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Rice University Athletics
Women's Hoops Signs Four for 2008-09 Season
11/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2007
HOUSTON - Head coach Greg Williams announced the signing of Candace Ashford, Brianna Hypolite, Amenemope McKinney and D'Frantz Smart Tuesday to National Letters of Intent to play for the Rice women's basketball program. All four players will enter as freshman for the 2008-09 season.
"We are very pleased to announce the signing of these four outstanding and talented student-athletes to come to Rice as part of the 2008 recruiting class," Williams said. "I would like to thank my assistant coaches for all of their hard work on the recruiting trail. Each of these players come from very successful high school programs and excellent summer club teams. They have played at a high level of competition year round and that will help them transition to the Division I game quickly."
McKinney (Arlington, Texas - Bowie HS) and Smart (Chicago, Ill. - Whitney Young HS) are guards. Hypolite (Dickinson, Texas - Dickinson HS) is a wing player and Ashford (Plano, Texas - Plano West HS) is a post player.
"It's extremely nice to bring in players that can play more than one position," Williams said. "That versatility not only gives me as a coach more options but the players have more opportunities to make an immediate impact right away."
Ashford, a 6-2 post player for Don Patterson at Plano West High School averaged 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior for the Wolves. She transferred to Plano West after a pair of All-District and All-State selections at Bishop Lynch High School as a freshman and sophomore. Ashford also won two TAPPS 6A State titles at Bishop Lynch and a pair of AAU National Championships with her club team, the Texas Express 90s. She was ranked No. 500 overall and No. 96 at center by the Michael T. White All Star Girls Report.
"Candace is a fantastic addition to our post position with the upcoming graduation of Valeriya Berezhynska and Tiffany Loggins," Williams said. "She is a physical player who can run the floor and shoot the three. Candace is a diamond in the rough on offense and has a bright future ahead of her at Rice."
Hypolite, a 6-0 wing player for Darrin Samuels at Dickinson High School totaled 17.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game as a junior for the Gators. She was a District 23-4A First-Team, TABC All-Region and All-State pick assisting Dickinson to a 36-6 record last season. The Gators also were the Class 4A Runner-up. Hypolite racked up Galveston County and Class 4A Region III Player of the Year. She is rated No. 626 overall and No. 125 at shooting guard by the Michael T. White All Star Girls Report. Hypolite committed to Rice halfway through her junior season.
"Brianna was our first verbal commitment of this class and the earliest we've ever had a player commit to Rice," Williams said. "She is a very versatile player who can play both inside and outside on offense. Brianna is the type of player who is going to fill up the box score. She finds a way to average a few steals and blocks per game to go along with her double-double in points and rebounds. She also can lead the fastbreak with her tremendous speed and is an outstanding defender."
McKinney, a 5-7 guard who is coached by Wanda Talton at Bowie High School in Arlington, averaged 9.5 points, 4.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game as a junior for the Volunteers. She notched All-District 8-5A First-Team and Region 1 Second-Team honors last season. McKinney was ranked No. 97 overall and No. 19 at point guard by the Michael T. White All Star Girls Report. In her first two seasons at Covenant Christian Academy, McKinney was an All-District First-Team selection and won a 2A state championship as a sophomore.
"Amenemope gives our offense flexibility not only at point guard but at the shooting guard position," Williams said. "She's an extremely quick guard who makes things happen on the court. Amenemope also is a fantastic student of the game and possesses an excellent basketball IQ. She's long and anticipates passing lanes very well on the defensive end."
Smart, a 5-0 guard who is coached by Corry Irvin at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, totaled 13 points, four assists and two steals per game as a junior for the Dolphins. She was a 2007 Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times All-Area selection in addition to an Illinois All-State pick. Smart also participated in the Adidas All-American camp for two years and earned the Junior Orange Bowl MVP. In her first three seasons, Young High School is 87-8 and has not lost a game at home. Franz was ranked No. 110 overall and No. 22 at point guard by HoopGurlz.com.
"D'Frantz is a consummate point guard who understands the game and is extremely competitive," Williams said. "She's an outstanding ball handler and a tremendous passer. D'Frantz also is an excellent floor leader and a great defender that utilizes her speed and quickness. She knows how to take care of the basketball and our fans are going to love watching her play over the next four years."
