Vanderpool Signs Four Recruits for the 2010-11 Season

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo women’s basketball head coach Mechan Vanderpool announced the signing of four recruits for the 2010-11 season. Jessica Collins, Davia Harris, Tiffany McClure and Adele Stevenson will all be a part of Vanderpool’s first season as head of the Falcon basketball program.

"Coach Godsey and I have tried to put together a recruiting class that will be a good fit for our program as well as the players returning,” said coach Vanderpool. “I feel that all four new players will come in and make an immediate impact on our program. All four players love the game and are eager to get better. All four players are also team players and have all had a lot of success in their careers thus far."

Jessica “Jet” Collins joins the Falcons after spending last season at Delta State. She will be entering the season as a senior. While at Delta State, she averaged 5.2 points per game and 2.5 steals. Prior to Delta, she averaged 8.8 points per game and 4.0 assists at Itawamba Community College. As a freshman at ICC, she helped lead the Indians to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges State Championship in 2007-08. In her sophomore season, she was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. Collins prepped at Callaway High School and averaged 13.9 points per game, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals during her varsity career.

"I was happy to have Jet join our team,” said Vanderpool. “It will be nice to have a player that I am already familiar with. Jet can play all three guard positions and is also a great shooter. I expect Jet to also be a defensive specialist."

Harris will join the team as a junior after spending the last two seasons at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She is a graduate of Ridgeway High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Last season she averaged 8.4 points per game and grabbed 6.0 rebounds. She is a native of Cordova, Tennessee.

"Davia will be a great complement to the post that we have returning,” said Vanderpool. “She runs the floor well, rebounds well, and is a great athlete. I expect Davia to bring the speed at the post that we need."

McClure transfers to Montevallo from Tallahassee Community College. As a sophomore in 2008-09, she became the first Lady Eagle to lead the team in scoring (10.1 ppg.), rebounds (5.7 rpg.) and assists (4.1 apg.). She also posted a team-best 1.5 steals per game en route to earning First Team All-Conference honors. McClure earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a freshman, helping guide the Lady Eagles to a second-place finish in the Panhandle Conference and a berth in the FCCAA/NJCAA Region VIII Tournament. She will enter 2010-11 as a junior.

"Tiffany will bring the quickness and depth to the point guard spot that we need,” said Vanderpool. “She not only is a talented player but she has a maturity about her that will help our team next season. We are very fortunate to have Tiffany and I expect great things from her!"

Stevenson will come to Montevallo after spending the last two seasons at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas. She will enter the 2010-11 season as a junior after averaging 2.6 points, 1.6 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore. In her freshman season, she averaged 3.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. A native of New Orleans, she was named First Team All-State, District MVP, First Team All-District and Defensive Player of the Year during her senior season in high school.

"Adele will add depth to the point guard position” said Vanderpool. “I expect Adele to bring her experience from a tough Juco league to make us better.  Adele is a great passer and will really help us in our half court game."

Collins, Harris, McClure and Stevenson are the first four players to sign under coach Vanderpool at Montevallo.