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Rice University Athletics
WBB Announces 2021 Signing Class
11/11/2020 2:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – Rice head women's basketball coach Tina Langley announced today the signing of three student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent for the 2020-21 recruiting class. The trio includes Malia Fisher (Dacula, Ga./Hebron Christian Academy), Trinity Gooden (Midwest City, Okla./Choctaw High School) and Jordan Hobbs (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro High School). All three will enter Rice in the fall of 2021 as a freshman and will become members of the 2021-22 women's basketball team.
"We are thrilled to be adding three outstanding young women to our Rice Family," Langley said. "Each young woman that we have signed today places an extremely high value on academics and displays the values and integrity that will lead them to success both on and off the court.
"Jordan, Trinity, and Malia all come from incredible families who have instilled the character and work ethic to equip them for life and basketball. They each come from highly competitive high school and AAU programs, which have helped prepare them for elite competition at the collegiate level. We are so grateful to these young women and their families for their trust and commitment. They are all a perfect fit for our program and Rice University."
Malia Fisher – 6'2" – Forward
Hometown: Dacula, Ga.
AAU Program: Atlanta Cagers (Rodney Storms)
High School: Hebron Christian Academy (Jan Azar)
About Fisher: Last season Fisher averaged 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game for a Lions team that advanced to the Final Four State Tournament. Fisher earned 1A-Region 8 Player of the Year honors and was a Second Team All-State selection. In addition to basketball, Fisher played volleyball and was the Region 6 Co-Player of the Year, setting the school record for kills (548) in a season. Fisher also competed in track & field, establishing the school record in the high jump.
Malia Fisher on choosing Rice: "I chose Rice because it felt like the best fit for me. Academics was a huge factor in my decision and it was balanced with basketball. I know that I am going to be getting a great education and will have the best coaching staff pushing me to be a great player and great person in life after college. I couldn't have chosen a better place."
Tina Langley on Fisher: "Malia is an elite athlete who has great length and leaping ability. She is an explosive scorer, shot blocker and rebounder. She has the ability to handle the ball in transition and is an incredible passer in the open floor. Malia has consistently shown the versatility to play and guard multiple positions."
Coach Storms on Fisher: "Malia is the embodiment of an athlete's athlete. She has the grind, determination, and focus well beyond her years. Moreover, that focus extends to her studies and the classroom as well."
Coach Azar on Fisher: "During the short time I have had the opportunity to coach Malia Fisher I have realized that she fits in a small group of athletes I have coached who can do just about anything they put their mind to. I truly believe that Malia could walk on any team and be one of the top contributors without one day of practice. I am thankful for the opportunity to coach Malia one more season and I can't wait to follow her in college and after!"
Trinity Gooden – 5'11" – Guard
Hometown: Midwest City, Okla.
AAU Program: ProSkills (Taylor Johnston)
High School: Choctaw High School (Ryan Maloney)
About Gooden: Gooden helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 24-2 record last season, capped with a Big 10 District Championship. The Oklahoma native earned First Team All-Conference honors and enters her senior season with career averages of 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Trinity Gooden on choosing Rice: "Education was really important to me and my family, and with Rice being one of the top schools educationally in the nation, this made my decision really easy. What put Rice over the top for me was the staff and team. The family environment was exactly what I was looking for. Coach Langley made me want to be the best basketball player and person that I can be on and off the court. I believe anything is possible at Rice and the moment I stepped on campus I knew it would be my future home."
Tina Langley on Gooden: "Trinity is a highly skilled guard and a fierce competitor. She has a scorer's mindset but is also a selfless teammate and playmaker. She can score the ball at three levels and excels attacking the basket. Trinity is also a tough and tenacious defender, as well as a strong rebounder on both ends of the floor."
Coach Johnston on Gooden: "Trinity is an amazing player and an even more amazing teammate. Her versatility, leadership, toughness and will to win are something not many kids have. Trinity will fit right in with the Rice culture."
Coach Maloney on Gooden: "Trinity's work ethic earned her the privilege to play at the next level. We are all extremely proud of Trinity and congratulate her and the Gooden Family on this great day."
Jordan Hobbs – 6'1" – Guard
Hometown: Springboro, Ohio
AAU Program: Cincinnati Angels (Donte Harlan)
High School: Springboro High School (Tom Benjamin)
About Hobbs: As a junior, Hobbs averaged 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in a season in which she earned Second Team All-State honors for the Panthers. Hobbs was also named a First Team All-Southwest District nominee and the league's Player of the Year.
Jordan Hobbs on choosing Rice: "I chose Rice because it was a school that offered everything that I was looking for. The academics are unparalleled and the education will provide me with a great career in the future. In addition, I love the campus, coaching staff, players, and the culture that Coach Langley has built."
Tina Langley on Hobbs: "Jordan is a 6'1 wing with an extensive skill set. She can shoot the ball at a high level and has the ability to score off the bounce. She is also an excellent playmaker, always looking to put her teammates in a position to be successful. Her versatility and ability to play multiple positions will make her a matchup nightmare."
Coach Harlan on Hobbs: "Coaching Jordan has truly been a blessing. I've never had a young lady transform her game as much as she has while in high school. Her ability to play four positions effectively is what makes her special. Her work ethic, determination, and resiliency is why she will thrive at Rice."
