Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Head Women's Basketball Coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey announced today that five student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to begin their academic and athletic careers at Hofstra in the fall of 2012.
Joining the Pride will be guard Alexis Carter (Woodbridge, VA), guard Sydni Epps (Cheltenham, PA), guard Asia Jackson (Peekskill, NY), forward Ruth Sherrill (Alexandria, VA) and forward Dianna Thomas-Palmer (Philadelphia, PA).
With the Hofstra program clearly on the rise nationally, this year's five-person recruiting class was recently ranked as the sixth-best Mid Major Recruiting Class by ESPN/HoopGurlz. In addition, the All-Star Girls Report ranked Hofstra's class as the 51st-best in the nation.
"We are extremely excited about this recruiting class and the attention it has garnered nationally," commented Kilburn-Steveskey. "Early on we set out to bring the best student-athletes to Hofstra University and this five-person class proves that we have succeeded in doing that. I can't wait to coach these five amazing student-athletes."
Carter was the Cardinal District Player of the Year last season for Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, VA where she averaged 18.4 points per game. Also an all-district performer a year ago, Carter is ranked as the 85th-best guard in the class of 2012 by ESPN/HoopGurlz. Carter has improved her scoring average in each of her three seasons in high school as she averaged 7.1 points per game during her freshman season, 8.4 points per game as a sophomore and then exploded last season and more than doubled her output.
Epps attends the Springside School in Philadelphia, PA. A four-year basketball starter, along with being a member of the volleyball and lacrosse teams for the Lions, Epps led her basketball team to a combined 33 wins over the last two seasons. Last season she averaged 11.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game after nearly identical numbers in 2009-10. A three-year captain, Epps was all-conference second team as a sophomore and honorable mention as a junior. She was ranked as the 44th best wing by ESPN/HoopGurlz.
The 17th ranked point guard in the class of 2012 by ESPN/HoopGurlz, Jackson plays scholastically at Peekskill High School in Peekskill, NY. She helped lead the Red Devils to the state title last season as Peekskill compiled a 24-2 record with Jackson scoring 14.6 points per game. That followed up her two previous seasons in which she averaged 14.7 points per game in 2009-10 and 13.4 points per game in 2008-09. Jackson was named the Class A Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association following last season.
Sherrill will join the Pride from Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, VA. The 2010-11 National District co-player of the year, Sherrill averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three steals per game last season. In 2009-10, she had averages of 10 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals per game. Two of the last three teams she has played on at Thomas Edison have captured the Northern Region District championship.
The second of two recruits from the Philadelphia-area, Thomas-Palmer attends William Penn Charter School. During her junior campaign she averaged 12 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. A member of the All Inter-Ac Second team twice in her high school career, Thomas-Palmer helped lead the Quakers to second place finishes in the conference in each of the last three seasons. The 83rd-best forward in the class of 2012 by ESPN/HoopGurlz, Thomas-Palmer has served as team captain for the basketball team at Penn Charter as well.
