Murray State University Athletics
Cross Signs Gulledge, Manley & Reese
11/14/2014 11:21:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Murray State women's basketball coach Rob Cross announced the signing of guard Abria Gulledge, guard Michaela Manley, and forward Taylor Reese to National Letter of Intent to attend the University and begin playing basketball for the Racers in the Fall of 2015.
"We are excited to add these three outstanding young women of high character and work ethic to the Racer Family!" said Cross. "Abria, Michaela and Taylor are great students and will contribute to the community of Murray in a positive way. This class addresses the needs of our program and I am grateful for the hard work put in by Coach Mitchell, Coach Cross and Coach Buggs to bring such great young student-athletes to Murray State University.'
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Gulledge is a 6'0 guard from H.W. Byers in Holly Springs, Miss. As a junior, she averaged 24 points, while also averaging eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. She shot 40 percent from the three point line and scored 20 points in Class 1A State Championship in 2013-14. She has four straight State titles; she was part of the State Championship team as an eighth grader. She was named first team All-State the past two seasons. During the 2012-13 season she was ranked #11 on the MHSAA girls' basketball Fab 15. In 2014, she was #4 on the MS Dandy Dozen list. Gulledge has a way of taking control and making big plays when needed as she hit the game winning three-pointer at the buzzer to win the division 2-1A Championship game as a freshman.
Cross said, "Abria Gulledge comes to us from a highly successful program in HW Byers where she led the team to its sixth state championship in the past seven years for Coach Jason Thompson. Abria is rated by all of the recruiting services as one of the top three or four players in the state of Mississippi. She is an athletic wing player with good size and athletic ability. She is an outstanding scorer who has already shown that she has that elusive "clutch gene". We will expect Abria to be able to step in right away and contribute."
"She's a winner, a go getter and a true champion." said high school coach Jason Thompson. "Passionate player that leads by example and has a team first mentality and approach to the game. When the game is on the line she wants the ball in her hands. True clutch performer that strives hard and excel in the big time games. I'm glad she's playing for me instead of against me."
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Manley is a 5'10 guard from Marshall County HS in Benton, Ky. Last season, the Marshall County team made it to the Kentucky State Tournament. There she averaged 12.6 points, which ultimately led her to become the 2014 Girls All-Tournament Team. After the tournament, she nabbed the Joey Fosko MVP. Helped lead her team to the first Regional Tournament Championship and was named MVP after leading her team to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year. Manley also finished as the state runner-up in the high jump in 2013-14.
"Michaela Manley really stepped up when her team needed it most last season in leading Coach Joseph Simmons team to its third straight regional championship and Sweet Sixteen birth." Cross said about the senior guard, "She is a long, athletic wing with deep range and has shown the ability to become a defensive force. Michaela has tremendous work ethic and is a basketball fanatic. She had a fantastic summer scoring the basketball for her AAU program and we are excited about her potential to contribute to our program on the court as she continues to expand her game."
"The most exciting thing about Michaela is her success story", Head Coach Joseph Simmons said. "Her perseverance and hard work helped to land her a spot in the starting line up her junior year and now she's got a D1 scholarship. Michaela is very coachable and one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. As Michaela's coach, I know that her best basketball is yet to come", Simmons said. "I think Murray State is getting not just an outstanding talent from a basketball standpoint, but an outstanding person of character as well. Michaela is a team player and truly embodies what it means to be a Lady Marshal."
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Reese is a 6'1 forward from Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga. During the 2013-14 season she averaged 14 points and nine rebounds. Her hard work led her to receiving 1st team All-State, 1st team All-Region, 1st team All-Area, and 2nd team All-County. In 2013, she also became the Player of the Year, after being named Rookie of the Year in 2012. Led her team to the Regional Championship and finished as a runner-up in the State Tournament. Reese was also a triple jumper and high jumper on the track team where she won the state championship in the high jump. She also played AAU basketball with Middle Ga Blaze for coach Kenneth Swayne.
Cross said, "Taylor Reese is an extremely athletic and skilled stretch four/three player with tremendous length. She has the potential to be a game changer on both ends of the court. She can handle the ball and finish in traffic as well as step out and knock down the three point shot. Her versatility will give her the chance to contribute on the court immediately. Taylor has led her team to tremendous success under Coach Ed Smith finishing as regional champion and state runner-up." Â
"With Taylor Reese, Murray State is getting a fine player with tremendous upside." said her high school coach Ed Smith. "Taylor is a great student-athlete with pride in academic excellence as well as athletic excellence. I know Taylor is very proud to be a member of the Murray State family."
