CF Signee Saunders Earns Euro Experience

Central Florida signee and Great Britain native Will Saunders helped his home country to a 13th-place Division B finish at this month's Under-20 European Championship.

Saunders, a transfer from Division I University of South Carolina-Upstate, averaged 8.8 minutes, 3 points and 2 rebounds per game in six appearances for the British squad.

A 6-7, 190-pound forward, Saunders' international experience and all-around floor game is expected to offset the loss of NCAA-bound CF wings Mathiang Muo and Slobodan Miljanic.

• Like CF Patriots on Facebook.
• Follow CF Patriots on Twitter.

Milestone for CF Patriots Facebook Community

The official CF Patriots Facebook page now has over 500 fans, representing a major milestone in the growth of the program's online community.

Interest in College of Central Florida's five-sport athletic program is spiking thanks to the advent of the Patriots' women's volleyball team, which begins its inaugural season in late August. CF also continues to build on the annual postseason contention of its basketball teams and the steady flow of local and statewide talent through its baseball and fast-pitch softball programs.

If you don't yet follow CF Patriots on Facebook, visit this link or click Like in the box in the left column of this site. For our valued existing CF Patriots Facebook fans, please continue to share, Like and comment on the page's posts and links to spread the word to your friends.

Lady Patriots Strengthen Frontcourt Rotation

The Central Florida women's basketball program is putting the finishing touches on an impressive 2011-12 recruiting class. Head coach Cheryl Rice brought her roster to an even dozen with the recent signings of two new Lady Patriots:

• Najah Chambers is a 6-1 post out of New Jersey's Paramus Catholic High School. A four-year starter, Chambers is a formidable defensive presence and rebounder, averaging 2.6 blocks, 2.1 steals and 12.1 rebounds as a senior while adding 11.5 points per game. 
• Brittany Taylor posted 6.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a senior at Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga. The 5-10 post helped the squad to an 18-8 season and a regional tournament appearance. 

• Like CF Patriots on Facebook.
• Follow CF Patriots on Twitter.

CF Signs Dynamic Guard Timmone Whatley

Central Florida's men's basketball squad continues to stockpile talent ahead of its upcoming Mid-Florida Conference title defense. The latest addition is an exciting perimeter playmaker in Washington, D.C.-area star Timmone Whatley.

A 6-2 combo guard out of Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore, Whatley capped a standout prep run this spring with an appearance in the prestigious Capital Classic all-star game. It was a fitting end to a high school career that was not without its challenges, as Maryland's Gazette reported:

Whatley took on additional responsibility as he got older and the team encountered problems. During the 2010-11 season, the Eagles lost six of the team's eight seniors to academic ineligibility. As one of the two remaining seniors, Whatley was one of the few experienced players setting the tone for the youthful roster.

"For him to step up and assume that [role] told us a lot," (Douglass coach Tyrone) Massenburg said. "The other players look up to him not because of his physical ability but because of his mentality. He's a team-first player, and on the court he's a pass-first player, and it's kind of hard to find a player like that. He was close to being a triple-double every game. Whenever we were lacking in a particular area, he would take up the slack."

Whatley discussed his high school experiences and college aspirations in this video for www.capitolhoops.com:

Whatley is a welcome addition to an already-promising collection of guards and wings, which includes Division I transfer Will Saunders, FCSAA transfer Christian Martinez, incoming freshmen Jernell Hughes and Roosevelt Scott and returning sophomores Brian Pace and Steven Shipwash.

• Like CF Patriots on Facebook.
• Follow CF Patriots on Twitter.

CF Volleyball Adds Texas Standout Ellie Harp

With just weeks to go before its inaugural game, the fledgling Central Florida volleyball program has added another major talent in right side hitter and setter Ellie Harp.

A three-year varsity standout and all-state performer at Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, Harp led her team to a district title as a senior while earning district MVP honors. She joins the Patriots' debut squad after receiving interest from a number of four-year schools and initially committing to Eastern New Mexico State University.

As this feature in the Abilene Register details, Harp is poised to take on a leadership role as the CF volleyball program gets off the ground.

"She's a good kid, very motivated," Cooper coach Nora Oglesby said. "The thing that strikes me about Ellie is (she's) very focused and in tuned to everything we do. That's hard in volleyball - to really stay mentally focused every single play and make good decisions. She does that - not just in games, but in practice."

Harp joins a signing class stocked with talent both local and international, including prep stars and college transfers. Head coach Flavia Siqueira leads the Patriots into their inaugural season Aug. 26 at FSC-Jacksonville; their home opener is set for Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. against Polk State.

• Click for CF's full volleyball schedule.
• Like CF Patriots on Facebook.
• Follow CF Patriots on Twitter.

Lady Patriots Land Elite Virginia Prospect Mitchell

Central Florida women's basketball coach Cheryl Rice has added a major talent to her 2011-12 roster in Virgina prospect TiChina Mitchell.

A 5-11 wing out of Forest Park High School in Woodbrige, Va., Mitchell is a top-notch perimeter scorer and a natural leader, as this recent profile in the Northern Virginia newspaper News & Messenger details:

“TiChina is so valuable to our team because of her leadership and her willingness to take responsibility for her actions and our team’s,” Forest Park coach Rebecca Tillett said. 

Rice has also added a pair of former area prep stars to her recruiting class, signing Ocala Trinity Catholic graduate Denisse Pozo and Leesburg alumna Sherita Carter.

• Like CF Patriots on Facebook.
• Follow CF Patriots on Twitter.