COLLEGE STATION- Texas A&M's women's basketball team announced the signing of ESPN HoopGurlz five-star recruit Danni Williams (Clovis, N.M./Clovis HS) to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Williams, a 5-10 guard, will enroll at Texas A&M in time for the 2015-16 season.
Williams, rated the seventh-best guard, and 38th-best player, in the 2015 class by ESPN, is a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico, and is looking to become the state's first three-time winner this season. Williams is also a two-time District MVP, First Team All-State selection and New Mexico Miss Basketball selection (NM Preps).
“Danni is the ultimate playmaker who can score in a variety of ways,” said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. “She creates her own shot off the bounce, creates for others with her ability to pass the ball and has the range to wear you out shooting the three.”
“She committed to us in June, which gave her and our program and opportunity to focus on the future with her in our back court,” said Blair. “Danni is the type of competitor that our program has had, with the tenacity of Sydney Carter and the confidence of Takia Starks, and she has the versatility to play multiple positions.”
“The last time I signed the top player in New Mexico was Karin Karlin of Famington in 1996,” added Blair. “Karin helped us take Arkansas to the Final Four in 1998. “
“Danni comes from a basketball family, a state championship program in high school, and a competitive AAU team, so she understands the progression of becoming a great player,” said Blair. “The expectations she has grown accustomed to, being the top player in New Mexico, will carry over into a fierce SEC as she continues the tradition of championships at Texas A&M.”
While at Clovis, Williams has helped the Wildcats to an 87-7 record over her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, including the 2013 New Mexico 5A title, the state's highest classification.
Williams, who the Albuquerque Journal News called, “probably the single most sought-after girls basketball recruit New Mexico has ever produced,” averaged 24.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals per game for Clovis High School in 2013-14—setting the school's single-season scoring record for the second year in a row. She was District 4-5A MVP and a First Team All-New Mexico selection in 2013-14, and was named New Mexico's Miss Basketball by NM Preps. She helped Clovis to a 29-1 record and a trip to the state semifinals.
Williams led Clovis to the New Mexico state title as a sophomore in 2012-13, setting the school's single-season scoring record for the first time, with 631 points (20.5 per game). She was named New Mexico's Gatorade Player of the Year, New Mexico's Miss Basketball by NM Preps, First Team All-New Mexico, District 4-5A MVP, and led Clovis in points, assists, and steals.
As a freshman in 2011-12, she was named First Team All-District 4-5A and the district's newcomer of the year, as she helped Clovis to the New Mexico state semifinals.
Williams played AAU basketball for the New Mexico/Texas Heat Elite team.
Williams also earned First Team All-District in volleyball in both 2013 and 2014. Williams also was an accomplished youth motocross racer, winning Women's Motocross Association national titles in the 10-and-11-year-old category as a nine year old, and again in the 12-and-13-year-old category as an 11-year old.
2015 Texas A&M Women's Basketball Signing ClassDanni Williams – 5-10 – G – Clovis, N.M. (Clovis HS) – ESPN HoopGurlz 5-star recruit