Schneider Signs Five In First Class
11/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2010
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Brandon Schneider announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Thursday as part of the first signing class of his tenure.
Three of the incoming prospects - Daylyn Harris (F, Livingston HS), Ashley Bettis (G, Channelview HS) and Kyaris Johnson (G, Mansfield Legacy HS) - are ranked as top-40 recruits in Texas according to multiple publications, while Tierany Henderson (F, Austin LBJ HS) and Brittney Matthew (G, Fort Bend Hightower HS) bring plenty of success from their high school careers as well.
"Losing seven seniors to graduation, we felt it was extremely important to recruit and sign individuals who are physically ready to contribute to our program immediately," head coach Brandon Schneider said. "All three of these young ladies possess the talent, skill level and work ethic necessary to impact our team as freshmen. They understand the heritage of our program and are excited about the expectations that come with putting on a Ladyjack uniform."
Harris, a 5-10 small forward from Livingston High School, is part of a Lady Lions' team that was ranked in the TABC top-25 to begin the 2010-11 season. She averaged nearly 20 points per game as a junior and has earned all-state honors each of the past two seasons.
She earned District 18-4A defensive player of the year honors as just a freshman and will bring a long wingspan and projectable build to SFA next season. Harris enters this season as the No. 35 player in the state according to Joey Simmons of the Premier Basketball Report.
"She has a strong build which helps her finish when taking it to the hole. Has a long wingspan and runs the court well. She can really get on the boards," Simmons said.
Harris is a multi-sport star at LHS as well, earning all-district honors in volleyball and even finishing third at the Class 4A state track meet as a freshman in the high jump.
"Daylyn is an extremely athletic forward who can guard multiple positions," Schneider said. "She is a slasher offensively and a consistent three-point threat. She is a ball getter on the boards with terrific instincts."
SFA went deeper into the Houston area to pluck away Channelview's Ashley Bettis, a 5-8 combo guard who averaged 14.7 points per game as a junior. She enters her senior season on the McDonald's all-America watch list and is coming off a season where she helped lead the Lady Falcons to the area round of the 5A state playoffs while earning all-District 21-5A honors.
As a sophomore she averaged 15.6 points per game and earned all-district honors while leading CHS to a 27-7 record just one year after being named the district's freshman of the year. She is ranked as the No. 36 player in the state by the Premier Basketball Report, while Dan Olson of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report has her as the nation's 74th-ranked prospect overall and the country's 12th-best shooting guard.
"Ashley is an outstanding 3-point shooter who can also make plays off the bounce," Schneider. "Her quick feet and long arms enable her to be very disruptive on the defensive end."
SFA picked up another skilled guard in 5-8 point guard Kyaris Johnson from Mansfield Legacy High School. The Premier Basketball Report has her ranked as the 26th-best overall player and the 7th-best point guard the state has to offer in this year's class.
She missed her junior year due to injury, but was an all-district and all-region selection as both a freshman and sophomore. Johnson averaged 12.1 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game as a sophomore and put up a career best 26 points in a game against Midlothian High School that same year.
"Kyaris is tough, competitive and never takes a possession off," Schneider said. "Her energy and skill level allow her to make plays all over the floor both offensively and defensively."
Henderson averaged better than 12 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior at Crockett High School in Austin before moving to LBJ High School for her senior season. She was the 2008 newcomer of the year in District 17-4A and is ranked as the No. 53 player in the state by the Premier Basketball Report.
"Tierany is an outstanding athlete with a terrific basketball frame," Schenider said. "Her ability to run the floor, rebound on both ends and defend with energy make her a great asset to our program."
The final addition to the class, Matthew led her team the farthest of any of the Ladyjack recruits last season, guiding Hightower High School to the Class 5A state title game where they fell to one of the top teams in the nation - Cy-Fair High School.
She set the school's single-season scoring record for either boys or girls as a freshman, averaging 19 points per contest. Matthew was a unanimous first team all-District 23-5A selection last year, and was also voted as her team's MVP and an all-region selection by the TABC while helping the Hurricanes amass a 35-3 record in the state's largest classification.
"Brittney is a floor general with great vision and a high basketball I.Q.," Schneider said. "She is a playmaker off the bounce and can create shots for both herself and her teammates. She has range beyond the arc and is very active defensively."
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