Sierra Calhoun
Sierra Calhoun is ranked No. 7 in the ELITE 100. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
With the commitment of Sierra Calhoun, the No. 7 prospect in the 2014 class, to the Duke Blue Devils, only one player in the top eight of ELITE 100 remained undecided. The 6-foot-1 wing from Brooklyn, N.Y., chose the Blue Devils over finalists Connecticut and Notre Dame.
The biggest factors for Calhoun choosing Duke were the ability to be an impact freshman in the ACC as well as playing with standout guard Alexis Jones, according to her father, Omar Calhoun. He also cited a bond with head coach Joanne P. McCallie.
Calhoun joins previous 2014 Duke pledges Azura Stevens, a 6-4 forward from Raleigh, N.C., and Erin Mathias a 6-3 forward from Pittsburgh, Pa.
This trio looks to replace the quintet of seniors on the 2013-14 roster who will graduate after next season. That group includes guards Chelsea Gray and Chloe Wells as well as wing-forwards Richa Jackson, Tricia Liston and Haley Peters.
'14 ELITE 100 wing Sierra Calhoun.
*Photo by Chris Hansen.
In Calhoun, Duke gets terrific size on the perimeter along with one of the best spot shooters in the class. She has really developed her pull-up jumper and improved her defensive ability. She is a player that McCallie and her staff can deploy at multiple positions and create match-up problems.
Calhoun and her fellow commits come in behind a stellar 2013 signing class which includes combo guard Kianna Holland, sharpshooting wing Rebecca Greenwell and interior players Oderah Chidom and Kendall Cooper.
When this 2014 class hits campus it will play three years with last years foursome as well as two with electric guard Alexis Jones and one with All-American post Elizabeth Williams. As a whole, this combination of classes should assure that Duke will continue to boast one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country.
With Dukes final 2014 scholarship, look for the program to target another ELITE 100 prospect. No. 81 Kortney Dunbar of Edwardsville, Ill., is set to visit the Blue Devils later this month. As Duke moves ahead into the 2015 class, expect the Blue Devils to target another dynamic player capable of playing lead guard to fill the shoes of Gray and Jones. Follow @ChrisHansenPSB