Coach Benjamin on Hobbs: "Great family, great person, great versatility and a huge ceiling on her offensive game. I love Jordan Hobbs!"
"We are thrilled to be adding three outstanding young women to our Rice Family," Langley said. "Each young woman that we have signed today places an extremely high value on academics and displays the values and integrity that will lead them to success both on and off the court.
"Jordan, Trinity, and Malia all come from incredible families who have instilled the character and work ethic to equip them for life and basketball. They each come from highly competitive high school and AAU programs, which have helped prepare them for elite competition at the collegiate level. We are so grateful to these young women and their families for their trust and commitment. They are all a perfect fit for our program and Rice University."
Malia Fisher – 6'2" – Forward
Hometown: Dacula, Ga.
AAU Program: Atlanta Cagers (Rodney Storms)
High School: Hebron Christian Academy (Jan Azar)
About Fisher: Last season Fisher averaged 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game for a Lions team that advanced to the Final Four State Tournament. Fisher earned 1A-Region 8 Player of the Year honors and was a Second Team All-State selection. In addition to basketball, Fisher played volleyball and was the Region 6 Co-Player of the Year, setting the school record for kills (548) in a season. Fisher also competed in track & field, establishing the school record in the high jump.
Malia Fisher on choosing Rice: "I chose Rice because it felt like the best fit for me. Academics was a huge factor in my decision and it was balanced with basketball. I know that I am going to be getting a great education and will have the best coaching staff pushing me to be a great player and great person in life after college. I couldn't have chosen a better place."
Tina Langley on Fisher: "Malia is an elite athlete who has great length and leaping ability. She is an explosive scorer, shot blocker and rebounder. She has the ability to handle the ball in transition and is an incredible passer in the open floor. Malia has consistently shown the versatility to play and guard multiple positions."
Coach Storms on Fisher: "Malia is the embodiment of an athlete's athlete. She has the grind, determination, and focus well beyond her years. Moreover, that focus extends to her studies and the classroom as well."
Coach Azar on Fisher: "During the short time I have had the opportunity to coach Malia Fisher I have realized that she fits in a small group of athletes I have coached who can do just about anything they put their mind to. I truly believe that Malia could walk on any team and be one of the top contributors without one day of practice. I am thankful for the opportunity to coach Malia one more season and I can't wait to follow her in college and after!"
Trinity Gooden – 5'11" – Guard
Hometown: Midwest City, Okla.
AAU Program: ProSkills (Taylor Johnston)
High School: Choctaw High School (Ryan Maloney)
About Gooden: Gooden helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 24-2 record last season, capped with a Big 10 District Championship. The Oklahoma native earned First Team All-Conference honors and enters her senior season with career averages of 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Trinity Gooden on choosing Rice: "Education was really important to me and my family, and with Rice being one of the top schools educationally in the nation, this made my decision really easy. What put Rice over the top for me was the staff and team. The family environment was exactly what I was looking for. Coach Langley made me want to be the best basketball player and person that I can be on and off the court. I believe anything is possible at Rice and the moment I stepped on campus I knew it would be my future home."
Tina Langley on Gooden: "Trinity is a highly skilled guard and a fierce competitor. She has a scorer's mindset but is also a selfless teammate and playmaker. She can score the ball at three levels and excels attacking the basket. Trinity is also a tough and tenacious defender, as well as a strong rebounder on both ends of the floor."
Coach Johnston on Gooden: "Trinity is an amazing player and an even more amazing teammate. Her versatility, leadership, toughness and will to win are something not many kids have. Trinity will fit right in with the Rice culture."
Coach Maloney on Gooden: "Trinity's work ethic earned her the privilege to play at the next level. We are all extremely proud of Trinity and congratulate her and the Gooden Family on this great day."
Jordan Hobbs – 6'1" – Guard
Hometown: Springboro, Ohio
AAU Program: Cincinnati Angels (Donte Harlan)
High School: Springboro High School (Tom Benjamin)
About Hobbs: As a junior, Hobbs averaged 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in a season in which she earned Second Team All-State honors for the Panthers. Hobbs was also named a First Team All-Southwest District nominee and the league's Player of the Year.
Jordan Hobbs on choosing Rice: "I chose Rice because it was a school that offered everything that I was looking for. The academics are unparalleled and the education will provide me with a great career in the future. In addition, I love the campus, coaching staff, players, and the culture that Coach Langley has built."
Tina Langley on Hobbs: "Jordan is a 6'1 wing with an extensive skill set. She can shoot the ball at a high level and has the ability to score off the bounce. She is also an excellent playmaker, always looking to put her teammates in a position to be successful. Her versatility and ability to play multiple positions will make her a matchup nightmare."
Coach Harlan on Hobbs: "Coaching Jordan has truly been a blessing. I've never had a young lady transform her game as much as she has while in high school. Her ability to play four positions effectively is what makes her special. Her work ethic, determination, and resiliency is why she will thrive at Rice."
Coach Benjamin on Hobbs: "Great family, great person, great versatility and a huge ceiling on her offensive game. I love Jordan Hobbs!"
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