Lanita Bartley Becomes Sixth Member of UF WBB's Signing Class
Monday, May 3, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Lanita Bartley, a 5-foot-6 point guard, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the University of Florida women's basketball team, Gator head coach Amanda Butler announced.
Bartley, a Jacksonville native who recently wrapped up her sophomore year at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, is the sixth member of Florida's 2010 signing class that will suit up for the Gators in the 2010-11 season. She joins Deana Allen (5-10, Guard, Houma, La.), Jaterra (ja-TEAR-ah) Bonds (5-8, Guard, Gainesville, Fla.), Kayla Lewis (5-11, Guard/Forward, Decatur, Ga.), Brittany Shine (5-10, Guard, Sacramento, Calif.) and Deaundra Young (6-2, Forward, Titusville, Fla.).
“Lanita makes an already very talented, hard-working and unique signing class even better,” Butler said. “We have a fantastic group joining our returning players.”
Bartley was recognized to the 2010 WBCA State Farm Coaches' All-America Team Honorable Mention for JC/CC and earned 2010 Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) First Team All-State honors after guiding Santa Fe College to consecutive Mid-Florida Conference championships for the first time in more than 20 years. She was honored as the 2010 MFC Player of the Year, leading the league in scoring with 17.8 points, the fourth-highest in the state. Bartley also ranked fourth in the state for assists and fifth for steals.
“Lanita is a dynamic scoring point guard, who brings experience in the point guard position,” Butler said. “She's been in the Florida Junior College system for two years which is consistently the most competitive in the country. Santa Fe head coach Chanda Stebbins has done a great job with that program and Lanita really developed as more of a complete player after spending two years with her. It's great to add another player from the state of Florida to our family. I had an instant connection with her and feel very good about her future with our program.”
Bartley set the SFC record by converting 18 free throws against Florida State College-Jacksonville on Jan. 13, 2010, when she also established the new program standard with 22 attempts. During the 2009-10 campaign, Bartley continued her assault on the Saints' record book, topping the chart for free throws made (186 in 28 games) and attempted (251 in 28 games), in addition to setting the program record for career free throws made (272) and attempted (363).
Under the direction of SFC Head Coach Chanda Stebbins, a former Gator letterwinner, Bartley was twice honored as the National Junior College Athletics Association Player of the Week twice, the first time coming on Jan. 6, 2010, four days after becoming the second player in SFC history to record a triple-double. On Jan. 2, 2010, Bartley totaled 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the win against Middle Georgia College. She also collected seven steals in the game, just three shy of producing a quadruple-double. Her second double-double was against Florida State College-Jacksonville on Jan. 31, 2010, when she contributed a career-high 37 points, with 10 rebounds and 11 assists, after which came her second national weekly honor.
“Lanita is a very quick, athletic guard who makes other players around her better,” Stebbins said. “She creates a lot of looks and can knock down open shots. Lanita is very excited about wearing a Florida jersey and is excited about the next two years. She's a good student and will take advantage of all the academic opportunities UF offers its students.”
She was SFC's leader in scoring her sophomore campaign, averaging 17.8 ppg while totaling 498 in 28 games, as well as contributing team-bests of 5.3 assists (149 total), 3.3 steals (92 total). She also collected 6.2 rebounds (174 total, 69 offensive), the second-highest average during the 2009-10 season. Bartley coolly converted 74 percent from the free throw line and 43 percent overall (144-337), in addition to hitting 24-of-83 from the three-point arc.
During her initial year at SFC, Bartley helped the Saints to a 22-6 overall record and win the Mid-Florida Conference for the first time since the 1984-85 season. She averaged 10.9 points (250 total in 23 games), the fourth-highest mark on the squad. Bartley also averaged 5.0 rebounds (166 total), 3.6 assists (83) and 2.0 steals (46). She averaged 77 percent from the free throw stripe (86-112) and 42 percent from the floor (81-193).
At Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Bartley, who was a nominee for the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game, also was a star member of the flag football team, earning All-Gateway Conference honors in 2007 and 2008.
Bartley began her prep career at Sandalwood High School, where she attended and played from two years (2005, 2006), before transferring to Lee.
Florida Gators' 2010 Signing Class
Deana Allen, 5-10, Guard, Houma, La./Pensacola JC/Ellender Memorial HS
Lanita Bartley, 5-6, Jacksonville, Fla./Santa Fe College/Lee HS
Jaterra (ja-TEAR-ah) Bonds, 5-8, Guard, Gainesville, Fla./P.K. Yonge HS
Kayla Lewis, 5-11, Guard/Forward, Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb HS
Brittany Shine, 5-10, Guard, Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento HS
Deaundra Young, 6-2, Forward, Titusville, Fla./Astronaut HS
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