Mickens, Morgan sign to 2017 basketball class
11/14/2016 12:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Sam Houston State women's basketball has announced the signing of three players to its 2017 class, head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols announced Monday.
The Bearkats, who are coming off a run to the Southland Conference Tournament championship game, enter the 2016 season boasting seven incoming freshmen and four transfer, bringing a new level of excitement to a program that has been to the title game two of the last four years.
Anastacia “Annie” Mickens
Beaumont Central High School (Beaumont, Texas)
Overall GPA: 3.86
Interest in majoring in Physical Therapy/ Athletic Training
Mickens joins the Sam Houston basketball program following an already decorated career at Beaumont Central High School. The guard averaged 12.7 points, 1.2 blocks, 1.4 steals and 7.8 rebounds with the Jaguars while being named First-Team All-District 22-5A during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
The 2016 Vype Player of the Year Nominee is expected to add another strong piece to a program that finished its 2015-16 season ranked near the top of several offensive and defensive categories including third in field goal percentage defense (.401) and fourth in assists (14.06 per game).
“Anastacia 'Annie' was at camp, and was tremendous on the boards,” eleventh-year Sam Houston head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “She will use her natural athletic ability to cause havoc defensive end and brings athleticism, the ability to defend as well as adding an aggressive rebounding ability.”
Akarian Morgan
Cleburne High School (Cleburne, Texas)
Overall GPA: 3.164
Interest in majoring in Nursing
Morgan is slated to join the Sam Houston basketball program following a strong tenure at Cleburne High School. The forward has averaged 14.7 points per game and 2.6 steals with the Yellowjackets and was named offensive MVP for District 8-5A during her sophomore and junior campaign.
“She's a very quick and is a team player,” eleventh-year head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “She will play good defense but can score off the dribble and has a nice shot with a very quick release. Akarian is a great kid and is very academically sound, smart and is very driven.”
“She is a very crafty type of player and can do things people don't expect because of her size and stature. She isn't scared to make things happen.”
Hannah Knight
Floresville High School (Floresville, Texas)
Overall GPA: 3.33
Interest in majoring in Forensic Science or Kinesiology
Knight comes to the Sam Houston program from Floresville High School where she has averaged 15 points per game, shooting over 60 percent from the field. The 6-foot-2 post logged over 200 rebounds during her junior season alone and is a First-Team All-District honoree.
“Hannah is a solid framed, 6-foot-2 post player who can score with either hand around the basket,” eleventh-year head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “She has huge amounts of potential that will be fine-tuned when she gets here. She is aggressive and always wants to win. Hannah is an enforcer type of player who will not back down on the basketball court.”
