May 7, 2008
By:Sammy Batten
Staff writer for the Fayetteville Observer
Eric Tucker believes he's secured the missing ingredients to take the Fayetteville State women's basketball team back to the top of the CIAA.
Tucker has signed a pair of junior college post players and a high school point guard he hopes will blend with veterans from last year's CIAA tournament semifinalist and help the Broncos challenge for the 2008-09 title.
"I would actually think this is one of my top five recruiting classes,'' said Tucker, who will begin his 17th season at FSU next fall.
"We've had some (recruits) who have made an immediate impact and some who have not. But I'm expecting production out of a lot of these girls very quickly.''
The Broncos graduate just three seniors from this year's 17-12 squad -- guard Leticia Dickson, center Tenisha McArthur and guard Passion Phillips. A fourth player, junior forward Shacovia Sheppard, is deployed in Iraq with her U.S. Army Reserve unit and isn't expected to return until after the 2008-09 season begins.
Tucker has signed six players to help fill those voids, and may add others over the summer.
One of the best-known of FSU's recruits locally is Westover's Tequila Jones. Jones, a 5-foot-8 forward, earned most valuable player honors in the state's 4-A championship game in which the Wolverines beat West Charlotte in March.
"I'm looking forward to combining the class I've recruited and the returners, and see whether we can take that next step,'' Tucker said. "It's about time to get back to the mountain top. We've got good footing on the hill right now, but we need to go to the summit.''
Here are the six players signed to a national letter-of-intent to play next season for the Fayetteville State women's basketball program.
Tequila Jones, 5-8, forward (Westover HS, Fayetteville) -- Helped Westover claim the state 4-A championship by scoring 20 points in finals against West Charlotte. Averaged eight points and a team-best 12.2 rebounds during the season.
Donia Naylor, 6-0, forward (Anacostia HS, Washington, D.C.) -- Averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds as a senior. Was a nominee for the McDonald's All-American team prior to her senior year. Chose FSU over offers from Fairleigh Dickinson and Mount St. Mary's.
Latarsha Richardson, 6-2, center (Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.) -- Junior college transfer who averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds as a sophomore at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Danielle Russell, 5-4, guard (Clinton Junior College, Wilmington) -- Was a basketball and softball star at Ashley High in Wilmington. Averaged 10 points, four assists and two steals per game as a sophomore at Clinton.
Muriel Seabrooks, 5-11, forward (Pender County HS, Wilmington) -- Rebounding specialist for Pender County squad that reached the state 1-A championship game before losing. Averaged 11.3 points and 15.8 rebounds.
Jasmine Young, 5-8, forward (East Columbus HS, Lake Waccamaw) -- A two-year varsity starter, Young averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists as a senior. She's the niece of Tamara Young, who was taken with the eighth pick in this year's WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream.
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com
