Tampa Basketball Announces JUCO Signees

TAMPA, Fla.- University of Tampa women's basketball coach Tom Jessee has announced two additional signees for the 2014-15 season. The junior college transfers add valuable experience and skillset to a solid Tampa squad.

Joining the Sunshine State Conference regular season champs are Shanica Baker (Ajax, Canada) and Vanessa Sylvain (Brockton, Mass.).

"These two fill two immediate needs for us as a point guard and forward. They add to what we're trying to do here, which is to create depth to the basketball team. We'd like to play a faster tempo; these two will allow us to do that. They are great students that fit our personality and things here that we like in a student athlete at Tampa. I expect them to continue to help us move our program forward to the next level and we're really excited about both of them. We're very fortunate to get both of them and I think they'll be very typical UT players here and fit right in," stated coach Jessee.

Baker and Sylvain round out a talented recruiting class as they accompany highly sought after freshman, Ashley Jackson (Knoxville, Tenn.), Karma Jeremie (Orlando, Fla.) , and Katie Rienas (Jupiter, Fla.). The three young guards averaged double-figures in scoring and are no strangers to success.

Jessee on entire recruiting class: "I thought we met all of our needs in the recruiting class. A little bit different than last year's, we have three highly recruited freshman that we signed in November, along with the two transfer JUCO kids; where as last year we didn't have any incoming freshman. I didn't want to have another gap with not having any freshman, we like to have a blend…We're really excited about having those guys for four years and then the addition of two transfers. This group collectively could be, on paper, a very strong recruiting class skillset wise, one of the most athletic groups we've had speed wise, toughness and those kinds of things. Not a lot of size in it, not a lot of height, its more perimeter play and face up play than it is back to the basket play, which is something we needed. We do bring back our post play as we took the biggest hit by graduation to our guard play. We're excited about all five players and we think their futures are very bright here."

Shanica Baker • F • 5-10 • Ajax, Canada • Panola College

As a Sophomore (Panola College): Started 22 games… Averaged 10 points per contest…Shot 41.7 percent from the field… Grabbed 134 rebounds… Tallied 6.1 rebounds per game… Registered 30 steals and four blocks on the season.

As a Freshman (Panola College): Appeared in 13 games… Averaged 4.3 points per contest… Grabbed 40 rebounds…Recorded 10 steals.

High School: Played for coach Rose Booker at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School… Played club ball for the Advantage Titans based in Toronto, Canada.

Personal: Daughter of Desna and Joseph… Has six siblings… Goes by the name "Bakes"…Volunteered at a local elementary school… Raised money for a women's shelter called Mission Carthage…Criminology major… Birthdate: 2/20/1993.

Jessee on Baker: "Shanica is a junior college player forward out of Texas by way of Canada originally. She was highly recruited out of Canada, successful player on their highest level AAU team and had some NCAA Divison I offers as well. We're fortunate to get her here. She's a bit of an undersized player at 5-10 but her wing span is 6-1, so she gives us some length there. She gives us depth at the forward position in losing Keke Jones to graduation. With Shanica on board it allows us to move Ellen Nurmi back to her natural position as a three (small forward) and play with a four and five (power forward and center) combination rather than four guards, so it gives us some versatility. She's a great face up shooter and plays well with her back to the basket. Good college experience at the junior college level in a great league out there so we expect her to come in and compete for playing time right away."

Vanessa Sylvain • G • 5-7 • Brockton, Mass. • Dean College

As a Sophomore (Dean College): Played in 21 games, starting 18… Grabbed 103 rebounds on the season… Recorded 4.9 rebounds per contest… Tallied 6.4 assists per match… Registered 95 steals, placing her seventh in the conference… Averaged 13.5 points per game…Named to NJCAA All New England Women's Basketball Division II First Team.

As a Freshman (Dean College): Started 21 games… Shot 42. 3 percent from three-point range… Grabbed 4.7 rebounds per contest… Registered 5.3 assists per match… Concluded season with 71 steals and six blocks… Averaged 9.8 points per game.

High School: Attended Southeastern Regional Vocational Tech where she played for coach Jim Carini…Scored 1000th point at as junior…Ended career with 1,409 points… Mayflower League MVP…2X All-Scholastic… 4X Mayflower League All-Star.

Personal: Daughter of Fatima and Gerald… Has three older siblings… Criminology major…Birthdate: 8/29/1994.

Jessee on Sylvain: "Vanessa is a point guard who comes to us from junior college. Obviously we've got a void there with Shamika Williams and Illyssa Vivo both graduating. We really like this kid's quickness and ball handling skills, her ball handling skills are really good. Was a kid who was highly recruited by several Divison I schools and Division II schools, we've been very fortunate to get her. She should compete right away for a starting position. I signed a freshman point guard as well but you like to have a little college experience there competition wise. We like her skillset; she can shoot the basketball from that position very well. She'll help us in a tempo game, plays a little higher tempo and I'm excited about getting her."