Tampa Basketball Announces Signees
TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa women's basketball coach Tom Jessee has announced three signees for the 2014-15 season. The group of freshman guards is a skilled class, expected to make an impact right away.
Among the new faces are Ashley Jackson (Knoxville, Tenn.), Karma Jeremie (Orlando, Fla.) and Katie Rienas (Jupiter, Fla.).
"These three are freshman; we don't have a freshman on the team this year, so we wanted to make sure that we didn't go two years with a gap. The pillars and strength of the program come from within the freshman… we targeted very talented players and we're fortunate to get all three of them that we believe gives us a solid recruiting class. This is one of the better freshman recruiting classes we've had, these three will be our building blocks for the future as far as guard play and we're extremely excited to have them all," stated coach Jessee.
Ashley Jackson • G • 5-10 • Knoxville, Tenn. • Knoxville Ambassadors High School
High School: Currently playing for coach Glenn Worley… Averaging 21.3 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, 3 steals per game, 3 assists per game, and one block per game…Set the record for most points in a season (703 pts.)…Has the record for the most points per game in a season (21.3 ppg.)… Recorded record for most points in a game (47 pts.)… Member of National championship team… Placed 2nd in the East Coast National three-point contest… East Coast King of the Court MVP… Baller Blast MVP… June Jam MVP.
Personal: Daughter of Scott and Donna Jackson… Has met Hall of Fame coach Pat Summit… Plans to major in criminology… Birthdate: 3/15/1996.
Jessee on Jackson: "Ashley Jackson is a bonafide scorer. A young lady that out of Tennessee; where basketball is a pretty important thing on the women's side. She is the first Tennessee recruit for me, so we were really excited, really fortunate to get her. She broke the school record a few weeks ago with 39 points in a game, her team is doing great, and her work ethic is tremendous. She broke her own record with 47 points in a game a few days ago. You can tell by the numbers that she puts up that her calling will be her ability to score the basketball. She's one of the brightest young people I've come across in recruiting for quite some time."
Karma Jeremie • G • 5-8 • Orlando, Fla. • Colonial High School
High School: Currently playing for coach Richardson… Averaging 14.7 ppg…Recording 3.3 assists per game… Named to the All-State, Metro, and District teams… Plays club ball for the Blue Star Floride under coach Lisa Wilson.
Personal: Daughter of Supreme Jeremie… Has three siblings, Justice, Supreme, and Amisha… Volunteered at the Engelwood Neighborhood Center… Plans to major in general studies… Birthdate: 5/18/1996.
Jessee on Jeremie: "Karma is a young lady that we've been tracking for the last three years, she's been coming to our camps; we've been really excited about watching her growth as a player and as a young person. We're really fortunate to get her, she had a ton of NCAA Division I offers. We feel like it's a win-win situation for both of us; she fits everything we want in a player, she's a great on the ball defender, can score the basketball hard-nosed; can drive the ball, just a typical Spartan player that we want. She has a great personality, just a tremendous young person, that we really look forward to getting into a Spartan uniform, someone that will immediately come in and give us some presence, some on the ball toughness, competitive toughness."
Katie Rienas • G • 5-8 • Jupiter, Fla. • Oxbridge Academy
High School: Currently playing for coach Terry Primm… Named to Palm Beach Post All- County Large School 2nd and Sun-Sentinel teams… All-County Large School Honorable Mention… As a Junior was the 10th leading scorer in the county averaging 18.3 ppg… Awarded best offensive player of the year by Jupiter High School three times… Has participated in travel basketball since the 5th grade… Plays club ball for the Miami Suns under coach Sam Baumgarten.
Personal: Daughter of Sherry and Randy Rienas… Has two siblings, Christopher and Sean… Volunteered at the Jupiter Tequesta Association… Plans to major in pre-law… Birthdate: 11/6/1995.
Jessee on Rienas: "Katie is a local Florida girl, didn't want to leave the state of Florida, could've as she also had a bunch of DI offers; so we're fortunate to get her. She plays for one of the best AAU teams in the Country (Miami Suns), and so their products are always top notch. A speedy kid, one of the fastest recruits I've had, can actually get after you defensively, can push the basketball, she's a point guard that can score. She reminds me a lot of the Messina twins, on the floor a lot, hustles, and never gives up on a play. She's played enough competitive basketball, travel basketball at a high level that the learning curve should not be very long for her before she makes her presence here."