Texas A&M women's basketball announced the signing of junior college forward Cheah Rael-Whitsitt (Ann Arbor, Mich./Miami Dade College) and Maryland transfer Aja Ellison (Voorhees, N.J./Maryland) on Wednesday. Rael-Whitsitt has two years of eligibility at Texas A&M and Ellison has one season of eligibility remaining.
"Cheah brings us energy, rebounding, relentlessness and an attacking mindset," said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. "She was well-coached in junior college by Susan Summons, who will be honored at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June. She will compete right away, and contribute to the winning tradition we have here at Texas A&M."
Rael-Whitsitt, a 6-0 junior forward, ranked second in the NJCAA with 14.2 rebounds per game in 2017-18, which along with averaging 16.5 points, earned her FCSAA Southern Conference Player of the Year and WBCA All-America honors. Her 14.2 rebounds per game are more than any returning player in Division I. She posted 24 double-doubles and collected 441 rebounds in 2017-18, both of which are more than the Texas A&M single-season records.
She was named NJCAA National Player of the Week Feb. 18 after a 32-point, 26-rebound performance at Broward College on Feb. 6, where she also added five steals and three assists. She has posted 26 career double-doubles, and was named NJCAA Region 8 Player of the Week seven times.
Rael-Whitsitt is the 12th junior college player to join the Aggies since Gary Blair was named head coach in 2003, a group that includes 2011 Final Four MOP Danielle Adams, first team all-conference selection Tanisha Smith and Achiri Ade, who ranks sixth at Texas A&M in career rebounding average.
"Aja is athletic and long, and can play either post position," said Blair. "She will had depth and an understanding of what competition is all about. She has a tremendous athletic family background, and she will be a leader and will compete right away, like her family has done all their lives."
Ellison, a 6-3 senior forward, comes to Texas A&M after four years at Maryland, where she played in 56 games over three seasons. Ellison was the No. 21 forward in the 2014 recruiting class, according to espnW HoopGurlz.
The daughter of Pervis Ellison, the No. 1 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, and Timi Ellison, who was an All-ACC sprinter at Maryland, Ellison scored 950 points and collected 600 rebounds in three years at Life Center Academy, averaging a double double in her final prep season.
The Aggies went 26-10 in the 2017-18 season, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the seventh time in program history.
"Cheah brings us energy, rebounding, relentlessness and an attacking mindset," said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. "She was well-coached in junior college by Susan Summons, who will be honored at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June. She will compete right away, and contribute to the winning tradition we have here at Texas A&M."
Rael-Whitsitt, a 6-0 junior forward, ranked second in the NJCAA with 14.2 rebounds per game in 2017-18, which along with averaging 16.5 points, earned her FCSAA Southern Conference Player of the Year and WBCA All-America honors. Her 14.2 rebounds per game are more than any returning player in Division I. She posted 24 double-doubles and collected 441 rebounds in 2017-18, both of which are more than the Texas A&M single-season records.
She was named NJCAA National Player of the Week Feb. 18 after a 32-point, 26-rebound performance at Broward College on Feb. 6, where she also added five steals and three assists. She has posted 26 career double-doubles, and was named NJCAA Region 8 Player of the Week seven times.
Rael-Whitsitt is the 12th junior college player to join the Aggies since Gary Blair was named head coach in 2003, a group that includes 2011 Final Four MOP Danielle Adams, first team all-conference selection Tanisha Smith and Achiri Ade, who ranks sixth at Texas A&M in career rebounding average.
"Aja is athletic and long, and can play either post position," said Blair. "She will had depth and an understanding of what competition is all about. She has a tremendous athletic family background, and she will be a leader and will compete right away, like her family has done all their lives."
Ellison, a 6-3 senior forward, comes to Texas A&M after four years at Maryland, where she played in 56 games over three seasons. Ellison was the No. 21 forward in the 2014 recruiting class, according to espnW HoopGurlz.
The daughter of Pervis Ellison, the No. 1 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, and Timi Ellison, who was an All-ACC sprinter at Maryland, Ellison scored 950 points and collected 600 rebounds in three years at Life Center Academy, averaging a double double in her final prep season.
The Aggies went 26-10 in the 2017-18 season, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the seventh time in program history.