Former McDonald's All-American Bone Transfers To Texas A&M
Apr 15, 2010 | Women's Basketball
April 15, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M women's basketball head coach Gary Blair announced the signing of former McDonald's High School All-American Kelsey Bone (Houston, Texas) on Thursday.
Bone, a 6-foot-5 center out of Dulles High School, requested a transfer from the University of South Carolina and will sit out the 2010-11 season due to NCAA transfer rules. She will be eligible to play for the nationally-ranked Aggies during the 2011-12 campaign as a sophomore. The No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2009 by several scouting services, Bone is the fourth McDonald's All-American and highest-rated player to ever sign with A&M.
"We had recruited Kelsey Bone since she was in the seventh grade," Blair said. "I remember the heartbreak our entire community felt during that timeout of the McDonald's All-American Game (when she announced her decision to attend South Carolina). However, we wished her and her family well. We rolled up our sleeves and went back to work with our young ladies.
"Today is a testament of the close knit family we have with our players, my staff and our entire program. There is an unbelievable amount of pressure on the elite athletes to make the right decision at the age of 17, and sometimes, it just doesn't work out. Sometimes your priorities change. The state of Texas is a special place. I'm not so sure if homesickness is the right word. Kelsey has deeps roots in this state that come from playing alongside young ladies she has grown up with and playing in front of friends and family. Those roots are very special - it is why I chose to come to Texas A&M as well."
During her freshman season for the Gamecocks, Bone became the first South Carolina player to be tabbed Southeastern Conference Newcomer of the Year. She also earned Second-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors by the league's head coaches. In addition, she was recognized as Second-Team All-SEC by The Associated Press and First-Team Freshman All-America by Full Court Press.
Bone led the SEC and ranked 49th nationally in rebounding averaging 9.2 per game. She also ranked eighth in the league in scoring average (14.0 ppg) which was the best among all SEC freshmen. A three-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection (Nov. 23, Jan. 18 and Feb. 7), Bone led her team in scoring on 10 occasions including a career-high 32 points at Clemson on Nov. 19, 2009.
Prior to South Carolina, she was a four-year letterwinner in basketball under head coach Doug Lechtenberger at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Bone was a consensus All-American averaging 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior. She was named the 2009 McDonald's John Wooden National High School Player of the Year and made three appearances on the prestigious Parade All-America Team.
"I'm a Texan born and raised through and through," Bone said. "I felt it was the best decision for me to transfer and come home to be closer to my family. The Texas A&M coaches were still waiting for me with open arms. I am really excited to join the Aggie family and be a part of the winning tradition that Coach Blair, his staff and players have built there."
A three-time Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) all-state and all-region selection, Bone finished her prep career with 2,516 points, 1,315 rebounds, 263 assists, 236 steals and 244 blocked shots. She guided the Vikings to 30+ wins in each of her last three seasons including an impressive 36-3 record as a senior. Bone was the second-leading scorer for the United States at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and also helped Team USA to the 2009 U19 FIBA World Championship gold medal with 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in Bangkok, Thailand.
A&M returns three starters from its 26-8 Big 12 Conference championship squad next season including All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Sydney Carter (DeSoto, Texas), Big 12 All-Tournament Team selection Tyra White (Kansas City, Mo.) and Adaora Elonu (Houston, Texas). The Aggies also welcome back All-America candidate and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 Second Teamer Danielle Adams (Kansas City, Mo.), Sydney Colson (Houston, Texas) and the fifth-best incoming recruiting class in the country in 6-foot-5 center and McDonald's High School All-American Karla Gilbert out of A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas, and 5-foot-9 guard Kristen Grant out of Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas.
"I followed the Aggies throughout the season and NCAA Tournament," said Bone who is friends with Adams, Colson and fellow Class of 2009 signee Kristi Bellock of St. Rose, La. "I was happy to see the team do so well. Coach Blair is a great guy and his staff are very deserving of the success they saw this past season. I hope to add to the program any way I can and help them progress toward winning a national championship at A&M."
Bone is the daughter of Kim Williams and Warren Bone, who played college football at Texas Southern. She has two siblings, brother, Donovan Williams (8), and sister, Lindsey Bone (9). Bone will arrive on campus on June 1 for summer school and is looking to major in communications at A&M with the hopes of pursuing a sports broadcasting career after playing professional basketball in the future.
"We welcome Kelsey, Kim, Donovan, and their entire family to Aggieland," Blair said. "This is a great day for our program. I would also like to thank 12th Man Productions and our communications department as Kelsey spoke very highly of her time spent with both and we know that played a large role in her decision."
