University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Complete Signing Class with Hawkins
4/16/2020 1:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
McNelis brings in one more for the second signing period.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Eagles of Southern Miss women's basketball and Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis add one more to the 2020 signing class on the second signing period in Fess Hawkins.
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After signing six in the early signing period, the Lady Eagles bring in Fess Hawkins from Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana.Â
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"As we went through the season we felt as if we needed another junior college player that would be a strong scorer and rebounder to complete this recruiting class," said Joye Lee-McNelis. "Coach Jack Trosper, while at Wabash Valley College, faced one of the most athletic rebounders in all of junior college. He brought Fess Hawkins to the table and believed she was the piece of the puzzle needed to complete this class."
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Hawkins, a 6'1" forward, graduated from Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas where she was a 1,000-point scorer and an All-State competitor. At Vincennes, she was a two-year starter for Head Coach Harry Meeks. The Third Team JUCO All-American had 890 points and 755 rebounds in her two seasons, leading her team to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She averaged 15.7 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. Not only did she have success on the court, she also saw success in the classroom, posting a 3.36 GPA at VU.
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"We are so excited to have Fess Hawkins join our Lady Eagle Family," said McNelis. "As we closely evaluated her, we were so impressed with how she seemed to always be around the basketball on both ends of the floor. She has something you don't teach: a knack to rebound the ball and score the ball efficiently. Fess can score the ball in multiple ways as she stretched the floor shooting the ball 43% beyond the arc and 67% in the paint. She is expected to help replace Respect Leaphart who led the Lady Eagles in double-doubles this season."
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In November, the Southern Miss signed five players from three states to the new class. All were selected to their respective All-State teams, while two were nominated McDonald's All-Americans.Â
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Three of the six hail from Mississippi in Meliya Grayson from Hattiesburg, Brikayla Gray from West Jones, and Rose Warren from Puckett. They were each selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game, while Grayson was also a McDonald's All-American nominee. Sha'Kahia Warmsley was selected as State MVP for Class 3A in Louisiana. Emerielle "Emmy" James was an All-State selection from Florida and was nominated as a McDonald's All-American. The Lady Eagles signed one Junior College player in Savannah Slade. Slade will join Southern Miss' squad from Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. She was a part of the 2019 National Champion team and her team was a contender for the 2020 NJCAA Championships.Â
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McNelis commends her staff for their effort in bringing one of the best signing classes Southern Miss women's basketball has seen.Â
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After signing six in the early signing period, the Lady Eagles bring in Fess Hawkins from Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana.Â
Â
"As we went through the season we felt as if we needed another junior college player that would be a strong scorer and rebounder to complete this recruiting class," said Joye Lee-McNelis. "Coach Jack Trosper, while at Wabash Valley College, faced one of the most athletic rebounders in all of junior college. He brought Fess Hawkins to the table and believed she was the piece of the puzzle needed to complete this class."
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Hawkins, a 6'1" forward, graduated from Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Arkansas where she was a 1,000-point scorer and an All-State competitor. At Vincennes, she was a two-year starter for Head Coach Harry Meeks. The Third Team JUCO All-American had 890 points and 755 rebounds in her two seasons, leading her team to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She averaged 15.7 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. Not only did she have success on the court, she also saw success in the classroom, posting a 3.36 GPA at VU.
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"We are so excited to have Fess Hawkins join our Lady Eagle Family," said McNelis. "As we closely evaluated her, we were so impressed with how she seemed to always be around the basketball on both ends of the floor. She has something you don't teach: a knack to rebound the ball and score the ball efficiently. Fess can score the ball in multiple ways as she stretched the floor shooting the ball 43% beyond the arc and 67% in the paint. She is expected to help replace Respect Leaphart who led the Lady Eagles in double-doubles this season."
Â
In November, the Southern Miss signed five players from three states to the new class. All were selected to their respective All-State teams, while two were nominated McDonald's All-Americans.Â
Â
Three of the six hail from Mississippi in Meliya Grayson from Hattiesburg, Brikayla Gray from West Jones, and Rose Warren from Puckett. They were each selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game, while Grayson was also a McDonald's All-American nominee. Sha'Kahia Warmsley was selected as State MVP for Class 3A in Louisiana. Emerielle "Emmy" James was an All-State selection from Florida and was nominated as a McDonald's All-American. The Lady Eagles signed one Junior College player in Savannah Slade. Slade will join Southern Miss' squad from Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. She was a part of the 2019 National Champion team and her team was a contender for the 2020 NJCAA Championships.Â
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McNelis commends her staff for their effort in bringing one of the best signing classes Southern Miss women's basketball has seen.Â
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Players Mentioned
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