Gator Women's Basketball Announces 2007-08 Signing Class
Monday, November 19, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Three talented players from extremely successful high school and summer programs highlight the 2007-08 University of Florida women's basketball signing class, head coach Amanda Butler announced on Monday. Signing National Letters of Intent to begin playing for the Gators in the 2008-09 season are Tailor Jones (5-foot-11, Guard, Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lake Mary High School), Trumae (pronounced tru-MAY) Lucas (5-foot-8, Guard, Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley High School) and Azania (pronounced ah-ZANE-e-ah) Stewart (6-foot-4, Center, Wood Green, England/Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, Va.).
“I am really excited about the addition of Tailor, Trumae and Azania to our program next season,” Butler said of her inaugural fall signing class. “They immediately make us better in the paint and on the perimeter. One of the most important qualities we were looking for in future Gators was their desire to compete for championships. All three of these young women aspire to be champions and want to do so wearing the Florida uniform. They are excited about the opportunity to make history with the Gators and we expect them to contribute right away. All three blended perfectly with our existing Gator family and chemistry is such an important element in orchestrating a championship team.”
| 2007 Florida Gator Women's Basketball Signees | ||||
| Name | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown | High School |
| Tailor Jones | 5-11 | Guard | Altamonte Springs, Fla. | Lake Mary |
| Trumae Lucas | 5-8 | Guard | Greensboro, N.C. | Grimsley |
| Azania Stewart | 6-4 | Center | Wood Green, England | Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg, Va.) |
Meet the New Gators…
| Tailor Jones |
| A starter for Lake Mary High School as a freshman and sophomore, Jones helped the Lady Rams win the 2006 FHSAA 6A State Championship, scoring 11 points against Miami Norland in the 63-53 title game, after finishing as the state runner-up in 2005. During the summer of 2006, Jones and her family moved to Chicago, where she played for Whitney Young High School and the Chicago Hoops Express 17U I club team, before moving back to Florida, where she is in her senior year at Lake Mary. With WYHS, Jones helped the team capture the 2007 City of Chicago title. She is a four-time invitee to the prestigious Adidas Top Ten All-American Camp, while being nominated as a Street and Smith and McDonald's All American. Jones also played AAU summer ball for DEBO, where she was teammates with current Gator sophomore Jennifer Mossor. |
| Coach Butler says… |
| “Tailor is one of the best passers I've seen in a long time, especially in transition. She has a high basketball I.Q., great timing on the court and has the ability to score in a variety of different ways. She has the mind of a point guard and has the size to play on the wing in the Southeastern Conference. Lake Mary, coached by Carl Brown, is traditionally one of the best high school programs in the region and it's great to keep such talented kid in state." |
| Trumae Lucas |
| Named Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 North Carolina 4-A State Championship game for Grimsley High School, Lucas scored 33 points in a tough 69-64 loss to South View High in the title game, hitting 10-of-17 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the free throw line. Lucas recorded a game-high 26 points in the 4-A West final game, leading Grimsley past West Charlotte, 58-51. She was named the Metro 4-A Player of the Year in 2005-06 and 2006-07, helping the Whirlies compile a 30-2 record her junior season. Lucas was invited to participate in the prestigious Adidas Top Ten All-American Camp in 2006 and 2007, while being recognized as an NCHSAA First-Team All-State performer in 2007. |
| Coach Butler says… |
| “Trumae is quick, athletic and has played on one of the best high school teams in North Carolina. She will give us a lot of different options on the perimeter. She is confident and expects to make plays every chance she gets. She plays hard, is very competitive and can put points on the board. She's been well coached by Phil Weaver and Stanford Ray and knows how to win." |
| Azania Stewart |
| The first Gator signee from Europe, Stewart is a key member of this year's Notre Dame Academy's team that sits atop the Full Court Press/Sports Illustrated and the ESPN HIGH Elite 25 national preseason rankings. Considered one of the top post players in the Virginia/Maryland/D.C. area, Stewart averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks last year when she helped the Dragons to a No. 5 ranking in the final USA Today national poll after posting a 29-1 record, their lone loss to top-ranked Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.). Stewart was recognized as a 2005-06 First-Team All-State Honorable Mention performer in Division I, while collecting All-Tournament honors for the 2007 Naples Daily News Holiday Shootout and the 2006 Flint Hill Tip-Off Classic. She played with the famed Boo Williams Summer League travel team during the summer. |
| Coach Butler says… |
| “Azania is a true center and will give us a big presence in the paint. She has a great attitude and is wonderful person to be around on and off the court. Azania has had the good fortune to learn and play her high school ball under Mike Teasley, who has done a tremendous job of developing Azania's skills and building a national championship caliber program at Notre Dame Academy.” |
END OF REPORT
