Bibbs announces 2009-2010 Recruiting Class

Aggies sign one of the best players in the state of North Carolina

GREENSBORO– North Carolina A&T women’s basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs continues to show she is serious about making the Aggies program respected nationally. Bibbs has announced the signing of three players to National Letters of Intent today. The class is ranked among the top third in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report.

Guard Amber Calvin, center/power forward Nikia Gorham and swing player Jaquayla Berry are expected to be in uniform for the Aggies during the 2009-10 season.

“We want to continually put teams on the floor that can compete with any other team in the country,’’ said Bibbs. “I believe these three young ladies will go along way in helping us do just that. I’m very pleased with what we were able to do during this period.”

Calvin is a 5-foot-7 point guard out of Fayetteville. She averaged 18.4 points, 8.1 assists, 3.8 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore for Southview High School. She is widely considered one of the best players in North Carolina. As a sophomore, Calvin led the Tigers to the Class 4A state championship.

That same year, she was named second-team All-State by the Associated Press. Calvin was the youngest player in school history to reach 1,000 points in a career. She plans to major in human performance and leisure studies.

“Amber is a natural born leader,’’ said Bibbs. “She is a very intelligent and savvy person. Her impact to our program will be instant because she will make everyone around her better.”

Gorham stands at 6-2 and hails from Springdale, Md. She averaged 15.0 points, 13,0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game for Flowers High School last season. Gorham rebounds aggressively on both ends, and the pressure defense she ran in high school will help her adapt to Bibbs’ pressing style. She plans to major in graphic communication systems and technology.

“This young lady is a worker on that glass,’’ said Bibbs. “She will bring a much-needed physical presence to our interior game.”

Berry rounds out Bibbs’ impressive class. At 5-10, the Douglas, Ga., native will play on the wing at either the shooting guard or small forward positions. Berry averaged 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game last season for Coffee High School. A year ago, Berry was the only underclassman to earn first-team All-Region honors. She is also an all-conference performer, who plans to major in human performance and leisure studies.

“She has a very smooth and efficient game on the offensive end,’’ said Bibbs. “The thing you notice about Quayla is that she loves being on the team and being around her teammates. She will be a true representation of what Lady Aggies basketball is all about.”

from Jim Modlin, courtesy of Brian Holloway at www.ncataggies.com-