George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces Six Early Signees
1/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington women's basketball program has signed six players to National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the early signing period, head coach Joe McKeown has announced.
Tiana Myers (Ft. Washington, MD/Bishop McNamara), Kayla Miller (Wilmington, DE/Ursuline Academy), Tara Booker (Galloway, NJ/Absegami), Brooke Wilson (Greenbelt, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt), Sara Mostafa (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and Kiara Allums (Hugo, MN/Centennial) have all signed with the Colonials for the 2008-09 season.
"I'm really excited about our 2008-09 recruiting class because I believe it is one of the top classes in the country and answers our needs as a program," said McKeown. "My staff did a tremendous job of identifying some of the top players in the country. I feel that the student-athletes we have coming in next year, even though it's a large class, will have an opportunity to contribute right away. I'm also excited that all the players coming in are from top-flight programs, have been well coached and are terrific student-athletes."
Myers, a 5-9 guard, was an honorable mention All-Met selection by the Washington Post as a junior at Bishop McNamara High. Myers averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game to earn second team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and second team all-county honors for the 25-10 Mustangs in 2007.
McKeown: "I'm very excited Tiana is coming to GW. Playing at a great high school program like Bishop McNamara has given her a solid foundation. With the number of seniors graduating, I think Tiana will be able to compete as a freshman and will bring a lot of intangibles to the program."
5-8 point guard Kayla Miller was a third team All-Delaware and first team All-Catholic Conference pick at Ursuline Academy last winter. Miller was a member of the Raiders' state championship teams in 2004 and 2006 and earned honorable mention all-state honors in 2005 and 2006. Ursuline is currently ranked No. 8 in this week's USA Today Super 25 national rankings.
McKeown: "I feel Kayla is one of the top high school point guards in the country. I love the way she competes. Playing at a top-tier program like Ursuline, she understands what it's like to play at a very high level. I also love her toughness and attitude about the game. She's also an outstanding student who I feel will fit real well into GW campus life."
Booker, a 6-1 guard/forward, and Mostafa, a 6-5 forward, have teamed to guide Absegami High to back-to-back New Jersey Group IV State Championships in 2005 and 2006 and three consecutive South Jersey Group IV titles.
Booker, a two-time Press of Atlantic City Player of the Year, averaged 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds as a junior in 2007. Mostafa, a 2007 first team Press of Atlantic City All Star, added 16.6 points, 12.0 boards and Cape-Atlantic League leading 2.2 blocks for a Braves team that finished 24-5 last winter.
McKeown: "Tara is one of the top high school players in the country. What makes her special is she has tremendous range and brings a great attitude and work ethic to the game. She's a great player and great student off the court. When she decided to come to GW it was a great opportunity for us and for her."
McKeown: "At 6-5, Sara gives us good size for this class. She has the abliity to play inside and out, has great hands and finishes around the basket. Having the opportunity to play with Jessica and Jazmine Adair as a freshman will really accelerate her development. I think she's only going to get better and better. Another outstanding student, which is important to us at GW."
Wilson, a 6-2 forward, posted 12.9 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.6 steals per game to earn All-Met honors from the Washington Post and first team All-Gazette as a junior at Eleanor Roosevelt High. A versatile, all-around prospect, Wilson helped Roosevelt to its third straight Maryland 4A State Championship in 2007, averaging 12.0 points and 12.0 boards in the state final four.
McKeown: "Brooke - at 6-2 - can play three different positions. She's a tremendous athlete and basketball player. Playing at a program like Eleanor Roosevelt - where they've won three straight state titles - has established in her a desire to win, which obviously is something we look for in recruiting. She's humble about her accomplishments, but I think when people see her as a senior this year, they'll see one of the top players in the area, if not the country."
Allums, a 5-10 guard, is a two-time honorable mention all-state performer from Centennial High, currently the top ranked team in Minnesota and the 13th in USA Today's latest Super 25 national rankings. Allums is averaging 15.6 points for the Cougars this year, after posting 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game despite missing the first 13 games of last season after transferring from Highland Park High.
McKeown: "Kiara is a very versatile guard from Minnesota. Her quickness and scoring ability will really help and allow her to compete right away with the graduation of Sarah-Jo Lawrence and Whitney Allen. She is a highly recruited player form the Midwest and I was excited with how impressed she was with Washington, DC. Kiara is another player coming out of a top-flight high school program who will bring a winning attitude to GW."
