TicketsMay 25, 2010
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball program has added three student-athletes to its 2010 recruiting class, second-year head coach Jamelle Elliott announced today (May 25).
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to add three quality student-athletes in the late signing period," said Elliott. "They are each skilled players, good students, and strong competitors."
LaShay Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter), Dayeesha Hollins (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods/Michigan), and Bjonee Reaves (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon/Neosho County [Kan.] C.C.) will join the Bearcats roster for the 2010-11 season. Hollins, a Cincinnati native and 2009 graduate of Winton Woods High School, will sit out the 2010-11 season in compliance with NCAA transfer regulations after spending the 2009-10 season at Michigan. Banks and Reaves will be immediately eligible for the Bearcats.
Banks is a 5-10 shooting guard from Philadelphia who earned Philadelphia Public League Player of the Year honors as a senior and scored 987 career points as a prep.
Hollins, who was a standout at Winton Woods and one of the top players in the greater Cincinnati area during her prep career, had a successful freshman campaign at Michigan. She started in 34 of 35 games, averaging 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Reaves comes to UC from Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan., where she was the fifth-leading scorer in the NJCAA last season, averaging 20.6 points per contest. The 5-6 point guard was a Women's Basketball Coaches Association honorable mention all-America selection at Yavapai College following the 2008-09 season.
The trio joins a quartet of early signees: Kayla Cook (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster), Jeanise Randolph (Calumet City, Ill./Thornton Fractional North), Tiffany Turner (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), and ShaQuanda Wiggins (Chicago, Ill./Thornton Township/Jefferson College [Mo.]). Chanel Chisholm (Long Island, N.Y./North Babylon/Vanderbilt), a transfer from Vanderbilt, will be eligible for the Bearcats this season after sitting out the 2009-10 campaign in compliance with NCAA transfer guidelines.
"Bjonee, Dayeesha, and LaShay, along with the four student-athletes we signed in the fall, provide a solid foundation upon which to continue the growth of the UC women's basketball program," Elliott said. "The group has a bright future ahead we are excited to welcome them to the Bearcats family."
LaShay Banks
5-10 | G | Philadelphia, Pa. | Prep Charter H.S.
High School: Female Philadelphia Public League Player of the Year as a senior at Prep Charter High School … four-time all-Public League selection … scored 987 points in prep career … two-time district champion … led Prep Charter to a pair of Public League championship games and a state tournament appearance.
Personal: Born on Dec. 4, 1991 … daughter of Tamara Banks.
Academic Major: Physical Therapy.
Dayeesha Hollins
5-6 | G | Cincinnati, Ohio | Winton Woods H.S. | Michigan
2009-10 Season: (Freshman at Michigan): Earned first varsity letter ... Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 21) ... Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Dec. 21, March 1) ... All-Big Ten Freshman Team (2010) ... Hustle Award (2010) ... U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award (2010) ... first women's basketball player in Big Ten women's basketball history to be named Player and Freshman of the Week (March 1) ... first Wolverine to receive a Big Ten weekly award multiple times in one season since Lorea Feldman in 1986-86 ... saw action in 35 games with 34 starts ... averaged 12.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign ... posted 24 games in double figures and tallied four games of 19 or more points ... twice scored 20 or more points, including a career-high 27 points in a road victory at Minnesota (April 25), which was the most points scored by a Wolverine on the season ... grabbed a career-best nine rebounds in U-M's win over then-No. 8 Xavier (Dec. 14) ... led the Wolverines in free throw attempts, free throws made, and assists ... became the first U-M player to record 100 rebounds and 100 assists in her freshman campaign ... 117 assists was the most by a Michigan freshman since Anne Thorius' 133 during the 1997-98 season ... recorded eight assists against Virginia Tech (Dec. 3) which is believed to be the the most by a U-M freshman ... in U-M's Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) victory over Toledo (March 21) her six assists tied for second-most by a Wolverine in WNIT action ... concluded the season as one of the top two scoring freshman in the Big Ten ... also ranked 12th in assists (3.1) and 14th in steals (1.7).
High School: Three-year letterwinner at Winton Woods High School ... earned Winton Woods Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player honors as a sophomore ... two-time Winton Woods Female Athlete of the Year ... named Winton Woods Female Career Athlete as a senior ... led squad to two league championships ... averaged better than 11.7 points, 3.4 steals and 2.9 assists throughout her high school career ... earned Fort Ancient Valley Conference second team honors as a sophomore ... named to OHSAA 16th District All-Star team during her sophomore campaign ... OHSAA 16th District first team selection as a junior ... named 16th District Player of the Year as a senior ... two-time FAVC Player of the Year ... two-time Cincinnati Enquirer Division I first team selection ... named to the Associated Press All-Ohio first team as a senior and third team during her junior campaign ... Associated Press Southwest Player of the Year as a senior ... Greater Cincinnati Basketball High School Hall of Fame Co-Division I Player of the Year as a senior ... MVP of the Ohio North-South All-Star game during her senior season ... finalist for the Associated Press Ohio Miss Basketball Award ... finalist for the Larosa's Female MVP as a senior ... ranked as the No. 146 prospect in the All-Star Girls Basketball Report ... No. 74 ESPN Insider Grade ... also competed in track and field ... state finalist in the 4 x 400 relay as a freshman ... city record holder in the 400m ... two-time FAVC first team selection ... three-time state finalist in the 400m ... Cincinnati Enquirer track and field all-city first team.
Personal: Born on August 1, 1991 ... daughter of Kahlil and Sharon Hollins.
Academic Major: Undecided.
Bjonee Reaves
5-6 | PG | San Bernardino, Calif. | Cajon H.S. | Neosho County C.C.
Prior to UC: Averaged 20.6 points per game at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. … fifth-leading scorer in NJCAA in 2009-10 season … also averaged 5.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.4 steals per game and shot 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from the three-point line … first-team all-conference selection … honorable mention all-region choice … played 2008-09 season at Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz. … named WBCA honorable mention all-America … earned first-team NJCAA all-region honors … named to all-conference second team after leading Yavapai in scoring, assists, steals, and three-point percentage.
High School: Averaged over 12 points and seven assists per game as a senior at Cajon High School … first-team all-state selection as a senior … helped Cowboys to second round of California Interscholastic Federation state championships as a senior in 2007-08.
Personal: Born on Jan. 20, 1990 … daughter of Darryl Scott and Jacqueline Jordan.
Academic Major: Criminal Justice.