Women's Basketball Announces Six Early Signees
12/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2004
HOUSTON - University of Houston women's basketball head coach Joe Curl and his staff announced Wednesday that they signed four players to National Letters of Intent and two to Statements of Financial Aid for next season during the NCAA early signing period.
Each of the six players were listed among the top 200 high school players in the nation in women's hoops.
The signees include four guards and two forwards.
"We are very excited about the quality of the student-athletes that are now a part of our Lady Cougar and Houston family," said Curl. "We really feel that with this class, we have really been able to capitalize on and establish recruiting ties to our home city of Houston as well as in the Dallas area and throughout the state."
Headlining this year's list is Sha'Ratta Hawkins, currently a senior at Jesse H. Jones High School in Houston, Texas, who is considered the Lady Cougars' best incoming player. A 6-0 guard who averages 26 points per game, five assists and nearly eight rebounds per game, she has received numerous accolades throughout her high school career.
Heading into her senior season this year, Hawkins was named a candidate for the All-Greater Houston Player of the Year Award, as well as named to the Preseason First Team All-Greater Houston Team, and last year captured Second Team All-Greater Houston honors.
Most impressively, Hawkins has been cited by Street & Smith/ and Parade Magazine as an Honorable Mention High School All-American.
"She is an outstanding player who is very versatile and has the ability to play all five positions on the floor," said Curl. "She is one of the highest-ranked recruits throughout every recruiting publication this year, and is certainly one of Houston's most highly-decorated signed additions in the history of Lady Cougar Basketball."
Fellow Houston native Nakazi Glover has also earned various awards during her high school playing career at Bellaire, where she has been named an All-District Selection and All-Region honors while averaging 22 points, 6.5 rebounds and nearly five assists per game. The 5-11 guard also can play the forward position. Glover's father, Mike, played basketball for the Cougars from 1984-85.
"Nakazi will also be an outstanding addition for us," continued Curl. "She is very athletic and has a great basketball I.Q., which she gets honestly (from her father)."
A 5-7 point guard, Nikita Hutchinson has averaged 10.1 points, nearly seven assists, 3.4 steals and 2.2 rebounds a game during her decorated career at East St. John's High School in Reserve, La. In each of her three years, she has earned Defensive Most Valuable Player and All-District honors.
The last signee to a National Letter of Intent is Ryan Meyers, a 6-0 guard/forward who comes to Houston following one year at Grayson County Junior College. An Arlington, Texas, native, Meyers was a two-sport standout at Arlington Martin High School, where she lettered all four years in both women's basketball and track and field.
During her senior year in 2003-04, Meyers averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game, and was the school's best runner in the 400-meter hurdles.
The final two additions to the Lady Cougars have signed Statements of Financial Aid. Nichelle Roberts, a 6-1 forward and Houston native, was a two-time All-State selection in 2000-02 while at Westfield High She transfers to Houston from Kansas.
Sha'Quaylon McKinney is the tallest newcomer at 6-3, and comes to Houston via Dallas Skyline High School and Trinity Valley Community College.