Women's Basketball Signs Three to NLIs

COLLEGE STATION- Texas A&M women's basketball announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. Aahliyah Jackson (Ft. Smith, Ark./Northside HS), ArLeighshya McElroy (Richardson/Richardson HS), and Jasmine Williams (Cypress/Cy-Woods HS) will all enroll at Texas A&M in time for the 2016-17 season.
 
"This year we're bringing in three outstanding young people," said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. "All of these players are similar in their strengths, and are diversified in how they can play more than one position. I am ecstatic to coach these three young women in the future."
 
"All three will challenge for starting positions and playing time as freshmen, just like this season's senior class did in 2012-13," added Blair. "These signees are every bit as athletic as the seniors graduating, and all are extremely well-coached players."
 
Aahliyah Jackson – Ft. Smith, Ark. (Northside HS) – 5-11 Guard
 
Jackson is a 5-11 guard from Ft. Smith, Ark., who is rated as the No. 25 guard nationally in the 2016 recruiting class by ESPN HoopGurlz.
 
"We have been recruiting Aahliyah for three years, and are very happy that she has chosen to attend Texas A&M," said Blair. "She immediately became the best player in the state of Arkansas when she moved there a junior."
 
"She can play on the block, or can play on the wing," added Blair. "She is very good inside and can shoot 3-pointers very well. She's going to fit into our program well."
 
Jackson averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a junior for Northside High School, helping her squad to a 27-2 record. Jackson was named First Team All-Arkansas for her efforts.
 
Prior to moving to Northside, Jackson scored 10.9 points with 8.2 rebounds as a sophomore at Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe High School, the alma mater of Texas A&M senior Courtney Walker. Jackson was an All-Oklahoma selection as a sophomore.
 
Jackson, who ran track in high school before focusing solely on basketball, played AAU Basketball for Texas Elite, who won two adidas National Championships.
 
Jackson is also a member of National Honor Society.
 
ArLeighshya McElroy – Richardson, Texas (Richardson HS) – 5-10 Guard
 
McElroy is a 5-10 combo guard from Richardson, and is a two-time all-state selection
 
"ArLeighshya is just tenacious on the defensive end, and is an energy player all over the court, who is just going to get after her opponents," said Blair. "I like what she brings to the table on offense and defense—she is very similar to Chelsea Jennings who can play a variety of positions on both sides of the basketball."
 
"She will come in and challenge for playing time immediately," said Blair. "She has got the mindset of a player who wants to play for a championship."
 
McElroy is rated as the No. 19 player at her position nationally and No. 63 player in the 2016 by ESPN HoopGurlz, which tabbed her as a four-star recruit. She was named to the preseason all-area first team by the Dallas Morning News.
 
McElroy averaged 19.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a junior in 2014-15, helping Richardson to a 31-5 record and earning District 10-6A MVP honors. She was named an all-state selection for her efforts by USA Today.
 
As a sophomore in 2013-14, McElroy averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, earning District 9-5A MVP honors. Richardson posted a 29-7 record in that season, and McElroy was named a TABC First Team All-State selection.
 
McElroy played AAU basketball for DFW Elite.
 
Jasmine Williams – Cypress, Texas (Cy-Woods HS) – 5-10 Guard
 
Williams is a 5-10 guard from Cypress, who helped Cy-Woods to the 2015 6A State title.
 
"Jasmine is a kid who fits into what we want to do," said Blair. "She is similar to the kids who built our program, a player who will do whatever it takes to win and help define a championship team."
 
"She is a good student who will transition well to Texas A&M," added Blair. "She plays on a high school team that has a lot of similarities to a college team, a program that competes for and wins championships. She would average 20 points a game had she played on a different team."
 
Williams was a TABC All-State selection as she helped Cy-Woods to a 35-1 record and a 6A Texas State Championship. Williams averaged 10.3 points and 5.8 points for Cy-Woods and was a First Team 17-6A selection.
 
Prior to this season, she was named to the preseason All-Greater Houston Team by the Houston Chronicle.
 
During the state tournament, Williams averaged 13.5 points, scoring 17 points against San Antonio Wagner in the state semifinal and adding 10 points against Dallas Skyline in the state championship.
 
Williams played AAU Basketball for AD Elite.
 
2016 Texas A&M Signing Class:
Aahliyah Jackson – Ft. Smith, Ark. (Northside) – 5-11 - Guard
ArLeighshya McElroy – Richardson, Texas (Richardson) – 5-10 - Guard
Jasmine Williams – Cypress, Texas (Cy-Woods) – 5-10 - Guard