The Georgia women’s basketball team signed four premier prep prospects on Wednesday in Jasmine Carter, Haley Clark, Mackenzie Engram and Nasheema Oliver.
Carter is a 5-8 guard from Dacula, Ga., and Atlanta’s St. Pius X Catholic High School. She is rated as one of nation’s top-20 shooting guards by both ESPN Hoopgurlz (No. 18) and Prospect Nation (No. 20). A year ago, Carter averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 1.7 assists per game while helping St. Pius to a 30-3 record and the Georgia 3A State Championship.
Clark is a 5-9 point guard and a four-year starter at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Fla. She is ranked as the No. 24 point guard in the Class of 2014 by ESPN Hoopgurlz and helped Edgewater to back-to-back Florida 6A State Championships in 2012 and 2013.
Engram is a 6-2 forward from Powder Springs, Ga., and Hillgrove High School. She is ranked as one of the nation’s top-50 overall prospects by two recruiting services – No. 38 by Prospect Nation and No. 41 by Blue Star– and a top-75 prospect by two more – No. 71 by ESPN Hoopgurlz and No. 72 by the Girls Basketball Report. Engram was tabbed first-team All-State by the Georgia Sports Writer’s Association for Class 6A last season after averaging 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.
Oliver is a 6-3 forward from Crisp County High School in Cordele, Ga. She is listed as the No. 18 prospect in the nation by Blue Star, as well as No. 37 by Prospect Nation, No. 58 by ESPN Hoopgurlz and No. 59 by the Girls Basketball Report. She averaged 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as a junior at Crisp County. As a sophomore, she earned second-team All-State recognition for Class AAA by the Georgia Sports Writer’s Association. As a freshman, Oliver helped Crisp County advance to the semifinals of the Georgia 3A State Tournament after entering the tourney with a 12-14 record.
“I think overall this is a good class,” head coach Andy Landers said. “We were able to sign the positions that we needed to sign. I think we’ve helped ourselves on both the front line and the backcourt. There’s size. There’s speed. There’s quickness. Generally speaking, our objectives are met with this class, and I think it fits very well with the team that we will have returning next season.”
Georgia signed a pair of Level 10 gymnasts on Wednesday as well. Gigi Marino of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Hayley Sanders of McKinney, Texas will begin competing for Georgia in 2015.
“This class is a good mix of power, grace and beauty,” said UGA head coach Danna Durante. “As the level of gymnastics continues to rise for both elites and Junior Olympic gymnasts we want our level to continue to rise. Both Gigi and Hayley will strengthen this team, as they come with a passion for the sport of gymnastics and for the University of Georgia.”
Marino qualified for the 2013 JO Nationals and placed second on vault and sixth in the all-around. At the Arizona State Championships, she came in first on vault and floor and sixth in the all-around.
Sanders is a two-time qualifier for JO Nationals and placed first on bars and vault at the 2013 Region 3 championships. She captured the gold medal on bars and repeated as the all-around champion at the 2011 WOGA Classic.
