11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - For the second straight year UNLV women's basketball has picked up key recruits from the Golden State, while also keeping at home a standout Las Vegas native as head coach Kathy Olivier announced on Saturday that three players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Lady Rebels starting in the fall of 2015-16. Joining the Scarlet and Gray next season will be Jordyn Bell, Destiny Lee and Paris Strawther.
When those three players are added to two Lady Rebels that transferred in this season and are first eligible to play in 2015-16, twins Dakota and Dylan Gonzalez from Kansas, that gives UNLV the 50th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to All-Star Girls Report.
"These three players fit in with the uptempo style that we want to play," said Olivier. "They all work extremely hard and are fun to watch because of how many different ways they can contribute. We are excited to have them join the Lady Rebel family and they are very proud to be Rebels."
From Las Vegas comes Strawther, a 6-2 forward from Liberty HS. The past two seasons she has averaged a double-double, including 12.4 points, 10.5 rebounds as well as 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in her junior year. Runner-up to the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013-14, Strawther is a two-time first team all-state selection while also earning back-to-back Southeast League MVP honors. She helped lead Liberty to the state championship game in 2013-14, and to the semifinals her sophomore season. Team captain this season, she received the team's MVP honors the past two years, and has played with Henderson Lady Heat Elite in AAU competition. Strawther is ranked as the No. 67 forward by ESPN. "Paris has three-point range and knows how to score down low," said Olivier. "We always want to keep the best player from the area home and we did that by signing Paris."
Bell is a 6-1 forward and native of Elk Grove., Calif. Ranked as the No. 61 forward in the nation by ESPN, she averaged 18.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game for Bradshaw Christian HS as a junior. A McDonalds All-American nominee, she was All-Sierra Delta League Co-MVP in 2013-14 while helping the team to its second straight sectional championship. Bell is a three-time all-league selection and twice named to theSacramento Bee All-Metro team, and has played AAU baskebtall for Cal Sparks Nor Cal.
"We are happy to be adding another hard working player," said Olivier. "She has an unbelievable motor and is physical inside, never stops on a play."
The final recruit, Lee is the 46th-ranked post player in the nation by ESPN. A 6-2 native of Sacramento, Calif., she averaged 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game while helping C.K. McClatchy HS to the CIF sectional semifinals in 2013-14, as well as to the CIF Nor-Cal quarterfinals. In her junior year, Lee was named All-Metro League and second-team all-city while picking up Team Most Improved Player honors. Lee played AAU basketball for JBS Adidas Elite.
"Destiny possess a strong body and a huge inside presence that will be an advantage for us," said Olivier. "She knows the game and loves to rebound."
UNLV, 1-0 on the season, is back in action on Monday when it hosts Loyola Marymount at 5 pm in the Cox Pavlion.
