May 05, 2008
The Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball coaching staff continues to put together a very talented and deep 2008-09 signing class with the addition of Taniqua Hollis (pronounced Ton-EE-kwah) who signed her National Letter of Intent on Monday and will join the defending Big 12 Conference champion Aggies this fall.
Hollis, a 5-foot-6 guard out of Anton High School in Anton, Texas, is the final signee in A&M?â„¢s six-member recruiting class which includes three other highly-recruited players from the Lone Star State. As a senior, she averaged 26 points, eight rebounds, eight steals, six assists and three blocks per game and led the Bulldogs to the regional finals. She previously played two years at Sudan (Texas) High School, before playing her final two seasons at Anton under head coach Shelli Crow. A two-time district offensive MVP, Hollis was tabbed TABC and TGCA All-State as a sophomore and TABC All-Region as a senior.
?Taniqua completes our signing class for next year,? Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair said. ?She was a point guard that became available late. We had a chance to watch her from February on and we could see the tremendous upside in her game. She is a scoring point guard very similar to A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin when she came out of high school. Taniqua reminds me of Oklahoma State?â„¢s Andrea Riley and has the ability to score. She is a kid who wanted to be an Aggie and fell in love with the A&M campus on both of her unofficial and official visits. She was very well coached in high school and we felt comfortable to sign her with the other young freshmen coming in. We believe we have the best recruiting class in the Big 12 this year.?
A member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club and a two-time Math Award and Science Award recipient, Hollis looks to major in A&M?â„¢s first-year nursing program. She received the Fighting Heart Award in 2007 and was honored as Outstanding Girl Athlete in 2008. Hollis also competed in track and field and was a three-time regional qualifier. She was recruited by Texas A&M associate head coach Vic Schaefer.
Prior to the late signings of Hollis and junior college All-American Tanisha Smith, the All-Star Girls Basketball Report rated A&M?â„¢s signing class 12th nationally with the No. 44 overall prospect in Skylar Collins out of Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, No. 49-rated Adaora Elonu out of Alief Elsik High School in Houston, Texas, No. 54-rated Kelsey Assarian out of Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla., and No. 63-rated Sydney Carter out of DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas. With the addition of Hollis, the Aggies?â„¢ 2008-09 signing class now includes five freshmen and one junior transfer to supplement the loss of five seniors including three starters to graduation.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT TANIQUA HOLLIS
?Taniqua will bring a quick style of play along with the ability to score. She loves the style of Texas A&M basketball. The fast tempo and pressure defense is right up her alley. She sees the floor well and can get the pass where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. She is a really smart kid and I know she will receive a great education at A&M.? ?- Anton High School Head Coach Shelli Crow