University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Women’s Basketball Announces Addition of Three Signees for 2020-21 Season
11.13.2019 | Women's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Eighth-year head coach Brenda Kirkpatrick Brown announced the addition of three future Bulldogs that will join the UNC Asheville women's basketball team next season.
"Our staff was focused on signing a talented class that met our positional needs and reflected the core values that we have established in this program," coach Mock said. "We appreciate all three of these talented student-athletes who embody a great work ethic on and off the court, have high character and are willing to invest themselves for our program."
"I applaud the efforts of our coaching staff in recruiting each of these young ladies. When watching Lani, Abigail and Amanda play we would consistently see them being the hardest workers on their respective courts. Once we got to know them as people we were sold on their ability to add quality depth as well as add value to the championship culture that we are building each day."
Lani Woods / 5-10 / Guard / North Buncombe High School / Asheville, N.C.
Woods is a local standout out of North Buncombe High School where she was a three-sport athlete (basketball, volleyball and track). The 5-10 guard joined the 1000 point club in her sophomore season when she averaged 24.1 points per game and led all of Western North Carolina in scoring.
After her sophomore season, Woods was named All-WNC, All-District First Team and All-State First Team.
As a varsity starter during her freshman season, she was named WNC All-Conference and was the sixth leading scorer in WNC with 17.6 points per game. Woods was also named the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference Tournament MVP as well as MVP All-WNC, All-District and All-State during her freshman season. She missed her junior season due to injury.
Woods was recently awarded the "Edward Jones Blue Chip Scholar Athlete" award for the 2019-20 year and has a 4.125 weighted GPA. She has been a Scholastic "A" honor roll honoree in all four of her high school years.
Woods was also a star on the volleyball court as she was a three-year starter. She was named All-Conference during her sophomore season when she led the conference with 300 kills. In track, she was named All-Conference in the Long Jump and 100 Meter during her freshman season.
Mock's Thoughts on Woods: "Lani Woods is one of the toughest kids we saw on the recruiting circuit in the past couple of years. She overcame an injury that sidelined her for her junior season and came back tougher and more determined last spring. We talk a lot about the grit factor when recruiting players and Lani has a level of competitiveness about her that won't be easily matched and it's something you can't coach. She is a multi-threat guard who can attack the basket as well as extend the defense with her shooting ability. Lani always looks to make the most aggressive play for her team on both ends of the court and I appreciate the fact that she is a local product and has familiarity with our program and what we are about."
Abigail Wilson / 5-11 / Forward / West Rowan High School / China Grove, N.C.
Wilson comes to Asheville out of West Rowan High School in China Grove, N.C. The 5-11 forward has been a four-year starter on the varsity basketball team. She joined the 1500 point club and the 1000 rebound club during her junior season. Wilson averaged 22 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists per game during her junior season.
Woods was named All-County in her freshman through junior seasons and was named All-Conference and All-District in her sophomore and junior seasons. She was also named All-Tournament in her sophomore and junior year for her work in their annual Christmas tournament.
Woods was a member of the National Honors Society in her junior and senior year and served as a Junior Marshall.
Mock's Thoughts on Wilson: "Abigail Wilson caught my eye this past summer with her fundamental play and shooting ability when she came to our High Intensity Camp in June. I actually played against her mother, Wendy Wilson, when she was a player at Florida State and it's apparent that basketball and competition is hugely important in the Wilson family. We are excited to sign a post with her kind of versatility with the skill set to post up and also face the basket. She will be a match-up problem at the 4 or the 5 position. Abigail has great work ethic off the court and has spent countless hours working her family business which has matured her beyond her years."
Amanda Blake / 6-2 / Center / Ashley Ridge High School / Summerville, S.C.
Blake joins the Bulldogs from Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, S.C. where she was a four-year multi-sport athlete (basketball and volleyball). Blake is a basketball team captain for her senior season. She was a Region Champion three years in a row in volleyball and was an All-American in 2017.
In volleyball, Blake was the ninth best blocker in the state during the 2018 season and was named Second Team All-State in the same season. Blake also received the Academic Award in her sophomore and junior seasons.
Mock's Thoughts on Blake: "Amanda Blake will bring much needed size and presence in the paint for us next year. Amanda just started playing organized basketball in the ninth grade and is also an excellent volleyball player. I believe her room for growth is exponential and am excited about her potential. With the graduation of Brooke Jordan-Brown and Juliet Esadah, Amanda will be able to make an immediate impact at the center position. We are excited about her ability to run the floor and also help us on the defensive end with her length. She has great hands, work ethic, a promising skill set in the post and is willing to do whatever it takes to be great."
