While the Lady Patriots have reached the state tournament annually and regularly produced All-Americans and Division I players, recent CF rosters have often had to overcome a size disadvantage. Rice said she aimed to address that issue with this class, which features four frontcourt players standing 5-11 or better, while staying true to the program's core values.
"We decided to go with a larger lineup, trying to get players that are still athletic but a little bigger," Rice said. "It's not going to change my philosophy in terms of system. We're still going to be defensive-oriented and run the ball."
The seven new signees and two returning sophomores bring the Lady Patriots' roster to nine. Rice plans to sign five or six more players over the summer to complete the roster.
A look at the new additions:
- F Moniqua Darby (Powder Springs, Ga., McEachern HS) 6-1 post was named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Cobb County Player of the Year.
- F Charo Fowler (Winter Park HS) 5-11 forward finished her senior season ranked 11th in the Orlando Sentinel's girls' basketball top 20 player rankings.
- F Simone High (Columbus, Ga., Kendrick HS) 5-11 forward enjoyed huge individual and team success in the Georgia prep ranks, earning Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAA All-State first-team status while guiding Kendrick to a 30-1 record.
- F Mariel Mayo (Ocala West Port HS) 5-10 wing helped her Marion County powerhouse prep program to a Class 5A elite eight appearance as a senior, capping a four-year career at the varsity level.
- G Nikarre Sesler (Wildwood HS) 5-2 point guard is a lightning-quick presence on the fast break, and a seasoned athlete after starring in hoops and softball at Wildwood.
- F Yasmeen Thompson (Philadelphia Freire Charter School) 6-2 post averaged a double-double among rugged Philly competition, producing 14.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
- G Quinnecia Twine (Atlanta Maynard H. Jackson HS) 5-8 wing earned her school's Female Achievement Award at the 2010 Coca-Cola Scholar Athlete Awards.
