MONROE, La. – ULM women's basketball head coach
Brooks Donald Williams announced six signees for the 2020-21 season Thursday morning.
"We have taken huge steps today," Williams said. "This recruiting class is special. Recruiting coordinator
Jessica Barber and our staff did a tremendous job identifying impact players, on and off the floor. They are winners. They are difference makers with dynamic personalities and they will make Warhawk nation proud."
Williams adds three state champions from Louisiana: Delhi standout Sassy McDowell, East Ascension all-state guard Sadie Williams and Northlake Christian multi-sport all-state athlete Kyren Whittington. Texas all-state forward Morgan Hill, two-time Texas state champion point guard Gracen Williams and nationally-ranked center Hannah Edwards, from Alabama, have also inked with the Warhawks.
Hannah Edwards | 6-6 | C | Birmingham, Alabama | Oak Mountain HS
Edwards, the 13th ranked center in the country, signed with the Warhawks Wednesday morning. The 6-6 center from Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Alabama, averaged 15.9 points per game, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals as a junior for head coach Beth Palmer.
"Hannah has a world of talent and a work ethic that exceeds everyone around her," Brooks Williams said. "She has great hands, soft touch around the rim and has incredible upside. Her length and size are a need for us. We believe she can impact our program and our conference immediately. Most importantly, she's a special young lady who understands the value in community outreach and family environment. We are thrilled for Hannah to join our family."
Edwards, who participated in the AHSAA 2019 North-South All-Star girls basketball game this summer in Montgomery, holds the record for most points scored (32) and most rebounds (19) in a single game at Oak Mountain HS.
The all-state center played summer basketball for Beverly and Greg Kirk on the All Alabama Roadrunners, a part of the Under Armour circuit.
"I'm very honored to play for Coach Brooks and for ULM," Edwards said about her signing. "It has been a lifelong goal of mine to win a national championship, and with this team and these coaches, I plan to do just that."
Gracen Williams | 5-6 | PG | McKinney, Texas | Homeschool
Gracen Williams, the 2019 number one ranked homeschool female basketball player in the nation, signed with the Warhawks Wednesday morning. Williams, the recipient of the Pete Maravich Award this past season, led her team to back-to back state championships in 2018 and 2019.
"Gracen is an extremely special young lady," Brooks Williams said. "She is tough. She is a competitor. She understands the game and she competes at an extremely high intensity level when she steps on the floor. She is a leader, a winner and has an infectious personality. We are thrilled to add Gracen to our family and have no doubt she will impact in more ways than one when she gets to Monroe."
Williams, a 5-6 point guard from McKinney, Texas, surpassed the 2,000 point scoring mark as a junior. Williams, who averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game, was named Point Guard of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year by Max Preps for three consecutive years and was named HomeSchool Basketball National Freshman of the Year in 2017, HomeSchool Basketball National Sophomore of the Year in 2018 and Point Guard of the Year and National Player of the Year in 2019.
"As soon as I stepped on the campus, it felt like home and I knew that's where God wanted me to be," Gracen Williams said. "My family and I loved the coaches and made an immediate connection with all of them. They treated me like their own. I can't imagine being anywhere else."
Williams played summer basketball for Jimmy Stallato on the Texas LoneStar Blue, a part of the Adidas Gauntlet Platinum circuit.
Morgan Hill | 6-3 | F | Houston, Texas | Cypress Creek HS
Morgan Hill, a 6-3 forward from Houston, TX, signed with the Warhawks Wednesday morning. Hill is a 2018-2019 First Team All-District 17-6A member.
"Morgan has incredible length," Williams said. "She is a long athlete who can run the floor extremely well for scores and has the ability and versatility to face up and play with her back to the basket. She also has the ability to guard multiple positions. She comes from a successful high school program and understands the work ethic it takes to be successful. We are so excited about adding Morgan to our Warhawk family."
