Four sign NLI for women’s basketball

Nov. 12, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A total of four prep standouts have signed the National Letter of Intent declaring their intentions to enroll at Vanderbilt next fall and play basketball for the Commodores, Head Coach Melanie Balcomb announced Thursday as the early signing period opened this week.

Kayci Ferriss (Gordonsville, Tenn.; Smith County H.S.), Christina Foggie (Mount Laurel, N.J.; Lenape H.S.), Tori Jarosz (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.; Lakeland H.S.) and Jasmine Lister (Corona, Calif.; Santiago H.S.) will comprise Vanderbilt’s Class of 2014.

“This class has the potential to be very special,” Balcomb said. “Each player brings a high level of skill and individual talent to their position, and they will mesh extremely well with the group of players already in place.”

For the second straight year, the Commodores have secured a class of four outstanding student-athletes. The Collegiate Girls Basketball Report has tabbed Vanderbilt as the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation, while Blue Star Basketball has ranked the Commodores’ next freshmen class 20th.

Ferriss brings local flavor to the class. A 6-8 post player, Ferriss averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for the Smith County Owls — located one hour east of Nashville. She is a three-time All-District performer and Defensive Player of the Year in 7AAA for Coach Barry Smith.

Kayci Ferriss	6-8, Post, Gordonsville, Tenn., Smith County High School
	21.4 ppg in 2008-09 12 rpg in 2008-09 No. 9 center, Collegiate Girls Report No. 50 overall, Collegiate Girls Report No. 70, Blue Star Report District Defensive POY, 2009 TSWA All-State team, 2009 Freshman of the Year, 2007 Ferriss on Vanderbilt: “I chose Vanderbilt because I love the girls and coaches. They are like a huge family. The atmosphere during games is outrageous, and I will get the best education there.”

Ferriss is rated a Top 50 recruit nationally by the Collegiate Girls Report, where she is also listed as the No. 9 center in the country. She was named to the All-State team by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association, and earned second-team All-Midstate honors from the Tennessean.

“Kayci will be an intimidating force in the paint,” Balcomb said. “With the addition of Kayci’s size and skill, our frontcourt could be the best it has been in years.”

Foggie, a 5-10 guard, averaged 23 points and nearly five assists as a junior for the Lenape Indians and Coach Lynn Brennan. Foggie has been named first-team All-South Jersey in each of the past two seasons. She had scored over 1,000 points by the end of her sophomore season at Lenape.

Christina Foggie	5-10, Guard, Mount Laurel, N.J., Lenape High School
	23.4 ppg in 2008-09 No. 58, ESPN Hoopgurlz No. 65, Blue Star Report No. 71, All Star Girls Report 1st-team All-State, Group IV, 2009 1st-team All-South Jersey, 2009 1st-team All-South Jersey, 2008 172 career three-pointers Foggie on Vanderbilt: “I chose Vanderbilt because it is known for its academic excellence and competes at the highest level of women’s college basketball. I look forward to working with Coach Balcomb and the rest of the coaching staff over the next four years.”

Foggie is ranked No. 58 in the ESPN Hoopgurlz Top 100, and is also listed among the 100 best prospects by Blue Star Report (65) and All Star Girls Report (71). In 2008, she led Coach Steve Chapman’s Fencor AAU team to a third-place finish at the 15u National Championship in 2008.

“Christina has proven she is one of the top guards in the country,” Balcomb commented. “She is a fierce competitor who is a threat to score anytime the ball is in her hands.”

Jarosz, a 6-3 post, averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds for Coach Steve Fallo’s Lakeland Hornets last season. She is rated the No. 15 post player in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz, and the No. 21 center by Collegiate Girls Report.

Tori Jarosz	6-3, Post, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., Lakeland High School
	22.4 ppg in 2008-09 11.3 rpg in 2008-09 No. 15 post, ESPN Hoopgurlz No. 108, Blue Star Report No. 21 center, Collegiate Girls Report No. 110 overall, Collegiate Girls Report 1st-team All-State (NYSSWA), 2009 Top 50, BCANY, 2009 Jarosz on Vanderbilt: “Vanderbilt turned out to be everything I’d been expecting and so much more. I knew it would be a perfect fit for me. I knew it was a great school academically, and I was also aware of their excellent basketball program. As soon as I arrived, I fell in love with nashville and the atmosphere there.”

Jarosz is a two-time all-league and all-section standout, and was named all-state by the NYSSWA last year. The Basketball Coaches Association of New York named her one of the state’s Top 50 players for 2008-09. Jarosz plays her club ball for Coach Tom Flynn’s Long Island Extreme.

“Tori’s size, skill and versatility will add another dimension to our post play,” Balcomb said. “She can score, rebound and is an excellent shot-blocker.”

Lister, a 5-5 point guard, scored 22 points per game as a junior while leading the Santiago High Sharks to an undefeated record in the Big 8 League. Under Coach John Perez, Lister has twice been named a first-team all-state honoree.

Jasmine Lister	5-5, Point Guard, Corona, Calif., Santiago High School
	22 ppg in 2008-09 No. 25 point guard, ESPN Hoopgurlz 1st-team All-State, 2009 1st-team All-State, 2008 “Big 8” League MVP, 2009 1,622 career points in three years Already owns school scoring record 179 career three-pointers Lister on Vanderbilt: “Vanderbilt is a great all-around fit for me.”

Lister is ranked as one of the 25 best point guards in the country, according to ESPN Hoopgurlz. She owns numerous records at Santiago, including career points and three-pointers. Lister is extremely active in AAU ball with Coach Brian Crichlow’s West Coast Elite.

“Jasmine is a dynamic floor leader who is perfect for our uptempo style of play,” Balcomb noted. “She can attack off the dribble, drain the three and create for her teammates.”

Vanderbilt will graduate four senior guards this May, but an incoming class of two guards and two posts helps to even out the Commodores’ numbers. Eight of the 13 players of Vanderbilt’s current roster are listed as guards.

“I am very pleased with the balance we have achieved with this class in terms of guards and posts,” Balcomb said. “We were able to address our needs with outstanding players who will have a positive impact at Vanderbilt both on and off the floor.”

The 2009 early signing period comes just four days prior to the start of the 2009-10 regular season. The Commodores will open up on Sunday, Nov. 15, when Patriot League champion Lehigh visits Memorial Gymnasium for a 2 p.m. tip-off.