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"We are excited to add these three outstanding young women of high character and work ethic to the Racer Family!" said Cross. "Abria, Michaela and Taylor are great students and will contribute to the community of Murray in a positive way. This class addresses the needs of our program and I am grateful for the hard work put in by Coach Mitchell, Coach Cross and Coach Buggs to bring such great young student-athletes to Murray State University.'
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 | Abria Gulledge Guard |
Gulledge is a 6'0 guard from H.W. Byers in Holly Springs, Miss. As a junior, she averaged 24 points, while also averaging eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. She shot 40 percent from the three point line and scored 20 points in Class 1A State Championship in 2013-14. She has four straight State titles; she was part of the State Championship team as an eighth grader. She was named first team All-State the past two seasons. During the 2012-13 season she was ranked #11 on the MHSAA girls' basketball Fab 15. In 2014, she was #4 on the MS Dandy Dozen list. Gulledge has a way of taking control and making big plays when needed as she hit the game winning three-pointer at the buzzer to win the division 2-1A Championship game as a freshman.
Cross said, "Abria Gulledge comes to us from a highly successful program in HW Byers where she led the team to its sixth state championship in the past seven years for Coach Jason Thompson. Abria is rated by all of the recruiting services as one of the top three or four players in the state of Mississippi. She is an athletic wing player with good size and athletic ability. She is an outstanding scorer who has already shown that she has that elusive "clutch gene". We will expect Abria to be able to step in right away and contribute."
"She's a winner, a go getter and a true champion." said high school coach Jason Thompson. "Passionate player that leads by example and has a team first mentality and approach to the game. When the game is on the line she wants the ball in her hands. True clutch performer that strives hard and excel in the big time games. I'm glad she's playing for me instead of against me."
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 | Michaela Manley Guard |
Manley is a 5'10 guard from Marshall County HS in Benton, Ky. Last season, the Marshall County team made it to the Kentucky State Tournament. There she averaged 12.6 points, which ultimately led her to become the 2014 Girls All-Tournament Team. After the tournament, she nabbed the Joey Fosko MVP. Helped lead her team to the first Regional Tournament Championship and was named MVP after leading her team to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year. Manley also finished as the state runner-up in the high jump in 2013-14.
"Michaela Manley really stepped up when her team needed it most last season in leading Coach Joseph Simmons team to its third straight regional championship and Sweet Sixteen birth." Cross said about the senior guard, "She is a long, athletic wing with deep range and has shown the ability to become a defensive force. Michaela has tremendous work ethic and is a basketball fanatic. She had a fantastic summer scoring the basketball for her AAU program and we are excited about her potential to contribute to our program on the court as she continues to expand her game."
"The most exciting thing about Michaela is her success story", Head Coach Joseph Simmons said. "Her perseverance and hard work helped to land her a spot in the starting line up her junior year and now she's got a D1 scholarship. Michaela is very coachable and one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. As Michaela's coach, I know that her best basketball is yet to come", Simmons said. "I think Murray State is getting not just an outstanding talent from a basketball standpoint, but an outstanding person of character as well. Michaela is a team player and truly embodies what it means to be a Lady Marshal."
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 | Taylor Reese Forward |
Reese is a 6'1 forward from Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga. During the 2013-14 season she averaged 14 points and nine rebounds. Her hard work led her to receiving 1st team All-State, 1st team All-Region, 1st team All-Area, and 2nd team All-County. In 2013, she also became the Player of the Year, after being named Rookie of the Year in 2012. Led her team to the Regional Championship and finished as a runner-up in the State Tournament. Reese was also a triple jumper and high jumper on the track team where she won the state championship in the high jump. She also played AAU basketball with Middle Ga Blaze for coach Kenneth Swayne.
Cross said, "Taylor Reese is an extremely athletic and skilled stretch four/three player with tremendous length. She has the potential to be a game changer on both ends of the court. She can handle the ball and finish in traffic as well as step out and knock down the three point shot. Her versatility will give her the chance to contribute on the court immediately. Taylor has led her team to tremendous success under Coach Ed Smith finishing as regional champion and state runner-up." Â
"With Taylor Reese, Murray State is getting a fine player with tremendous upside." said her high school coach Ed Smith. "Taylor is a great student-athlete with pride in academic excellence as well as athletic excellence. I know Taylor is very proud to be a member of the Murray State family."
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