Women?s Basketball Signs Seven for 2009-10 Roster

First year head women's basketball coach Rob Cross did not have any trouble with his first recruiting class, as he announced the signing of seven student-athletes to the 2009-10 roster. The freshmen class has been recognized by Blue Star Basketball as the 54^th best recruiting class in the nation. Murray State's incoming class is one of a few non-BCS schools to garner Blue Star Basketball recognition this season.

“I am very proud of this recruiting class we have put together,” Cross said. “All seven of them are great students and fantastic people.”

2009-10 Signing Class:

Kayla Cunningham, F, 6-2, Calloway County High School (Blue Chip Elite)

Tessa Elkins, G, 5-6, Lakota West High School (Ohio Hardwood Heat)

Jessica Holder, F, 6-2, Marshall County High School (Tennessee Wings)

Aubrey Minix, G, 5-9, Oregon-Davis High School (Indiana's Finest)

Candace Nevels, G, 5-9, Bolingbrook High School (Illinois Dream Team)

Mariah Robinson, G, 5-8, Ohio County High School

Jessica Winfrey, F, 6-0, Marion High School (Memphis Elite Flight)

Kayla Cunningham is one of two local high school standouts to sign with the Racers this season. The 6'2” forward has been a part of the Calloway County varsity team since her seventh grade season. As a junior she averaged 14.8 points and eight rebounds per game while earning all-state, all-district and all-region first-team honors.

“Kayla was the first member of the class of '09 to commit to be a Racer,” said Cross. “She has a good understanding of the game having played for Coach Scott Sivills at Calloway County and at 6'2" can handle the ball and step out and shoot from the perimeter. She is going to be a great role model for the younger girls in Murray and Calloway County as she represents her hometown university.”

Two seasons ago Cunningham led the Lakers to a double-overtime victory in the 2007 1^st Region Championship. She is also a two-time All-Paducah Sun Purchase Team selection and is expected to be a front runner for the Purchase Player of the Year award in 2009. Cunningham will likely leave Calloway County as the all-time scoring leader and will have a chance to break the all-time scoring record in both the women's and men's program by the end of the season.

“It has been an honor to coach Kayla over these past six years,” said Scott Sivills, Head Calloway County Girls Basketball Coach. “She has taken our program to new heights. It will be fun watching her build upon the foundation at Murray State to win championships for Coach Cross and the rest of the Racer program.”

Tessa Elkins comes to Murray State after playing for Andy Fishman at Lakota West High School in Hamilton, Ohio. The 5'6” guard was injured for part of the 2007-08 campaign, but averaged 50 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent from beyond the arc. Elkins traveled to Los Angeles, Calif., this summer to participate in an All-American camp and caught the eye of ESPN.

“Elkins showed she's tough enough and skilled enough to play with the best guards that came to Southern California. She is strong for her size, jumps well and is quick enough to stay in front of whoever she is assigned to guard ? and she can shoot outside and score inside. Add a high basketball IQ, and there's a player with a good future at the collegiate level,” said ESPN.com.

“Tessa is a gamer. She can take over games in all aspects of play as she creates off the bound, finishes in traffic, elevates over defenses with a pro style pull up jumper and crashes the offensive glass,” Fishman commented. “Defensively Tessa can stay in front of the quickest guards, read passing lanes, block shots, rebound, and in doing this make game changing plays at both ends of the floor.”

“Tessa is one of the toughest competitors that I have watched play over the years. She is an outstanding athlete who can flat out defend,” said Cross. “On the offensive end of the floor she is extremely quick with an outstanding mid-range game and the ability to drain the three. She will remind a lot of Racer fans of Shaleea Petty and Alaina Lee with her intensity. She will come to us with a great concept of how the game should be played having played for one of the top coaches in the state of Ohio for Andy Fishman.”

Jessica Holder is the second local standout to join the Racer program for the 2009-10 campaign. The 6'1” forwards averaged 24.7 points and 11 rebounds per game for Marshall County as a junior. Holder is a strong shooter, landing 60 percent of her shots from the field in 2007-08 and 40 percent from three-point range. She earned all-state honors as a junior and sophomore. She was also one of two Racer recruits and only two of 70 juniors to be named players to be watched by MaxPreps.com.

