ACU Women's Basketball Team Adds Five New Players
By: ACU Athletics
Updated: May 23, 2012
ABILENE - New ACU
women's basketball coach Julie Goodenough announced Wednesday that she
has added five new players to the roster for the 2012-13 season.
The Wildcats have
signed high school standouts Cemetra Jenkins from Mesquite High School
and Whitney West from Gregory-Portland High School, while getting
Shannon Sanders to transfer to ACU from Charleston
Southern and Ryan Green from Weatherford College
Sanders was at
Charleston Southern where she played last year as a freshman for
Goodenough. The Wildcats' new coach also announced that Big Country
standout Chera Chaney will also be joining the squad.
Sanders brings
collegiate experience - as well as experience in Goodenough's system -
to the Wildcats. A 5-8 shooting guard, Sanders is originally from
Longview where she played at Spring Hill High School.
As a high school
standout, Sanders was District 16-3A MVP and all-East Texas MVP as a
senior. She also earned Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC)
all-region and all-state honors while averaging
16 points and six rebounds per game.
"I was impressed
with ACU when I started researching colleges," Sanders said. "After
talking with my friends who attend ACU and noticing their enthusiasm and
pride I knew this was where I wanted to be.
I really liked the team when I had the chance to meet them. I feel very
blessed to be playing again for Coach Goodenough and am excited about
this new opportunity."
Goodenough said Sanders' toughness will make an immediate impact on the Wildcats.
"Shannon is a
very tough player, mentally and physically, and will be able to make an
immediate impact on our team on both ends of the floor," Goodenough
said. "As a freshman for me last season, she was
asked to play several positions because of injuries on our team. She
always rose to the occasion and did whatever she needed to for her team.
I am excited to continue coaching Shannon."
Jenkins could
fill the Wildcats' need for a point guard as she signs with ACU out of
Mesquite High School. Last season as a senior she was first team
all-district, the district's Offensive MVP, an all-region
and all-state selection. She won the Academic Excellence Award from the
school and was the 2012 Prom Queen. She did all of that while
averaging 16 points per game for the Skeeters.
"I chose ACU for
academic and athletic reasons," Jenksins said. "ACU has been known as a
prestigious academic university and I will be able to achieve my career
goals there. Athletically I chose ACU because
I met the coaches and they are great Christian people with intense
passion for the game like me. I believe they will help me become the
best basketball player I can become. ACU seems to be the perfect fit
for my plans as a college student-athlete."
Jenkins could fill a spot on the floor the Wildcats haven't truly filled since Kat Kundmueller completed her career in 2010.
"Meme has played
for a very intense high school coach in Coach Jan Newland, so she knows
how to work hard and will be expected to lead by example in practices
even as a freshman," Goodenough said. "Her
scoring ability combined with her great court vision will make a great
combination for a point guard in our system."
West is a big
guard at 5-11, who averaged 19 points per game last season as a senior.
She was district Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, a three-time first
team all-district pick, three-time all-South
Texas performer, all-district volleyball player and regional qualifier
in the pole vault.
"I went and
visited and watched them (ACU) play, and they play like I do, so I
thought I'd fit right in," West said. "They're very fast-paced and all
about defense. That's how I like to play. I really
liked Abilene and how the whole town is centered around Abilene
Christian University."
Goodenough said West's height and scoring ability would make her an immediate contributor in the Wildcats' backcourt.
"Whitney has
had a phenomenal high school career in not only basketball but
volleyball and track as well," Goodenough said. "We are excited to have
another solid scoring point guard join our 2012 class."
Green - a
solid post at 6-1 - joins the Wildcats from Weatherford College where
last year she was a second team all-conference performer after averaging
10 points and 11 rebounds per game. As a freshman
in 2010-11 she was a first team all-conference pick after averaging 12
points and 11 rebounds per game.
"I chose ACU
because it is a strong Christian school," she said. "I look forward to
growing as a person academically, spiritually, and as an athlete. I
believe that ACU is the best place for me to
achieve my goals."
Green will
compete with returning seniors Kesley Smith and Emily Miller and
returning sophomore Paige Parliament for playing time along the front
line.
"Ryan will give
us immediate depth in the post position which is what we were missing,"
Goodenough said. "The Westerford College coach, Bob McKinley, is a
great teacher of the game, and I believe the opportunity
to play for him in a very tough conference combined with her winning
experience, will be invaluable assets for our team."
Chaney joins the
Wildcats as a walk-on after leading the Merkel Lady Badgers to a 33-1
season that ended with a loss to Wall in the Region I-2A quarterfinal
round.
With Chaney's
help, the Lady Badgers won all three tournaments they played in, along
with a district title and an area championship. A 5-8 guard, Chaney
averaged 12 points, 5.5 boards and 2.3 steals per
game. Chaney was selected to the Class 2A all-state team by the TABC
and the Texas Girls' Basketball Coaches' Association.
