Nov. 12, 2015 Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas - The turnaround built by the UT Arlington coaching staff over the last two seasons has equated to an exciting early signing class according to UTA coach Krista Gerlich.
"It is a great class, especially for an early signing class," Gerlich said. "That is something we have been working towards and we have stepped up our game to get it done early and get the girls interested and excited about UTA. I am really pleased and excited about this group. They bring a lot of versatility and a lot of athleticism. They are very fundamentally sound and they will be a really great class to add to what we have."
The early signing class includes three from the state of Oklahoma, while one comes from Kansas. UTA had the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt during the 2013-14 season and completed the largest turnaround in NCAA Division I last season after going 17-13 - a 13-win improvement from the previous year.
Early Signing Class
Aysia Evans
Tulsa, Okla. - Guard - Broken Arrow HS
Evans is a two-year letterwinner and a defending 2015 Oklahoma state champion at Broken Arrow High School. Evans was selected to the State All-Tournament team as well as the All-Metro Third Team. She was selected a Tulsa World Player of the Week during her junior campaign and averaged 13.0 points, 2.3 assists 1.9 steals per game.
Gerlich on Evans:
"Aysia brings us a lot of versatility. She can be a defensive stopper, she has a great three-point shot, I love that she is a lefty and she can handle the ball and be the point guard if she needs to be. She brings more than just one aspect to the table and I am really excited about her athletic ability and fundamental skillset that she brings."
Chinna Fair
Midwest City, Okla. - Guard - Midwest City HS
Fair, a part of a MaxPreps Fab 5 Preseason Teams to Watch at Midwest City, averaged 10.1 points per game last season and was an all-state honorable mention. She was selected to the Mid Team Conference First-Team as well as was named the 2014-15 Defensive Player of the Year.
Gerlich on Fair:
"Chinna is a big sign. She is extremely athletic. She can play the one, two or three. She is really long and lengthy on the perimeter, but can get to the rim. She can break somebody down on the dribble and shoot a jumper over the top of them. In the transition she can get the ball to her teammates or take it herself. She is another defensive stopper; she can guard a bigger guard for us and be able to use her length on the perimeter. Her versatility and being able to play three different positions is definitely a plus."
Kelsey Johnson
Washington, Okla. - Forward/Center - Washington HS
Johnson is a two-time state finalist for Washington High School, as well as a two-time All-Conference selection. She was the 2015 Conference MVP and was selected to the State All-Tournament team in both 2014 and 2015. Johnson was a member of the Little All-City First Team in 2014 and 2015. Johnson averaged 19.8 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game in her junior season. Combined with her abilities, her family had deep ties in athletics. Her mom, Kelly, played basketball at Oklahoma, while her brother plays football for the University of Houston.
Gerlich on Johnson:
"Kelsey is going to be a good player for us. She has a lot of height and a lot of length. She can shoot the ball better than any big I've ever seen. Her consistency is amazing and that is because of her work ethic. She is constantly in the gym shooting the basketball. I like that we are bringing another gym rat onto our team. I think that is contagious. She can really shoot the ball on the three-point line and I think it will be great to extend the defense out from that four position. She is going to get stronger as she gets used to the collegiate game and be able to do things down on the block. She is very smart and has a very high basketball IQ, and can flat out stroke the ball."
Ericka Mattingly
Wichita, Kan. - Guard - Wichita South HS
Mattingly is a three-time state champion, and All-State selection, at Wichita South High School. Mattingly has helped her team to a 71-4 record in three seasons and averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 steals, 5.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds last season. Mattingly was described by Gerlich as an athlete as she competed that the varsity level in three sports. She earned All-City First-Team honors in both volleyball and basketball during her junior year, as well as finished fifth in the Kansas State Track Meet in the 100-meter and 200-meter as a freshman.
Gerlich on Mattingly:
"She is a really high-level point guard. She has great athleticism and an extremely high basketball IQ and a competitive nature that she brings. That is what we have been looking for. She is very poised for her age and that position. She makes great decisions in the full court and passes the ball to get her teammates involved but can score it as well. She just runs her team and is a competitor out there. She will be the toughest kid out on the floor and will expect that same toughness out of her teammates. She is a natural born leader on the floor. I am really excited to see that type of person with the ball in her hands."
