University of Houston Athletics
Incoming Women's Basketball Signing Class Receives High Marks Nationally
12/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 12, 2011
HOUSTON - Various recruiting services recently acknowledged the positive direction of the University of Houston women's basketball program, ranking the six-player class from November's early signing period among the nation's top-40 recruiting hauls.
Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report gave the class a top 25 ranking at No. 22, which is tops in C-USA and ranks sixth in Houston's future league, the BIG EAST Conference.
ESPN HoopGurlz rated the class as 39th nationally and second in Conference USA, just one spot behind Memphis.
The six-player class is loaded with talent and athleticism, filling both needs of size and versatility in the frontcourt and quickness at the guard position. All six players hail from Texas, with five ranked among the top 40 prospects in the Lone Star state by Premier Basketball Report.
Jessieka Palmer highlights the class, marking the first national top-100 overall prospect to sign with second-year head coach Todd Buchanan. The 6-0 combo guard out of La Marque High is tabbed as the No. 9 point guard and the No. 61 overall prospect nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz while ranking as the No. 14 recruit in Texas and No. 44 nationally overall by Premier Basketball Report.
Joining Palmer are forwards Marche Amerson (6-1, Rudder HS, No. 37 ranked prospect in Texas), Tyler Gilbert (6-2, Hightower HS, No. 29 in Texas) and twin sister Taylor Gilbert (6-2, Hightower HS, No. 30 in Texas), and guards Alecia Smith (5-7, PG, Cedar Hill HS, No. 15 in Texas) and Bianca Winslow (5-7, G, Bellaire HS), daughter of Houston men's basketball great Rickie Winslow.
The women's basketball team routed Houston Baptist on Saturday by a score of 83-60 and wraps up non-conference play on the road at Washington (Dec. 18) and New Mexico (Jan. 2) before opening the Conference USA slate against Marshall on Jan. 5.
