University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Women's Basketball Inks Five in Early Signing Period
11.13.2014 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville head women's basketball coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick has announced the signing of five incoming freshmen to National Letters-of-Intent on Thursday. The five new Bulldogs are Jessica Wall (Chapel Hill HS. Chapel Hill, N.C.), Sonora Dengolk (Lakewood HS, Sumter, S.C.), Kelli Fisher (East Rowan HS, Salisbury, N.C.), Alexis Toney (Beddingfield HS, Wilson, N.C.) and Ali Trani (Cosby HS, Midlothian, Va.).
"I am excited to welcome Ali, Jessica, Kelli, Alexis and Sonora to the Bulldog family! This is our largest signing class in the three years and one that we believe will sustain and elevate the culture that we are creating at UNC Asheville,” stated Kirkpatrick. “We had big shoes to fill with five hard-working seniors departing after this season, and we hit it out of the park with this group. Not only are they talented, but they all exemplify the family values and academic excellence that are fixtures in this program.
“I would like to compliment our recruiting coordinator, Janell Crayton, as well as our entire staff for their efforts to bring such a dynamic and well-rounded group of student-athletes to our women's basketball program,” added Kirkpatrick.
Wall is a 5-6 guard who has enjoyed a great career at Chapel Hill. She was a key player on last year's team that went 32-0 and won the 3-A state championship. Wall was Honorable Mention All-Conference as a junior and earned the State Tournament Sportsmanship award. She's a three-year letterwinner on a team that has gone 89-5 during her career. Wall played AAU for the Carolina All-Stars that won the 2014 Gold National Championship.
"We have been watching Jessica win basketball games since she was a sophomore in high school. She is a floor leader and has a gift for distributing the ball and facilitating the offense, which we will need immediately next year,” stated Kirkpatrick. “Her ability to shoot the three and play tenacious defense will also be valued in our system. She already has one state championship under her belt at Chapel Hill High School and will be vying for the second this year."
Dengolk is a 5-8 guard who earned All-Region and All-State honors as a junior last year. She was an All-Tournament selection at the state tourney and also picked up a Top Five AAA Girls Award a year ago.
"Sonora Dengolk never takes a play off. She is a do it all perimeter player with a great mid-range game and an attack mentality,” declared Kirkpatrick. “She already has the strength of a college player and the competitive mentality that we are looking for in every one of our kids. Sonora came to our High Intensity Camp last June, and we knew right away that we had to have her on our roster. Her work ethic, communication, tenacious defense and personality on the court will be fun to watch."
Fisher has been a three-year starter at East Rowan and averaged 15 points and close to 10 rebounds per game as a junior. She helped lead the school to a regular-season and tournament championship last season while earning All-Conference and All-Region honors. Fisher has been an All-Conference performer all three of her years playing at East Rowan. The 6-2 center has been a double-figure scorer her entire prep career.
"Kelli Fisher is a gifted low block player who will bring tremendous paint presence to our team. She has great hands and feet and will present match-up problems for our opponents in the paint,” commented Kirkpatrick. “Kelli not only has the ability to score but a great feel for the game and is a great teammate. She is a vocal leader and is willing to say the right things in the huddle and on the court. Kelli will be valued just as much for the intangibles on and off the court as will her efficiency in the paint."
Toney is a 6-0 forward who has been a starter for three seasons at Beddingfield. She has been an All-Conference selection for three consecutive years. Toney made the All-Area team last year and led her school to the Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament championship. She is an outstanding athlete who has also earned All-Conference honors in cross country, soccer and track and field.
"Alexis Toney has the potential to be one of the most dynamic players on the roster. Her athleticism and ability to play around the rim is absolutely impressive,” explained Kirkpatrick.
“She has the versatility to play a stretch 4 and can also add some size for us on the perimeter when we need her to fill that role as well. If Alexis continues to work on her overall presence and rebounding, she will be a match-up nightmare for opponents in the future."
Trani is a 5-7 guard who has been a three-year letterwinner at Cosby. She was Cosby's starting point guard as a junior and helped lead the school to a 26-0 record and Virginia 6-A state championship. As a sophomore and junior, Trani has earned All-Conference and All-Region honors. She has played AAU ball for the Boo Williams Richmond squad for four years.
"Ali Trani is a blue-collar perimeter player who is as tough as nails and a passionate leader both on-and-off the court. She has had tremendous success as a high school player possessing one 6-A state championship ring at Cosby High School and vying for another this season,” stated Kirkpatrick. “Ali is a winner in everything she does, and I expect her mentality and selfless play to be a tremendous asset to our team. She can shoot the three, attack the rim and values defense just as much as she does handling the ball."
