Wake Forest Inks Three to Letters of Intent
11/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Erika Carrubba, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest women's basketball head coach Jen Hoover announced the signing of three top-100 ranked players in the class of 2015. Kortni Simmons, Ariel Stephenson and Destini Walker signed National Letters of Intent last week.
"We are so excited and proud to welcome three extraordinary young ladies and their families into our program," Hoover said. "Kortni, Ariel and Destini are outstanding players and intense competitors, but more importantly high character student-athletes that will represent Wake Forest University well on and off the court. They all come from great families and have been a part of successful programs with exceptional coaches. I would like to thank all those we built relationships with along the way, especially the families that allowed us into their homes and their hearts as we got to know their daughters and recruit them to be Demon Deacons"
Wake Forest's 2015 class is the third-straight top-25 class that the Demon Deacons have signed. Blue Star Basketball has the class ranked No. 15. Prospectnation.com has the Deacon class ranked No. 18 but fifth-best among ACC schools.
Simmons is a 5-8 point guard from Spotsylvania, Va. She is the No. 16 ranked guard in the class by Prospectnation.com and ranks No. 77 overall. She played three seasons at Spotsylvania High School in Virginia before moving to West Florence High School in South Carolina for her senior season. Simmons has racked up the awards in her career, earning All-State, Region MVP, Conference MVP and she is a two-time All-Area Player of the Year. She averaged 27.2 points, 14.8 rebounds, 5.4 steals and 3.6 assists per game as a junior.
"Kortni is the type of player that coaches have a hard time taking off the floor," Hoover said. "She does so many things that help you win basketball games, hawking the ball defensively, being a tremendous playmaker or going out and being a big-time scorer when her team needs it. She plays the game with a high level of energy and enthusiasm that is contagious among her teammates. The aspect of her game that really separates her from others at her position is her natural instincts. She is one of the best rebounding guards that I have ever seen. Kortni is a work horse on the court whose toughness and competitive spirit are truly what will make her a fan favorite in the future."
Stephenson is ranked No. 42 by Prospectnation in the class of 2015. The 5-10 guard from Prince George, Va. Is a three-time first-team All-District honoree. She helped lead Prince George High School to the Conference 12 Championship in 2013-14 and set the school's scoring record the same season. She averaged 27.1 points per game in her junior campaign.
"Ariel is an athletic, wiry wing and one of the best scorers in the country," Hoover said. "She has great size and is an elite-level athlete that is a basketball junkie that is constantly working to improve her game and she will do whatever it takes for her team succeed. Her ability to shoot the three, relentlessly attack the basket and convert in transition will make her a natural fit in our fast and fierce style of play. She is also a very vocal leader and an intense competitor who elevates the intensity and confidence of all of her teammates. Her tremendous work ethic, versatility and determination will be instrumental to our future successes."
Originally from Ossining, N.Y., Walker comes to Wake Forest from Hermitage High School in Virginia. The 6-0 guard/forward is ranked No. 53 in the class of 2015 and is the No. 13 wing in the class. She is a two-time All-State selection along with first-team All-District and second-team All-Metro and All-5A South.
"Destini is one of the most versatile players in the country," Hoover said. "She is strong, physical, skilled and a unique playmaker with a very high basketball IQ. She has the ability to play any position on the perimeter as well as bang down low with post players due to her tenacity and toughness. She is a tremendous scorer, using her versatility to take advantage of mismatches. She plays the game fearlessly, which instills a lot of confidence in everyone she plays with. Her willingness to do whatever it takes and her ability to score in a variety of ways will make us a better team immediately."
"All three of these young ladies made an early commitment to Wake Forest because they are humble, driven and excited about leaving a legacy and accomplishing great things in black & gold. I would like to thank my staff for their outstanding job of identifying, evaluating and most importantly building relationships with these young ladies, their families and coaches. Their tireless work ethic and dedication to our program's success is evident in all that they do. I also need to thank everyone associated with Wake Forest University. We appreciate all of the time and support from every member of the Wake Forest family."
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Kortni Simmons
5-8, Guard
Spotsylvania, Va.
What they are saying...
"My experience coaching Kortni was one of joy and pleasure. To see her evolve eighth grade to her junior year was great. Kortni is a truly good person at heart and will do anything to help her teammates and coaching staff. She brings hard work, dedication, commitment and a blessed attitude to the Wake Forest program. She is also very family oriented and will do what it takes to make the program successful." - Claude Tyler, head coach at Spotsylvania High School
"Wake forest has a strong academic tradition as well as a solid basketball program and family atmosphere. It is the exact size university I was seeking and the coaching staff of the women's basketball team is superb. I can see myself becoming an integral part of the Deacon family and look forward to the experience." - Kortni Simmons
Ariel Stephenson
5-10, Guard
Prince George, Va.
What they are saying...
"The first time I saw Ariel play, she was in fourth grade and participating in a camp that I held at the high school. I remember pulling her dad aside after camp one day and telling him she was going to be a special player. I had never seen someone so young as gifted and dedicated as Ariel. Fast forward to eight years later and she has superseded the kind of player I imagined she would be back in fourth grade. Ariel is the kind of player that a coach hopes for. She shows such heart and determination. Ariel has a love for basketball and improving herself as a player that I have never seen in another young athlete. She is a team player and pushes her teammates to be the best they can be as well. On the court Ariel is aggressive, focused, strong and reliable. She exemplifies a student-athlete by maintaining her grades and being focused on schoolwork in addition to basketball. Coaching Ariel has been a true honor and I know I will miss her next year as she heads to college. Wake Forest will be gaining a tremendous athlete and young lady." Billy Gray, head coach at Prince George High School
"I chose Wake Forest because of the amazing opportunities on and off the court. I am excited about being a part of a great team with immense potential, as well as an amazing coaching staff. Ultimately, Wake Forest University will allow me to pursue my athletic dreams and attend one of the top-ranked institutions in the country." - Ariel Stephenson
Destini Walker
6-0, Guard/Forward
Ossining, N.Y.
What they are saying...
"Destini Walker is an outstanding student, a remarkable athlete and an even better person. She has been a tremendous asset to our program as well as a much-loved member of our school community. It has been a pleasure to get to know her on and off the court. She will truly be missed when she moves on to Wake Forest." - Allyn Pritchard, head coach at Hermitage High School
"I chose Wake Forest University because the moment I stepped on the campus I knew it was where I wanted to be. Wake Forest has an environment like no other and this school spoke to me in way no other one did. The one thing that excites me about Wake Forest is the people. People of all different backgrounds and stories are on the campus and I realized that I too wanted to be in the mix." - Destini Walker