“Jessica is an extremely versatile athlete,” said Cross. “She can excel at this level with her back to the basket and can step out to shoot the three or penetrate to the basket. She is also an outstanding rebounder with a very good feel for the game. Having played for one of the all-time great coaches, in Howard Beth, she will come in and with an understanding of what it takes to be successful.”

Aubrey Minix has been a four-year member of the Oregon-Davis High School varsity team, while participating in four other sports as a prep. The 5'9” guard helped the Bobcats earn a 1A State Championship in 2007 and was named to the AP Basketball All-Indiana State team for her efforts. She averaged 19 points per game as a junior while earning Northland Athletic All-Conference honors for the third consecutive season and was an Indianapolis Star all-state honorable mention.

” Aubrey is first and foremost a fantastic shooter,” Cross commented. “She has deep range which will help us stretch defenses. Aubrey also has a great mind for the game and is solid in all phases offensively. She plays for her dad and he does a tremendous job with the Oregon Davis program. She has experienced a lot of success at the high school level and will certainly help us continue to build this program.”

Minix is an outstanding student as well, as she is currently ranked No. 1 in her senior class with a 4.0 GPA. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and a class officer.

“Not only is Aubrey one of the best pure shooters to come out of state of Indiana, but she is also one of the games most intelligent minds that I've had the pleasure to coach and watch and develop into the great young lady she is today," said Terry Minix, head girls basketball coach at Oregon-Davis.

Candace Nevels is part of the Bolingbrook High School team that is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation by ESPN.com. Nevels helped led her team to a 27-3 overall record in 2007-08 and an Illinois State 4A Runner-up title.

“Candace has the versatility to play 3 or 4 positions for during her career here at MSU,” commented Cross. “She is an exceptional athlete with a very good mid-range game and the ability to get to the rim. She is a high energy play that could become a great defender for us. She is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and I am certainly excited about that.”

“Playing for Coach Tony Smith at one of the nation's best programs at Bolingbrook High School she has certainly learned to be tough and how to win.”

Carolina Scouting Report said that Nevels “could be one of the best” national prospects in the Class of 2009.

Mariah Robinson helped to lead Ohio County to a third region title and a Sweet Sixteen semi-final appearance a year ago while earning all-tournament honors. She was named to the Kentucky All-State, all-region, and Blue Chip All-Star teams after averaging 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assist per game.

“Mariah is an outstanding athlete who can score in a lot of ways,” said Cross. “She has the ability to shoot the three or attack the rim. One of the things that excites me the most about Mariah is her ability to rebound the basketball from the guard spot. Coach Brad Johnson has helped her grow as a player and person over the past few years and we are certainly excited about what she will bring to the Racer Family.”

Robinson shot 52 percent from the floor, 32 percent from beyond the arc, and 84 percent from the charity strip in 2007-08. She was also one of two Racer recruits and only two of 70 juniors to be named players to be watched by MaxPreps.com.

Jessica Winfrey is the third member of the 2009-10 recruiting class to garner attention from EPSN.com. The 5'11” forward is ranked as the No. 36 wing player in the nation by the website after averaging 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks per game at Marion High School (Arkansas) a year ago. She was named to the Arkansas All-State, all-conference teams for her efforts. Winfrey was also one of 80 talented players from across the country selected to participate in the Jr Phenom All America Showcase.

“Jessica is a fantastic athlete who has the potential to be a dominant rebounder in our league,” Cross said. “She is relentless on the court with the ability to play several positions because of her strength and leaping ability. Coach Long has one of the top programs in Arkansas at Marion High School and she will come in with a good background to help her make the transition to this level.”

Winfrey has also participated in track and volleyball as a prep. She was named to the all-state volleyball team as a sophomore and junior, and earned state all-tournament team honors the last three seasons.

“We are all very excited and proud of Jessica,” said Darryle Long, head girls basketball coach at Marion. “Murray State basketball is not only getting a great basketball player, but an outstanding person as well.”

“When we first started putting this class together we wanted to make certain that everyone we got involved with had the character and discipline to be successful academically at a great university like Murray State and help us win championships along the path toward their degree,” added Cross. “I believe that we have done just that. This is a testament to the tireless effort and ability of our entire university community. Coach Duncan, Coach Jones, Coach Hayes and Shaleea Petty did a wonderful job and have helped bring in people that we can all be proud to call Racers!”

Murray State University Athletics

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