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Signees represent Top 25-level talent
Walker, Willis keep Staley’s recruiting class elevated in the Top 10
Written by From Staff Reports
Posted on 11.20.08
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USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has signed two Top 25 players in the early signing period.
Ieasia Walker of Copiague, N.Y., and Monique Willis of Savannah, Ga., have signed National Letters of Intent. Both will enroll next season.
The signings prompted The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report to rank USC’s recruiting class as the ninth-best in the country.
“I feel very fortunate to bring Ieasia Walker and Monique Willis to the University of South Carolina,” Staley said. “Both of these young ladies are equally great people. We can’t wait for the day they put on their South Carolina uniforms.”
Walker is rated the 17th-best player in the 2009 class by Blue Star Basketball. The All-Star Girls Report tabs her as the 19th-best, and Hoopgurlz.com hails her as the 10th-best point guard in the class.
The 5-foot-8 Long Island product posted 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 5.1 steals per game in 2007-08, leading Copiague to the Suffolk Class AA semifinals.
A three-time All-Suffolk County and all-conference selection, Walker earned a spot on the New York State Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State Third Team.
“Ieasia is a consummate point guard,” Staley said. “She has the qualities that I look for to manage our team. She has a natural feel for the game and will instantly make us better when she steps on campus.”
At 5-foot-8, Willis is rated No. 24 in the 2009 Class by All-Star Girls Report, and Blue Star Basketball has her at No. 59. She helped the A.E. Beach Bulldogs to the program’s fifth consecutive Region 3-5A championship in 2007-08, posting a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds in the title game.
“Monique is a player that somewhat went under the radar,” Staley said. “We are extremely pleased that she chose us over other SEC and ACC schools. She is electric on both sides of the ball. She brings a level of athleticism that is second to none.”
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