"Our staff was focused on signing a talented class that met our positional needs and reflected the core values that we have established in this program," coach Mock said. "We appreciate all three of these talented student-athletes who embody a great work ethic on and off the court, have high character and are willing to invest themselves for our program."
"I applaud the efforts of our coaching staff in recruiting each of these young ladies. When watching Lani, Abigail and Amanda play we would consistently see them being the hardest workers on their respective courts. Once we got to know them as people we were sold on their ability to add quality depth as well as add value to the championship culture that we are building each day."
Lani Woods / 5-10 / Guard / North Buncombe High School / Asheville, N.C.
Woods is a local standout out of North Buncombe High School where she was a three-sport athlete (basketball, volleyball and track). The 5-10 guard joined the 1000 point club in her sophomore season when she averaged 24.1 points per game and led all of Western North Carolina in scoring.
After her sophomore season, Woods was named All-WNC, All-District First Team and All-State First Team.
As a varsity starter during her freshman season, she was named WNC All-Conference and was the sixth leading scorer in WNC with 17.6 points per game. Woods was also named the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference Tournament MVP as well as MVP All-WNC, All-District and All-State during her freshman season. She missed her junior season due to injury.
Woods was recently awarded the "Edward Jones Blue Chip Scholar Athlete" award for the 2019-20 year and has a 4.125 weighted GPA. She has been a Scholastic "A" honor roll honoree in all four of her high school years.
Woods was also a star on the volleyball court as she was a three-year starter. She was named All-Conference during her sophomore season when she led the conference with 300 kills. In track, she was named All-Conference in the Long Jump and 100 Meter during her freshman season.
Mock's Thoughts on Woods: "Lani Woods is one of the toughest kids we saw on the recruiting circuit in the past couple of years. She overcame an injury that sidelined her for her junior season and came back tougher and more determined last spring. We talk a lot about the grit factor when recruiting players and Lani has a level of competitiveness about her that won't be easily matched and it's something you can't coach. She is a multi-threat guard who can attack the basket as well as extend the defense with her shooting ability. Lani always looks to make the most aggressive play for her team on both ends of the court and I appreciate the fact that she is a local product and has familiarity with our program and what we are about."
Abigail Wilson / 5-11 / Forward / West Rowan High School / China Grove, N.C.
Wilson comes to Asheville out of West Rowan High School in China Grove, N.C. The 5-11 forward has been a four-year starter on the varsity basketball team. She joined the 1500 point club and the 1000 rebound club during her junior season. Wilson averaged 22 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists per game during her junior season.
Woods was named All-County in her freshman through junior seasons and was named All-Conference and All-District in her sophomore and junior seasons. She was also named All-Tournament in her sophomore and junior year for her work in their annual Christmas tournament.
Woods was a member of the National Honors Society in her junior and senior year and served as a Junior Marshall.
Mock's Thoughts on Wilson: "Abigail Wilson caught my eye this past summer with her fundamental play and shooting ability when she came to our High Intensity Camp in June. I actually played against her mother, Wendy Wilson, when she was a player at Florida State and it's apparent that basketball and competition is hugely important in the Wilson family. We are excited to sign a post with her kind of versatility with the skill set to post up and also face the basket. She will be a match-up problem at the 4 or the 5 position. Abigail has great work ethic off the court and has spent countless hours working her family business which has matured her beyond her years."
Amanda Blake / 6-2 / Center / Ashley Ridge High School / Summerville, S.C.
Blake joins the Bulldogs from Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, S.C. where she was a four-year multi-sport athlete (basketball and volleyball). Blake is a basketball team captain for her senior season. She was a Region Champion three years in a row in volleyball and was an All-American in 2017.
In volleyball, Blake was the ninth best blocker in the state during the 2018 season and was named Second Team All-State in the same season. Blake also received the Academic Award in her sophomore and junior seasons.
Mock's Thoughts on Blake: "Amanda Blake will bring much needed size and presence in the paint for us next year. Amanda just started playing organized basketball in the ninth grade and is also an excellent volleyball player. I believe her room for growth is exponential and am excited about her potential. With the graduation of Brooke Jordan-Brown and Juliet Esadah, Amanda will be able to make an immediate impact at the center position. We are excited about her ability to run the floor and also help us on the defensive end with her length. She has great hands, work ethic, a promising skill set in the post and is willing to do whatever it takes to be great."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Center
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