Broncbuster women complete 2019 signing class
By Mike Pilosof
Garden City, KS-The Broncbuster women's basketball signing class for 2019 is officially complete. Full bios are below.
Ariyanna Hall, 5'6, FR, Little Rock, AR (Little Rock Central High School)-3.0 GPA…Born in Camden, AR…Averaged 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game as a senior…Was team's second leading scorer…Had five (20)-point games last year including a season-high 28 vs. Southside (1/22/19)… Scored 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the All-Metro Classic High School Game in March…Mom Catrina works in surgical technology…All-Conference her senior year…Started two years in high school and was on the varsity for four…Wants to be a physical therapist… Part of a team that went to four straight state tournaments…Greatest memory as a player was meeting former Notre Dame star and WNBA player Skylar Diggins back in 2016…Favorite player is Kevin Durant…Favorite team is the Brooklyn Nets
Corina Suarez, 5'6, FR, Spain (IES Alcalde Bernabe Rodriguez)-Was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife…Plays guitar and is involved in karate…Mom Luz Maria Tudela Chico is a state official…Was named best passer three straight years…Led team in scoring three straight seasons…Has been playing since she was 8…Won several amateur championships: 12 and under Spain Champions in 2014-2015…2nd in 2015-2016 and third in 2016-2017…Wants to be a personal trainer…Big soccer fan—favorite team is Real Madrid
Coach Tandy: "We were fortunate to tap into the international network and sign Corina, an extremely skilled combo guard from Spain. We expect her to have an immediate impact on our team."
Dasja Ross, 5'7, SO, Fort Worth, TX (Arlington High School)-Transferred from Paris Junior College (played in 25 games last year; started seven)—averaged 2.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg…Scored a season-high 11 points vs. Bossier Parish (2/9/19)…3.5 GPA…Interest from Lamar University and TCU…Mom LaTosha works for the state…Dad Bryan works in security…Brother Bryan Ross Jr. plays basketball at Paschal High School…Defensive player of the year, second-team All-District and team MVP as a senior…four-year starter in high school…Wants to be an attorney…Had major surgery when she was younger—doctors didn't expect her to walk again…Favorite player is Steph Curry…averaged 5 ppg as a junior…Ran track: 100 meters; also participated in the long and triple jump
Hidaya Thornton, 5'3, FR, Centennial, CO (Eagle Crest High School)-Two sports in high school-basketball and track…Averaged 5 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.7 spg as a senior…5.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 4.5 spg as a junior…3.6 GPA…Born in Denver…Mom Angela is a program analyst at the Department of Veteran Affairs…Named Defensive player of the year as a junior and senior…Program's all-time leader in steals…Named female athlete of the year as a senior…Played in the A-Town All-Star game…Works as a food runner at a movie theatre when she's not in school…three-year starter in high school…Wants to be either a nurse or a surgeon; has also considered marine biology…Has Raynauds Syndrome (causes blood vessels to narrow when you are cold or feeling stressed; usually occurs in fingers and toes)…Her sophomore season-led Eagle Crest to the postseason for the first time in more than a decade…Favorite players: Skylar Diggins and Kyrie Irving…Ran 100, 200 and 400 meters in high school
Coach Tandy: "Hidaya, Tyrielle, Ariyanna and Dasja, will all contend for the point-guard position. They are all lockdown defenders who play with high energy and passion every possession. It will be exciting to see them compete with veteran Alyssa Boyce."
Jade Thomas, 6'3, SO, Detroit, MI (Henry Ford Academy)-Transferred from Jackson Community College in Michigan (Played in 25 games last year—2.2 ppg, 4 rpg)…Scored a season-high nine points vs. Kalamazoo (1/25/19)…Has interest from Arkansas Pine Bluff…Mom Monike is an engineer with two Master's Degrees; also is a real estate agent…Dad Timothy is an engineer with two Master's Degrees; works as a supervisor…Brother Jalen Thomas is a freshman at Georgia State…Named most improved player in 2016…Made All-Star team in 2018…Played senior year at Coronado High School in Las Vegas…Works at Starbucks…Suffered a stress fracture in her foot last year…four-year starter in high school…Played the four in high school before transitioning to center in college…Averaged a double-double her senior year…Has lived in four different states and has visited almost every state in the country…Says moving to Vegas her senior year was the best experience of her life…Favorite player is Lebron James
Coach Tandy: "At 6-4, obviously she has the size and athleticism that we want at that position. Her experience at the two-year level will add so much value to our team."
Tilan Nolan, 5'11, FR, Oklahoma City (Putnam City West)-All-State selection as a senior…Played varsity four years and started for two…Wants to be a physical therapist…Fouled out in every game during her senior year…Favorite Player is RJ Barrett…Averaged 12.6 ppg and 2.9 rpg her senior year…Putnam City West finished 25-2; lost to Mustang in the opening round of the 6A State Tournament…third leading scorer on the team her senior year…Scored in double figures 17 times last year including a season-high 23 points vs. Putnam City (2/9/19)…Her junior year, team reached state finals-lost to Owasso 53-51…Lost in state quarterfinals her sophomore year
Coach Tandy: "Tilan is an extremely athletic 5-11 forward. She can block shots, rebound and finish well at the rim."
Tyrielle Watkins, 5'4, FR, Plaquemine, LA (Plaquemine High School)-3.0 GPA…Also ran track (800 meters, 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams)…Mom Sonya Watkins is a revenue tax analyst supervisor…Sister Taejah Watkins ran track at Louisiana Monroe…Had right knee surgery in high school…four-year starter in high school…Wants to be a nutritionist…Favorite team is the Oklahoma City Thunder…Played point guard in high school…played AAU ball during the summer
Donetria McGee, 5'7, FR, Fort Worth, TX (Everman High School)-3.0 GPA…All-Tournament player…won the hustle award…Team MVP and an honor-roll student in high school…four-year starter in high school…Wants to be a detective…Volleyball was first love…didn't even like basketball at first…Favorite player is Kevin Durant…Averaged 8.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg as a junior…6.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg as a sophomore and 5 ppg as a freshman
Coach Tandy: "Donetria is a dynamic shooting guard who can score at the rim and defend at a high level. I am very excited to see her growth throughout the season."
Tyla Happer, 5'8, FR, Daytona Beach, FL (DME Sports Academy)-Transferred from Purdue University Fort Wayne…Played high school ball in Florida…Averaged 11 points and four rebounds per game as a senior…As a junior-tallied 18.5 points and three assists per contest…Played for Michael Panaggio
Coach Tandy: Tyla was an absolute steal at the last minute. She is a Division-I basketball player, so we expect her to contribute both on and off the floor for our team. With a player of her caliber, we look forward to her work ethic and leadership to set a standard for the future."