Wake Forest Women's Basketball Inks Four
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head women's basketball coach Mike Petersen announced Wednesday that Jessica Bryant, Jessie Cain, Tiffany Roulhac and Mekia Valentine have signed national letters of intent to play women's basketball for the Demon Deacons in 2006-07.
The class of 2010 has been ranked as the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation by Mike Flynn of the Blue Star Report.
"We are very happy with this recruiting class. Aside from the fact that the four players that have signed are all very good athletes and good students, it also addresses some specific needs that we had with this recruiting class," said Petersen. "It allowed us to get bigger and more athletics. Jessie Cain and Mekia Valentine can both play the four, which with the graduation of Liz Strunk and Keila Evans, will be an immediate need for us next year. Jessica Bryant and Tiffany gives us excellent athletes at the five and the one."
Bryant, a 6-foot-4 native of South Port, N.C., joins the Demon Deacons as the All Star Girls Report No.142 recruit in the country and the No. 35 center. Averaging 13 points per game and eight rebounds per game for Conway High School, Bryant was named to the Wilmington Star News first team and all-conference in 2004. Bryant has played AAU basketball from 2001-05 and has been a member of the varsity basketball squad for three seasons.
"Jessica has great size and great athletic ability," Petersen said. "At 6-foot-5 she runs the floor well and is very long. She is a player who will continue to improve as she has the opportunity to play at the college level. She is someone who give us legitimate size at the post and can defend and rebound in the ACC."
Cain, a 6-foot-2 power forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, is the No. 58 recruit and the No. 9 power forward, according to the All-Star Girls Report. Averaging 13.5 points and nine rebounds per game, Cain is a three year member of the varsity basketball team at Oak Hills High School. Cain was also named first team all conference and first team All-City in 2005 and second team all conference in 2004.
"Jessie is a very skilled an talented player," Petersen said. "She has great size and can play eventually both the four and the three for us. She has a great skill set and is very fundamental. Jessie plays very hard and is a player that can come in and have an immediate impact on the team."
Roulhac, the No. 145 recruit by the All-Star Girls Report, is a 5-foot-6 guard from Fayetteville, N.C. Averaging 12 points per game and eight assists for Terry Sanford High School, Roulhac was an all-conference selection in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Selected to the Nike Swiss Invitational squad in Switzerland, Roulhac was also the Terry Sanford HS Most Valuable Player.
"Tiffany is a pure point guard who fits in very well with the way we want to play," Petersen said. "She has great straight line speed, is a great on the ball defender and is a pass first point guard who sees the floor very well in transition."
Valentine is a 6-foot-4 native of Greensboro, N.C., who can play both as a power forward and a center. Valentine was ranked as the No. 23 recruit by Full Court Press: The Women's Basketball Journal and was an adidas Top-10 Camp All-Star Team selection. A News & Record All-Area third team selection, Valentine was named the Greensboro Day High School MVP in 2005.
"Mekia had an unbelievable summer and is a very skilled, athletic player," said Petersen. "She is a tremendous athlete with a great skill set and will be able to play at the four. Mekia will fit in very well with our style of play and she has a very good inside- outside offensive game."
