Women's Basketball Signs Standout Class

by **PonyPride** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:05 pm

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Sign One Of The Best Classes In Program History
Farrin Bell, Nia Jackson, Lexus Williams and Gabrielle Wilkins sign NLI's Wednesday

Nov. 9, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's basketball program signed four players to play for the Mustangs starting with the 2012-13 season. Farrin Bell, Nia Jackson, Lexus Williams and Gabrielle Wilkins all signed national letters of intent to play at SMU Wednesday.

"This is one of the best recruiting classes we have ever signed at SMU," head coach Rhonda Rompola exclaimed. "This is a group which I feel will make an immediate impact on our program next season."

Bell, a 6-0 forward from Richardson, Texas, ranks fifth among Texas 5A players averaging 20 points per game. She also pulls down five rebounds per game. She was named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 5A All-Region Team as a junior, and has also earned First Team All-District honors.

Nia Jackson is a 6-1 forward from Keller, Texas, where she excelled at Argyle Liberty Christian High School. She averaged 13 points per game and eight rebounds. She was named First Team All-State by both the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools and the TABC. She also earned First Team All-District honors.

Gabrielle Wilkins led Garland High school with 17 points and eight rebounds per game as a junior. Wilkins, a 5-9 guard from Garland, Texas, was named District 8-5A MVP last season, and also earned TABC All-Region honors.

Lexus Williams scored 12 points per game with 10 rebounds and three blocks at North Little Rock High School. As a junior, the 6-0 forward led the team to the Arkansas State Championship final. Williams was named Sophomore of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and she earned First Team All-State honors and was named All-Conference all three years.

The Mustangs open the 2011-12 season Saturday against Alcorn State in Moody Coliseum at 12 p.m. Fans attending the SMU football game against Navy will be admitted with their football ticket. Women's basketball tickets start at just $5 with season ticket packages available for as low as $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.smumustangs.com.

by **smupony94** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:07 pm

Way to go Rhonda

by **cutter** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:55 pm

excellent.

by **mustangbill67** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:08 am

Good job Rhonda! Big East women's BB is going to be fun to watch. We need to begin attracting some of the best players in the country to be competitive in the BE. Noticed that one of the top players in the country who is from the DFW area committed to UConn.

by **2ndandlong** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:58 am

Go ponies!

by **mrydel** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:40 am

Great to see a young lady from my high school in the group.

by **The PonyGrad** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 1:37 pm

Any objective rating?

by **SMU2007** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:36 pm

Help me rhonda

by **Mustangs_Maroons** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:38 pm

why can't our men's BB team do the same?

by **Junior** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:52 pm

Mustangs_Maroons wrote:why can't our men's BB team do the same?

from all accounts i've read, they did.

by **White Helmet** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:56 pm

A bunch of all Region types, doesnt seem that impressive

by **ponyscott** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 1:06 pm

If Rhonda says that this is her best class, maybe she knows these are the best......doesn't look that impressive just by reading the stats and accolades IMHO. But what do I know? Maybe the accolades are coming coming up after their Senior season when they should excel.

Mustang_maroons....you need to get a Rivals subscription...this mens class signed this week is big time and perfect for the Princeton that Doh runs. And if you are from Ny, you should know the two guys we signed from NY and NJ are great adds. Brian was one of he Top 10 players in NYC this past year.

by **SMU 86** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:08 pm

If this is true she is getting us ready for the Big East in womens basketball. PP where does it rank as far as nationwide rankings?

by **Higher Authority** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:04 am

I read somewhere (and for the life of me, I can't find it again, but I'm still looking) where someone called our women's team's class a "program-changing class." It talked at length about what they have done on their school teams and AAU/travel/whatever-it's-called teams. The article said Bell will be an impact player the day she sets foot on campus and said that Jackson is a "rare" athlete who might well end up being the jewel of a very strong class.

I'll post if I can re-find the link. Hope their assessment is right.

by **Balatro Diabolus Ex** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:15 am

It's a very strong group, but we still need a 6'3" post player, a true post who can play with her back to the basket on offense, and clog the lane/defend the opposing post, on defense. Every team we play in the Big East will start at least one girl 6'3" or taller, and we need to be able to match up.