Hill, a standout at Cypress Creek High School, averaged 8.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1 steal per game in her junior campaign. Hill helped her team compile an overall team record of 36-4 last season, falling in the Texas state semi-finals.
Morgan played summer basketball for Nolan Capra on the Houston Skyrise Elite, a part of the Adidas Gauntlet Silver circuit.
"I am excited to join the Warhawk program," Hill said. "I chose ULM because I feel as if it is a good fit for me and will better me in the future. On my visit, the team and coaching staff made me feel welcomed. I'm grateful to play for Coach Williams and her staff at the next level."
Sadie Williams | 5-10 | G | Gonzales, Louisiana | East Ascension HS
Sadie Williams, a 2017 Louisiana 5A state champion, signed with the Warhawks Wednesday morning. Williams, a three-year starting guard for East Ascension High School, was the second commitment for the 2020 signing class.
"Sadie Williams is a winner," Brooks Williams said. "She plays for one of the best coaches and teachers in our state and we are so thrilled to have her toughness on our team. She will bring an edge to us defensively, and she can also score in a variety of ways. I have no doubt she will impact our program on and off the floor."
Sadie Williams, a 5'10 guard from Gonzales, Louisiana, averaged 10 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 assists last season. Williams and her team competed in back-to-back state championships, securing the 5A title in 2017. In the past two seasons, her team has lost only five games.
"I chose ULM because when I visited the coaching staff and the players made it feel like home already," Sadie Williams said. "I feel like it is the best place for me to improve on skills necessary to get me to the next level whether on the court or life in general. The coaches will be sure to push me to get there."
Williams competed in summer basketball for Coach Reshad Baker and the Lady Flames Elite, one of the premier programs in Louisiana.
Kyren Whittington | 5-9 | G | Covington, Louisiana | Northlake Christian School
Kyren Whittington, the 2019 St. Tammany Parish Athlete of the Year, signed with the Warhawks Wednesday morning. Whittington, the multi-sport athlete is a five-year varsity letterman for Northlake Christian School.
"Kyren is a special young lady," Williams said. "She is a winner, plain and simple. She wins in everything she does. She has the ability to play multiple positions. She's an explosive scorer, who can get to the rim and shoot it from deep. Defensively, she has the ability to get up on the ball and really guard. We are thrilled she has chosen to be a part of our family. We know she will make a major impact at ULM and in the Monroe community."
Whittington, a 5-9 combo guard, led her high school to its first-ever state championship in girls basketball history. The LHSAA named her the Most Outstanding Player in Division III. In 2019 her team returned for another appearance but fell just short of claiming another championship. Kyren is a five-time All District honoree, securing her district's Most Valuable Player award three of those five years. In addition, she is a three-time All State recipient recognized by the LHSBCA.
"New team, new journey, same drive," Whittington said. "ULM offers everything athletically and academically. I look forward to advancing on and off the court."
Whittington played summer basketball for Darius Mimms on Elfred Peyton's EP Elite stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sassy McDowell | 6-1 | G/F | Delhi, Louisiana | Delhi HS
Tasionna "Sassy" McDowell, the back-to-back All-Northeast Louisiana honoree and 2018 state champion signed with the Warhawks Thursday morning. McDowell, a local standout, made her commitment earlier in the summer after her official visit.
"Sassy is a dynamic player," Williams said. "She plays at an extremely high intensity level and has done some special things at Delhi because of her efforts. She can score in a variety of ways. She can stretch the defense, get to the rim and stop and pop. We are thrilled to have Sassy stay in the state of Louisiana and join the Warhawk family."
McDowell, the Delhi standout, averages 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks per game. McDowell helped her team combine an overall record of 81-26 with back-to-back state championship appearances in 2018 and 2019. Sassy has been recognized by the LSWA and NSWA as a first-team recipient, as well as All-District, for three years running.
"High school basketball has been fun, especially winning a State Championship, but I am excited to play college basketball and to help ULM win a national championship," McDowell said.
