George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Signs Five
12/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON, DC (December 2) -- The George Washington University women's basketball team signed five recruits during the November signing period, head coach Joe McKeown announced. Ugo Oha (Houston, TX), Demetria Tipps (Bay City, TX), Alexis Darling (Corning, NY), Marsheik Witherspoon (Opa-Locka, FL) and Valerie Williams (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) signed national letters of intent with the Colonials.
National women's basketball recruiting analyst Joe Smith, from the Women's Basketball News Service, tabbed the George Washington recruiting class the 11th-best in the nation.
"GW's class really fills the needs of the team in getting some big people, especially at the center position," said Smith. "Oha is one of the top three or four centers in the nation, and Darling is one of the sleepers. With those two, they really filled their needs."
Oha, a 6-4 center from Hastings High School in Houston, TX, is one of the top high school players in the nation. Basketball News ranked Oha No. 27 nationally among the senior class, and The Blue Star Basketball scouting service rated her No. 28. Oha averaged 10.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 3.5 blocks per game as a junior last year. She was named honorable mention all-district in Houston as a sophomore, first team all-district as a junior, and is a preseason first-team all-greater Houston selection this season as a senior. Oha is also an honors student, continuing GW's tradition of recruiting academically and athletically strong players.
"Ugo is going to give us something we really need," said Head Coach Joe McKeown. "She's an athletic, powerful center who can run the floor. She has long arms, and is an excellent shot blocker. She plays equally well offensively as defensively. She'll be an impact player for us."
Tipps is a 6-0 forward from Bay City High School in Bay City, TX. She averaged 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2 assists per game as a junior. She was a first-team All-Region and All-State selection last year, and was also named first team in the state tournament. She was also a District 24-4A first team and Academic Team selection.
Tipps is as solid in the classroom as she is on the court. She is an honors student, a member of the National Honor Society and is President of the senior class at Bay City High School.
"Meme is an outstanding swing player," said McKeown. "She's strong and athletic. She's both an inside and outside threat; she'll post you up or hit the perimeter shot. She's going to be an outstanding college player and addition to our program."
Tipps and Oha are teammates on the Houston Hotshots AAU team in Houston.
Darling is a 6-5 center from Corning East High School in Corning, NY. She averaged 12.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.2 blocks per game last year. Darling was a first-team Sullivan Trail Conference all-conference selection as a junior. She was also named to the 1999 Corning Leader All-Leader First Team and 1999 All-Twin Tier First Team. As a sophomore, Darling was named first-team all-league and second team all-conference. A three-year starter, Darling led her team in scoring and rebounding her sophomore and junior campaigns. Darling is a dominant post player who runs the floor well for a player of her size. In addition to her strong game in the paint, Darling can shoot the three-pointer with proficiency (56% as a junior) and is very accurate from 15 feet in.
Darling is talented in the classroom as well, and was selected an NYS Scholar Athlete all three years in high school. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
"Alexis has unlimited potential," said McKeown. "She chose GW to be around a great coaching staff and talented players where she can develop her game and realize her potential.Her best days are ahead of her."
Witherspoon is a 5-5 point guard from American Senior High School in Opa-Locka, FL. She averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 4.4 steals per game as a junior, leading her team to a 29-4 record. Witherspoon was a second team all-county selection by the Miami Herald in 1998 and 1999. Witherspoon is a natural point guard with great court vision, and her quickness allows her to penetrate the defense.
"Marsheik is an excellent defender," said McKeown. "Offensively she sees the floor well and takes care of the ball, which is exactly what a coach wants from a point guard. She can drive and penetrate, and is as quick as a cat."
Williams is a 6-2 forward from Ft. Lauderdale High School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She averaged 25.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks per game through her sophomore year at Ft. Lauderdale Christian School. She was the 1998 Florida State first runner-up in statewide voting for the Class 1A Player of the Year. Williams was the 1997 and 1998 Broward County Class 1A, 2A, 3A Player of the Year, and was named to the South Atlantic Coast Conference (SAAC) All-Conference team both years as well. Williams was also the MVP of the 1998 Florida Junior Nationals tournament, and was the 1997 SAAC MVP.
"Val really fills a need for us at the power forward position," said McKeown. She's a legitimate power forward with a strong high post - low post game. She is a phenominal leaper and can jump out of the gym. With her strength and leaping ability, she'll be banging in the paint and grabbing rebounds for us."
All five newcomers received honorable mention all-America recognition from USA Today.
"All of the kids are fantastic people with tremendous personalities, as well as excellent students," said McKeown. "I think we followed last year's outstanding recruiting class with another great class this year. You need solid recruiting classes every year when you're building a top program, and we accomplished that."
George Washington University Women's Basketball November Signing Period CommitmentsName Ht. Pos. Hometown/High School Pts. Rebs. Other Alexis Darling 6-5 C Corning, NY/Corning East HS 12.9 11.1 4.2 blocks Ugo Oha 6-4 C Houston, TX/Hastings HS 10.2 9.4 3.5 blocks Demetria Tipps 6-0 F Bay City, TX/Bay City HS 13.0 5.5 2.0 assists Valerie Williams 6-2 F Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Ft. Lauderdale HS 25.5 15.5 2.0 blocks Marsheik Witherspoon 5-5 G Opa-Locka, FL/American Senior HS 11.9 3.5 7.9 assists
