Nov. 10, 2010
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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - For the third consecutive year, the Texas A&M women's basketball program has landed one of the top recruiting classes in the nation with the signing of three top-rated high school prospects who will join the nationally-ranked Aggies for the 2011-12 season as announced by head coach Gary Blair on Wednesday.
A&M welcomes 6-foot-7 center Rachel Mitchell out of Atascocita High School in Houston, 5-foot-10 guard Tori Scott from John Ehret High School in Marrero, La., and 5-foot-8 guard Alexia Standish out of Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas. This Aggie recruiting class has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the country by The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
“A recruiting class might fill needs not just wants and I believe we have done that with our 2011 signees,” said Blair. This class will be remembered as the highest-ranked class to ever sign at Texas A&M. My staff of Kelly Bond, Vic Schaefer and Johnnie Harris should be commended as they continue to do it year in and year out. They consistently find quality young ladies with good academics who are all from good programs, and they are players that want to win at the highest level.”
Rated the No. 4 center in the country by ESPN Hoopgurlz and the No. 1 post player in the state by Premier Basketball Report, Mitchell is on the watch list for the 2011 McDonald's High School All-America team. Mitchell transferred to Atascocita from C.E. King High School her sophomore year and has attended A&M's Elite Camp the last three years. She was a teammate of Karla Gilbert's on the Houston Elite AAU team, playing in many of the country's top summer tournaments and camps. In addition to being named to the 2010 Preseason All-Greater Houston Second Team, Mitchell was an all-district first team selection in 2009.
“Houston once again has been good to the Aggies as the tallest players ever to play for Texas A&M will be 6-foot-7 Rachel Mitchell,” Blair said. “Her best days are in front of her as she keeps developing her offensive skills. She is a shot blocker who runs the floor like a wing and her potential is unlimited. This will be her first year of varsity ball at Atascocita, as she played junior varsity due to UIL transfer rules. Rachel came from the powerful Houston Elite summer program coached by Howard Randle, who has now put several of his former players in Maroon and White.”
Other Houston Elite players under Randall that signed with Blair at A&M were Morenike Atunrase, A'Quonesia Franklin, Patrice Reado, La Toya Micheaux and Damitria Buchanan.
Rated the No. 6 guard in the nation and the No. 1 overall prospect from the state of Louisiana by ESPN Hoopgurlz, Scott is a two-time all-state first team honoree who is also on the watch list for the 2011 McDonald's High School All-America team. She averaged 15.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a junior. Scott played for the Louisiana Lady Fire AAU team. She attended Adidas Nationals in 2008 and the Ganon Baker Skills Academy in 2010, both held on A&M's campus. Scott, a 2009 Metro Area District 9-5A Player of the Year who was also named to the all-district team, chose Texas A&M over LSU and Tennessee.
“Tori is a versatile wing player from the Bayou state that will remind you of former Aggie and Louisiana star Morenike Atunrase,” said Blair. “We have always had the most talented arsenal of guards in the Big 12 and Tori will fit right in with the defensive pressure that we like to play. She is tall, athletic and extremely quick. She'll play point for her high school team this year but will play wing for A&M. She is also the cousin of current Aggie Kristi Bellock.”
Rated the No. 5 point guard in the country and the No. 1 point guard in the Lone Star State by ESPN Hoopgurlz, Standish is the third Aggie signee named to the 2011 McDonald's High School All-America Watch List.
She was a gold medalist on the USA Women's Basketball U16 National Team in Mexico City, Mexico in 2009 and attended the Nike Regional Skills Academy for two years. She averaged 17.9 points and 5.4 assists per game as a junior and played for the Cy-Fair Shock AAU team. In 2009, Standish was tabbed all-state, all-area and named the district co-MVP. She was the league's newcomer of the year as a freshman. She is a three-time all-district selection and earned numerous awards in 2010, including District 5-5A Offensive Player of the Year, Class 5A All-Region and All-State by Lonestar Girls High School Basketball, TGCA Class 5A All-State and TABC All-State. Standish also runs track and holds the freshman school record in the 800 meter. Standish chose Texas A&M over Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
“We have signed one of the best point guards in the country in Alexia,” Blair said. “She has had excellent high school coaching under Dianne Sager, she shoots the ball well, is a tremendous passer and loves our upbeat tempo style of play. She handles pressure very well and makes her teammates better. We expect her to come in right away and challenge for a starting position.”
Last year, the Aggies signed the fifth-best recruiting class in the country with the additions of McDonald's High School All-American Karla Gilbert (College Station, Texas) and freshman Kristen Grant (Arlington, Texas). Kelsey Bone, the Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year, A&M's fourth McDonald's High School All-American and the highest-rated player to ever sign with the Aggies also joined A&M's program last spring.
“Even though she signed in May as a transfer from South Carolina, Kelsey counts towards this recruiting class and will have three years of eligibility with the Aggies,” said Blair. “The nation's No. 2 recruit two years ago must sit out this year, but will give A&M the depth and the go-to player it must have to compete with the top tier teams.”
2010-11 TEXAS A&M WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
Women's Basketball |
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| Name | Position | Height | Class | Hometown (Current School) |
| Rachel Mitchell | Center | 6-7 | Freshman | Houston, Texas (Atascocita HS) |
| Tori Scott | Guard | 5-10 | Freshman | Marrero, La. (John Ehret HS) |
| Alexia Standish | Guard | 5-8 | Freshman | Colleyville, Texas (Colleyville Heritage) |
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT TEXAS A&M'S SIGNEES
“The consistency in which Texas A&M adds players that are among the best in the country in terms of talent as well as being a good fit for its style of play will keep the expectations of deep tournament runs a reality. The balance the class has by adding depth in the paint and on the perimeter makes the class even more impressive.”
- Chris Hansen, the National Director of Prospects for ESPN HoopGurlz
“Rachel Mitchell has all the tools any coach looks for in the post. Long and lean, she is fluid and mobile and runs the floor with ease. Her wingspan is somewhat similar to that of a California condor, which in turn makes her an intimidating post up threat.”
- Mark Lewis, ESPN Hoopgurlz
“The Louisiana native is poetry in motion on the basketball court and one of the smoothest female athletes in any sport. Long, rangy, graceful, fluid and explosive are all adjectives use to describe world-class athletes and they also describe the 5-10 wing.
- Kelvin Powell, ESPN Hoopgurlz on Tori Scott
“Alexia Standish is not only a great leader but a very smart player with a great understanding of the game. She knows her role on the court as a point guard. She is a very good outside shooter from short and long range. She will draw the defender out on her then blow by you to the bucket to score or do what she does best, dish and pass the ball to the open woman. When Alexia passes the ball you better be ready. She may have a small body frame but she has a huge heart and love for the game."
- Joey Simmons, Premier Basketball Report