Wake Forest Women's Basketball Announces 2012 Signing Class
11/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest women's basketball head coach Mike Petersen has announced the signing of four student-athletes for the class of 2016. Kandice Ball, Celina Rodrigo, Kelila Atkinson and Christelle Shembo all signed a national letter of intent to attend Wake Forest next fall.
"We really feel like we met needs that we had," Petersen said. "We always like to take a post players. I don't think you can ever have enough depth inside in this league and Kandice will help with that. We went into this recruiting class also really needing a point guard and we got a good one in Celina. We try to stagger our point guards every two years and with Brooke (Thomas) leaving after this year, Celina will be able to step in with Chelsea (Douglas) who will have been here a couple of years.
"We're also trying to add good basketball players who are good athletes and that's where Christelle and Kay-Kay come in," Petersen continued. "Both of them have tremendous flexibility in that they can play a number of positions. These are also four players who we think fit the university really well too. So we're really happy."
Rodrigo is a top-100 recruit according to All-Start Girls Report. She plays at Hillgrove High School in Marietta, Ga., and played on the same club team as current Demon Deacons Dearica Hamby and Lauryn Webster. Last season, Rodrigo set the Georgia High School 5-A record for most assists in a single game with 17.
"Celina is a point guard with a really high basketball IQ," Petersen said. "She really understands the game and how to distribute the ball. She scores when its available and has a really great leadership personality. Celina is the type of player that you want with the ball in her hands with the game on the line."
Kelila is also a top-100 recruit according to ESPN HoopGurlz who plays at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Md. She is the No. 13-ranked wing player in the class of 2012 according to ESPN HoopGurlz.
"Kelila is a very athletic wing that has a really high ceiling," said Petersen. "Don't get me wrong, she is a great player right now, but she is a really good athlete who comes from a really good high school program at Riverdale. She has the ability to make plays on both ends of the floor and also has a really good jump shot and can get out and score in transition."
Shembo is a wing player from Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, N.C. She earned All-Conference and All-Observer Team honors last year as a junior and plays in a good club program, The Lady Phoenix Prospects.
"Christelle is a bigger wing player than most," said Petersen. "She's a little bit stronger and that helps her in being a tremendous rebounder. She also has the athleticism it takes to play in the ACC and that obviously comes from being in a really athletic family that understands competition."
Ball is a post player from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Prior to attending Oak Hill, Ball was an All-District player at Pulaski County High School. She received a scouts grade of 90 according to ESPN HoopGurlz.
"Kandice is a big, strong, back to the basket post player but also has great hands," Petersen said. "She is a really good passer and can score with either hand around the basket. She has a great frame and I'm excited for her to get here and work with coach Brittenham. I think Kandice has the ability to really be a presence inside and be a dominating player physically."
Celina Rodrigo
Marietta, Ga.
Hillgrove High School
5-7
Point Guard
Full name is Celina Allegra Rodrigo ... Born on April 28, 1994 ... Daughter of Emilio and Theresa Rodrigo ... Is a senior at Hillgrove High School ... Member of the 2011 Nike National Silver Championship Team ... Named to the All-Metro and All-County Teams in 2010-11 ... Was also named to the All-County Tip-off Club in 2010-11 ... Has earned All-Region honors as a sophomore and as a junior ... Listed as a Top-100 Recruit by All-Star Girls Report ... Received a scouts grade of 89 according to ESPN HoopGurlz ... Owns the Georgia High School 5-A single-game record with 17 assists ... Played for the Georgia Pistols Club Team, which is the same club team as current Wake Forest players Dearica Hamby and Lauryn Webster ... Was a member of the 2008 AAU National Championship team ... Has maintained a 3.8 GPA and is a mentor for the Junior Hawk basketball program at Hillgrove.
Kelila Atkinson
Upper Marlboro, Md.
Riverdale Baptist High School
5-11
Wing
Full name is Kelila Nadine Atkinson ... Would like to be called Kay-Kay Atkinson ... Born on Nov. 2, 1993 ... Daughter of Janice Atkinson and Victor Atkinson ... Is a senior at Riverdale Baptist School, playing for Diane Richardson ... Is an ESPN HoopGurlz Top-100 prospect ... Ranked No. 85 in the Class of 2012 and No. 13 at the wing position according to ESPN HoopGurlz ... Received a scouts grade of 92 ... Named Riverdale's Defensive Player of the Year in 2009-10 ... Is also a member of the Riverdale volleyball team ... Is a member of the Riverdale Baptist Praise and Worship Team and is on the Honor Roll ... Is the cousin of Tanya Hughes, who was a U.S. Olympian high jumper and was named the 1994 NCAA Women of the Year at Arizona ... Mother Janice played basketball at Morgan State ... She led the Bears to the 1979 AIAW East Regional Championship ... Was the high school teammate of fellow ACC players Deja Hawkins (Clemson) and Ataira Franklin (Virginia).
Christelle Shembo
Charlotte, N.C.
Ardrey Kell High School
6-1
Forward
Full name is Christelle Dembo Shembo ... Born on Sept. 25, 1994 ... Daughter of Maurice and Gina Shembo ... Plays for Tina Lawrence at Ardrey Kell High School ... Was named to the Southwest 4A All-Conference Team in 2010-11 as well as the Charlotte Observer All-Observer Team ... Has earned a total of three varsity letters ... Is a member of the Future Business Leaders of American Club at Ardrey Kell ... Brother Prince Shembo is a linebacker on the Norte Dame football team.
Kandice Ball
Pulaski, Va.
Oak Hill Academy
6-3
Forward
Full name is Kandice Breanna Ball ... Forn on July 12, 1994 ... Daughter of Melissa Anderson and Lonnie Ball ... Is playing this season at Oak Hill Academy after attending Pulaski County High School from 2008-10 ... Earned first team All-District honors in 2009-10 ... Received a scouts grade of 90 according to ESPN HoopGurlz ... Is ranked as the No. 30 forward in the class of 2012 according to ESPN HoopGurlz ... Was a member of the honor roll at Pulaski County ... Plays for Randy Dunton of the Team Virginia Club Team.
