University of Georgia Athletics
Lady Bulldogs Add Three To 2009-10 Roster
April 15, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Athens, Ga. --- Angie Criner and Ebony Jones have signed letters of intent to join the Georgia Lady Bulldog Basketball program this fall, head coach Andy Landers announced on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA's spring signing period.
In addition, Landers announced that Candace Williams will be a member of the Georgia roster as a walk-on beginning with the 2009-10 season.
Criner is a 5-8, guard, from Jenks, Okla., who played at Butler Community College in Kansas during the 2008-09 season. She averaged 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game for the Grizzlies. Criner played in 14 games before missing the second half of the season due to a shoulder injury.
"Angie is a player who will help us at all three guard positions," Landers said. "She's an excellent slasher and pull-up scorer, she has the ability to shoot the three and she defends very well."
Criner played at Arkansas State as a freshman, where she averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 32 games played, including eight starts. Criner also enjoyed a standout career at Jenks High, helping the school to a state title as a freshman, a runner-up finish as a sophomore, an undefeated regular season as a junior and a 23-4 record as a senior. She was named All-State by the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association as a senior when she averaged 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game.
"Angie is by far the most athletic kid I've every coached," Butler Community College head coach Mike Helmer said. "She can jump out of the gym and gets off the floor really quick. There's no better way to describe her than 'athletic.' Angie also is very, very strong. She has a strong upper body and you can't push her around. Defensively, when she gets after you, you're in trouble. She's quick enough to beat you. She's strong enough to hold you off. Angie is just a very special talent."
Jones, a 6-2, forward from Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, was named the District 7-5A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 13.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Jones helped Cedar HIll to a 26-7 record last season. As a junior, she was tabbed the 7-5A Newcomer of the Year after her first season playing varsity basketball.
"Ebony is an extremely athletic and long forward prospect," Landers said. "She excels in the areas of shot blocking, running the floor and rebounding, and she has the ability to score in close. She is someone that we look forward to developing and it is exciting to think about her potential."
Jones also is a standout performer in both track and volleyball. She posted a personal best of 56.93 in the 400-meter dash as a junior and was named the District 7-5A Most Valuable Player in volleyball last fall.
"It's hard to find girls that are 6-2, 6-3 that are as athletic and move the way that Ebony does," Cedar Hill head coach Andrea Robinson said. "She runs like nothing I've ever seen for a girl that size. She's just phenomenally athletic. It's unbelievable when you watch her. She has such a long wing span but she also can run and jump like you just don't see 6-2, 6-3 girls do."
Williams, is a 5-8 guard from Union County High School in Blairsville, Ga., where she scored 1,601 points in three seasons after missing her freshman season due to an injury. Williams was tabbed second-team All-State for Class AA as a senior after averaging 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
"Candace is a very good ball-handling combo-type guard," Landers said. "She also is an excellent shooter with extended range."
Union County entered the 2009 Region 8-AA Tournament as the No. 4 seed but won that tourney and then advanced to the "Sweet 16" round of the state tournament.
"This is the only year I have had a chance to coach Candace, but I watched her play in rec league, middle school and high school," Union County coach Jim Hughes said. "She was the hardest worker on the team, which really made it easy to coach because all the other players watching her work that hard, made them work even harder. Anytime your best player is your hardest worker, coaching becomes much easier."
Georgia finished 18-14 during the 2008-09 campaign, advancing to their 15th straight NCAA Championship and moving into sole possession of the No. 2 spot for all-time NCAA Tournament bids with 26. This winter, Georgia will return six letterwinners with starting experience last season, headlined by All-SEC performers Ashley Houts and Angel Robinson.
Wednesday's additions bolster a recruiting class that already has been ranked among the nation's top-five groups by most scouting services. Last fall, the Lady Bulldogs inked a quartet of prep prospects all ranked among the nation's top-50 players by one or more recruiting service -- Anne Marie Armstrong, Jasmine Hassell, Jasmine "JJ" James and Tamika Willis.
In addition, Landers announced that Candace Williams will be a member of the Georgia roster as a walk-on beginning with the 2009-10 season.
Criner is a 5-8, guard, from Jenks, Okla., who played at Butler Community College in Kansas during the 2008-09 season. She averaged 17.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game for the Grizzlies. Criner played in 14 games before missing the second half of the season due to a shoulder injury.
"Angie is a player who will help us at all three guard positions," Landers said. "She's an excellent slasher and pull-up scorer, she has the ability to shoot the three and she defends very well."
Criner played at Arkansas State as a freshman, where she averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 32 games played, including eight starts. Criner also enjoyed a standout career at Jenks High, helping the school to a state title as a freshman, a runner-up finish as a sophomore, an undefeated regular season as a junior and a 23-4 record as a senior. She was named All-State by the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association as a senior when she averaged 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game.
"Angie is by far the most athletic kid I've every coached," Butler Community College head coach Mike Helmer said. "She can jump out of the gym and gets off the floor really quick. There's no better way to describe her than 'athletic.' Angie also is very, very strong. She has a strong upper body and you can't push her around. Defensively, when she gets after you, you're in trouble. She's quick enough to beat you. She's strong enough to hold you off. Angie is just a very special talent."
Jones, a 6-2, forward from Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, was named the District 7-5A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 13.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Jones helped Cedar HIll to a 26-7 record last season. As a junior, she was tabbed the 7-5A Newcomer of the Year after her first season playing varsity basketball.
"Ebony is an extremely athletic and long forward prospect," Landers said. "She excels in the areas of shot blocking, running the floor and rebounding, and she has the ability to score in close. She is someone that we look forward to developing and it is exciting to think about her potential."
Jones also is a standout performer in both track and volleyball. She posted a personal best of 56.93 in the 400-meter dash as a junior and was named the District 7-5A Most Valuable Player in volleyball last fall.
"It's hard to find girls that are 6-2, 6-3 that are as athletic and move the way that Ebony does," Cedar Hill head coach Andrea Robinson said. "She runs like nothing I've ever seen for a girl that size. She's just phenomenally athletic. It's unbelievable when you watch her. She has such a long wing span but she also can run and jump like you just don't see 6-2, 6-3 girls do."
Williams, is a 5-8 guard from Union County High School in Blairsville, Ga., where she scored 1,601 points in three seasons after missing her freshman season due to an injury. Williams was tabbed second-team All-State for Class AA as a senior after averaging 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
"Candace is a very good ball-handling combo-type guard," Landers said. "She also is an excellent shooter with extended range."
Union County entered the 2009 Region 8-AA Tournament as the No. 4 seed but won that tourney and then advanced to the "Sweet 16" round of the state tournament.
"This is the only year I have had a chance to coach Candace, but I watched her play in rec league, middle school and high school," Union County coach Jim Hughes said. "She was the hardest worker on the team, which really made it easy to coach because all the other players watching her work that hard, made them work even harder. Anytime your best player is your hardest worker, coaching becomes much easier."
Georgia finished 18-14 during the 2008-09 campaign, advancing to their 15th straight NCAA Championship and moving into sole possession of the No. 2 spot for all-time NCAA Tournament bids with 26. This winter, Georgia will return six letterwinners with starting experience last season, headlined by All-SEC performers Ashley Houts and Angel Robinson.
Wednesday's additions bolster a recruiting class that already has been ranked among the nation's top-five groups by most scouting services. Last fall, the Lady Bulldogs inked a quartet of prep prospects all ranked among the nation's top-50 players by one or more recruiting service -- Anne Marie Armstrong, Jasmine Hassell, Jasmine "JJ" James and Tamika Willis.
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