class of 2023 nli

Women's Basketball

Lady Rebels Sign 3 to NLIs

La Rocque fills frontcourt, adds point guard from Class of 2023

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — UNLV women's basketball has signed three Class of 2023 high school seniors to National Letters of Intent, head coach Lindy La Rocque announced Friday.

McKinna Brackens, Amarachi Kimpson and Meadow Roland will join the Lady Rebels for the 2023-24 season.

McKinna Brackens | 6-1 | Forward | Fairfield High School | Fairfield, Texas

Brackens is a 6-foot-1 forward from Fairfield, Texas, and ranked by Premier Basketball Report as the No. 23 player in the state. She earned numerous Player of the Year honors after leading Fairfield to a 40-1 record and Class 3A state championship last season. Brackens averaged 15.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, five assists, and four steals in her junior season. She was also the MVP of the state tournament as a freshman when Fairfield won in 2020.

Brackens excelled in multiple sports, including softball, volleyball and track and field, where she is her school's discus throw record holder. She is the daughter of former NFL All-Pro Tony Brackens, who played his entire career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

La Rocque: "McKinna is ridiculously athletic and plays like a point forward. She has a bubbly personality, she's really funny. Coming from a small town, she's really eager and excited to be in Vegas and get playing."

Amarachi "Smoove" Kimpson | 5-8 | Point Guard | Little Elm High School | Little Elm, Texas

Kimpson is a 5-foot-8 point guard from Little Elm, Texas, who is ranked among the Prospects Nation Elite 150. She is No. 18 in Texas in Premier Basketball Report's Class of 2023 Rankings.

Kimpson ran point for the Cy-Fair Elite EYBL U17 team that won the Nike Nationals championship in July 2022. At the varsity level, Kimpson is the reigning Texas Class 6A District 5 MVP and a three-time all-state member. She averaged 22.2 points per game to lead Little Elm in scoring for the third straight season.

Kimpson was invited to play for the U.S. South team at the 2019 Junior NBA Global Championships.

La Rocque: "The nickname fits: she's smooth. Amarachi has been committed to our program for a long time. She's very accomplished—she'll surpass 2,000 career points this season—yet, a really sweet, respectful young woman. She's a basketball junkie and a three-level scorer: she can shoot a 3, pull up anywhere on the court and has an array of ways to drive to the basket.

Meadow Roland | 6-2 | Forward | San Joaquin Memorial High School | Fresno, Calif.

Roland is a 6-foot-2 forward from Fresno, Calif., who was named the Sacramento Bee Player of the Year after leading San Joaquin Memorial to the CIF Division 2 State Tournament finals. 

Roland is listed in the Prospects Nation Elite 150. She was an all-state selection and conference MVP after averaging 19.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and three blocks in her junior season.

La Rocque: "Meadow is a lot like Desi-Rae Young. She's a very skilled player who can score in a number of ways. She's a prideful defender. She can face-up attack the basket, put her back to the basket, and use her length and athleticism to do some unique things. Meadow has a lot of poise and calmness that she'll add on and off the court."


 
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Players Mentioned

Desi-Rae Young

#23 Desi-Rae Young

C
6' 1"
Sophomore
1L

Players Mentioned

Desi-Rae Young

#23 Desi-Rae Young

6' 1"
Sophomore
1L
C