May 19, 2009
COLLEGE STATION - Danielle Adams, who earned national junior college player of the year honors as a sophomore at Jefferson College (Mo.), has signed a national letter-of-intent to play college basketball at Texas A&M, Head Coach Gary Blair said on Tuesday.
"I just got along really well with the players and coaches, and I'm really excited about the school's academics," Adams said.
A versatile 6-foot-1 forward, Adams averaged 22.1 points and 2.8 blocked shots as a sophomore and led her team to a 34-1 record and the national championship game. A two-time first-team JUCO All-American, she led the nation in scoring as a freshman with 28.0 points per contest, leading the team to a 32-3 mark. She also was recruited by NCAA runner-up Louisville, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State.
"She'll need to make no adjustments," Jefferson College Coach Kevin Emerick said. "She'll make an impact the first time she steps on the floor. She can shoot the three or she can take it to the hole. Danielle is not only a great player, but she's a great kid. She has no ego at all. She is as well liked as any kid on campus. She's just a big teddy bear."
"Danielle is hands-down the No. 1 junior college player in the country." Brett McCormick of All-Star Girls Basketball Report said. "She's so talented, it's scary. She is the type of player who can do anything on the court."
"Danielle Adams is the premier junior college player in the country and we're excited to have her," Blair said. "She'll be able to play both the power forward and high post positions for us. She's a scoring machine and sees the court very well as a passer."
Adams earned first-team all-state honors as a senior at Lee's Summitt High School in Kansas City after averaging 21.4 points per game. She's the third player from Kansas City that Blair has signed in the last three years, joining Tanisha Smith. Adams played AAU basketball with Smith for the Kansas City Keys.
"(A&M assistant coach) Johnnie Harris recruited her out of high school and developed a great relationship with her," Blair said. "(Associate Head Coach) Vic Schaefer handles our junior college recruiting and developed a solid relationship with her coach. The Kansas City connection has given us a McDonald's High School All-American (White), a junior college All-American (Smith) and now the best junior college player in the country (Adams). With the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City the next two years, we'll be able to bring our Kansas City players home."
Adams completes A&M's 2009 recruiting class and is the only non-freshman. Blair signed four freshmen in November - Diamond Ashmore, a 6-3 post from Midwest City, Okla.; Kristi Bellock, a 6-1 wing from East Jefferson, La.; 5-7 point guard Adrienne Pratcher of Memphis; and 6-foot guard/wing Cierra Windham of Corona, Calif.
"This is the highest-rated class in school history," Blair said. "Even though we graduated three starters, we've reloaded. We have the nucleus of our Sweet 16 team back and bring in a top-five recruiting class. My staff should be commended for their hard work, their recruiting contacts and their ability to find outstanding student-athletes who fit our system."
The Aggies finished 27-8 last season, the second most victories in school history, and made a record fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. A&M was ranked among the nation's top 10 for most of the year, achieving the highest ranking in school history at No. 3.
"This is easily Gary Blair's best class," McCormick said. "It's a very talented group that is probably one of the top-five classes in the country."
-30-