Reeves' Lady Eagles Sign Three
11/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Reeves' Lady Eagles Sign Three
Southern Miss women's basketball Head Coach Rick Reeves and his staff took care of most of the Lady Eagles recruiting chores on the opening day of the fall early signing period Wednesday with three signees.
The list includes guard Ebony Jenkins of Crystal Spring, Miss., forward Ashley Johnon of Starkville, Miss., and guard Alex Webster of Crown Point, Ind.
Reeves believes this early signing class offers both depth and quality. "All three of these players give us the kind of character off the court that will help us continue improving on the court," he said. "We are proud that they want to be a part of our basketball family. Coach (Paul) Nixon and Coach (Tiffany) Gwynn did an outstanding job assembling this class."
Jenkins, a 5-8 guard from Crystal Springs High School, where she averaged 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists as a junior for Coach Hugh Webb. She was named to the Clarion Ledger "Dandy Dozen" team. She also lettered in volleyball and track. Her team advanced to the finals of the state championship, finishing second. She was named her team's most valuable player.
"Ebony gives us another big guard, who can play all three positions," Reeves said. "She reminds me a lot of Alabama's Neisa Johnson. She will be used primarily at the two-guard position. She has a lot of potential."
Johnson, a 6-0, forward, plays at Starkville Academy in Starkville, Miss., where she is currently averaging 24.0 points and 8.0 rebounds for Coach Stephen Force, helping her team post a 3-0 record. She is listed as "One of the Seniors to Watch" by the Clarion Ledger. She averaged 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds as a junior. She was named 2001 Girls all-state honorable-mention by the Clarion Ledger . She was selected as the most valuable player Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the Golden Triangle Area by the Commericial Dispatch. She was selected to the North 4-AAAA all-district tournament team and the North 4-AAAA all-conference team. Johnson was voted her team's most valuble player. She is listed among Who's Who Among American High School Students, nominated as a National Science Merit Award winner, and a member of the National Honor Society.
"Ashley give us a post player like Victoria Mason," Reeves said. "She can step out and shoot the three or play with her back to the basket. She has the potential to keep the defense honest with her ablility to shoot from the perimeter."
Webster, a 5-9, guard plays at Crown Point High School in Crown Point, Ind. She is currenlty averaging 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assist per game for Coach Tom May, helping her team post a 2-0 record, defeating two ranked opponents. Her team finished 20-4 last season, advancing to the state playoffs. She was named first-team all-state and all-Duneland Conference first-team for the past two years. She was selected as the pre-season conference most valuable player for the 2001-02 season. She was named her team's defensive most valuable player. She was also an Indiana Junior All-Star this past summer.
"Alex gives us the size at the point guard position that I've been wanting in order to run my system," Reeves said. "She is capable of taking us to the next level. I believe Alex is the best point guard coming out of Indiana this year."