida making a choice to go to Dallas, Texas and play at SMU. For Tollie the fact that both Central Florida and South Florida are members of the American Conference will allow her to
