Nov. 15, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State women's basketball head coach Stacie Terry has announced the signing of a nationally-ranked class for the 2017-18 campaign. Te'a Adams, Jenay Bojorquez, Kiara Edwards, Najé Murray and Kennedi Villa have signed National-Letters-of-Intent to join the Aztecs next season. The class, ranked as the 23rd- and 46th-best class in the country (according to Propsects Nation and Blue Star Basketball, respectively), is the Aztecs' first nationally-ranked class since the 2010-11 season.
Adams, a 5'9 guard from Kirkland, Wash., is a three-star recruit according to ESPN and was given a scouts grade of 90. Entering her fourth year of varsity basketball at Juanita High School, Adams has averaged 19.2 points per game, 3.4 steals per game and 2.5 assists and rebounds each per game during a career that has yielded three all-conference honors.
Adams' career began at Juanita with a bang, as she led her team in 2013-14 with 16.2 points per game and 2.9 steals per game, resulting in All-KingCo 2A/3A First Team honors as a freshman. Named to the 2015 All-USA Western Washington Preseason Girls Basketball First Team, she experienced a breakout sophomore season, scoring a conference-best 20.8 points per game and recording 99 steals and 67 assists in 26 games en route to KingCo 2A/3A Co-MVP and Defensive Player of the Year accolades. A 2016 All-USA Western Washington Preseason Girls Basketball Team honorable mention, Adams earned a spot on the KingCo 3A/2A First Team after leading her team in points per game for the third straight season with 20 points per game.
Adams plays club ball for ECBA Swish Black 2017. In 2016, her team won the 2016 Peach State Basketball Summer Invitational, the Seattle Youth Basketball May Breakaway Tournament and the Y.E.A. Invitational Tournament.
Terry on Adams:
"Te'a is a confident floor leader with a scorer's mentality. She is at her best in transition but can execute in the half court. She has a toughness about her that can't be taught and is excellent off the bounce. She can get to the rim whenever she wants and can finish with contact. Tea is also a tenacious on-ball defender that will help us set the tone defensively. Her ability to play multiple positions will allow her to make an immediate impact on our program."
Bojorquez, a 5'6 point guard from Phoenix, is in her third season of varsity ball at Sierra Linda High School. A three-and-a-half-star recruit according to Prospects Nation, Bojorquez has held the top spot on Sierra Linda High's varsity squad in assists per game for two consecutive years.
Bojorquez started her high school career at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. In 21 games on the varsity team, she averaged 13 points, five assists and 3.6 steals per game. Following a transfer to Sierra Linda High as a sophomore, Bojorquez topped her squad with 4.3 assists per game and tied for the team lead with 3.6 steals per game, going alongside 9.7 points per game.
In her junior year, Bojorquez led the team for the second straight year with five assists per game and her 4.4 steals per game were also a team high. She averaged 11.8 points per game for second on the team. That year, Sierra Linda High advanced to the 2016 AIA Girls Basketball State Championships Division II semifinals, losing the game by one point.
Bojorquez plays AAU ball for I-10 Celtics. She participated in the Premier Basketball Super 64 National Championship, earning Oklahoma Bracket All-Tournament honors.
Terry on Bojorquez:
"Jenay is a true point guard with an unbelievable ability to see the floor. Although she loves to pass first, she has the ability to put up big numbers on the offensive end as well. She sees a play develop and is able to read and react right away. Her ability to get by her defender and create for others puts her in a class of her own."
Averaging nearly a double-double per game during her three-year varsity career at Valley Vista High School in Surprise, Ariz., Edwards is a 6'1 forward. Ranked No. 119 by Prospects Nation, the four-star recruit is coming off of an invitation to the 2016 USA Basketball Women's U17 World Championship team trials this May.
Edwards kicked off her career at Valley Vista High in dynamic fashion, averaging a double-double per game with 12.0 points per game and 10.03 rebounds per game. She was named a 2014 Sports360AZ All-Academic Girls Basketball Team honorable mention for her efforts. In her sophomore year, Edwards continued her growth by recording 12.6 points per game and 9.78 rebounds per game. She was named the All-West Valley Preps Girls Basketball Player of the Year runner-up and a First Team honoree.
Edwards had her most successful season to date as a junior, garnering 2016 All-West Valley Prep Girls Basketball Player of the Year runner-up and First Team accolades for the second straight season. She nearly averaged a double-double per game, putting up 14.8 points per game and bringing down 9.96 boards per game.
Edwards, who competed at the 2016 AAU Girls Basketball National Championship and Super Showcase, plays club ball for West Coast Premiere Nike.
Terry on Edwards:
"Kiara is a very skilled forward that can play on the perimeter or with her back to the basket. Kiara has range on her jumper past 18 feet and brings a toughness to us on the defense side of the ball. She is very versatile and can dribble and pass the ball like a guard. She has a great work ethic and thirst for the game and I believe her best basketball is ahead of her."
A 5'6 guard from perennial national powerhouse St. Mary's in Stockton, Calif., Murray earned three stars and a 90 scouts grade by ESPN. Led by head coach Tom Gonsalves, St. Mary's has won 57 of its last 58 games and nine consecutive section championships.
Murray's career got off to a strong start with a spot on the All-Sac-Joaquin Section Tri-City Athletic League Second Team after knocking down 8.2 points per game, 2.67 rebounds per game 2.73 steals per game and 2.1 assists per game. She followed that up with a sophomore season that yielded 9.1 points per game and 2.49 steals per game, resulting in Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass Sophomore First Team honors. That season, St. Mary's won the CIF Open Division state title.
Murray's success continued into her junior year. Named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass Junior First Team, she increased her totals to 12.9 points per game, 2.76 steals per game. At the end of the 2016 regular season, the Rams were ranked No. 1 in the nation before falling to Pinewood in the California Federation Open Division regional semifinals.
Murray plays AAU ball with Cal Stars. Coming from an athletic family, her father, Doug, is an assistant football coach and the defensive coordinator at San Joaquin Delta College.
Terry on Murray:
"Najé is a combination guard that can affect the game in many ways. She has a tremendous basketball IQ and is a natural born leader. She has a steady floor a game with consistent deep range behind the arc. She is a stat stuffer and is all about the team. She is a winner and knows what it takes to win at the highest level. Her love for the game and work ethic sets her apart from most. She will be great representative of our program and culture."
Villa, a 6'0 guard from Oakland, Calif., attends Saint Mary's College High School in Berkeley, Calif. A three-star recruit according to ESPN, she earned a scouts grade of 88.
In her sophomore season, her first full year of varsity play, Villa averaged 8.4 points per game to rank second on the team and 5.27 rebounds per game with 70 total steals and 68 assists. That year, her team advanced to the NCS Division IV title game for the seventh year in a row. As a junior, Villa's point production increased, as she averaged a team-best 11.3 points per game alongside 5.06 rebounds per game.
Villa plays her club ball with East Bay Xplosion.
Terry on Villa:
"Kennedi is a long, versatile guard that can defend and create havoc for our opponents. With her length and athletic ability, she will be able to guard multiple positions. Kennedi has a quick first step and is really hard to guard when she's attacking off the dribble. She is someone who can also rebound and run the floor which will improve our transition game."
The Aztecs, who have started the season 1-1 with games against UC Riverside and San Diego Christian, will contend with crosstown rival San Diego Thurs., Nov. 17 at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion. Tip is set for 6 p.m.