UofA women’s basketball head coach Niya Butts and the women’s basketball staff believe that they have signed one of the best classes in program history. Entering the signing period, the Wildcat class was named one of the country’s top 25 classes and third-best in the Pac-12.
JaLea Bennett, Taryn Griffey, Charise Holloway, Cherice Harris and Chy Cunningham will join the Wildcats for the 2014-15 season.
“Overall, we think this class has been pretty good,” Butts said. “We are bringing in some talented young ladies and they are going to be ready to play immediately. They have been working hard, they know the value of a good work ethic and I think that’s the thing that is going to set them apart from the other freshmen in the country.”
The five players will join a stacked roster, including current junior Candice Warthen, sophomores Keyahndra Cannon, Nyre Harris and Farrin Bell and freshmen LaBrittney Jones, Dejza James, Ashley Merrill and Breanna Workman.
JaLea Bennett
5-10, shooting guard
Grand Prairie, Texas
Plans to major in: Criminal Justice Studies
High School: Mansfield Timberview High School
First Team All-District in junior season
Three-year starter
Averaged 9.6 ppg/5.7 rpg in her junior season
Taryn Griffey
5-6, point guard
Seattle, Wash.
Plans to major in: Business
High School: Dr. Phillips High School
State MVP her freshman and sophomore years
State Player of the Year in sophomore season
Brighthouse Player of the Year
All-Academic and Metrowest Highest GPA
All-Southern team
Averaged 16.4 ppg and 7 rpg in soph season
Charise Holloway
5-9 guard
Tracy, Calif.
Plans to major in: Law
High School: St. Mary’s High School
Four-year starter
Cherice Harris
5-8 point guard
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Plans to major in: Psychology or Sociology
High School: Etiwanda High School
Four-year starter
Averaged 12.0 ppg in junior season
First-team baseline league
Second- team inland valley
Chy Cunningham
5-10 guard
Columbus, Miss.
Plans to major in: Physical Therapy
Transfer From: Paris Junior College
Averaged 13 ppg
Shot 50 percent from the field