November 11, 2010

Women’s Hoops Inks Four Early Commits

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s basketball team has received National Letters of Intent from four players as announced by head coach Susie Gardner Wednesday.  Precious Bridges, Teanna Robinson, Alesha Smith and Erichea Barnes comprise the newest members of the Mercer women’s basketball family.

“Collectively this is a special group,” Gardner said.  “Our coaching staff worked extremely hard in a limited time frame and we couldn’t be more pleased about this class. All four of these young women are strong students and good people with great families.”

Bridges hails from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. where she starts for coach Jeryl Akins on the William T. Dwyer High School team.  As a junior, Bridges averaged 17.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game, leading the squad to its first district championship since 2004. 

For her efforts, Bridges was selected as the Palm Beach Post All-Area Large School Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year following her junior season.

“Precious has great speed and knows the game very well,” Akins said.  “Precious anticipates well and her speed helps with that.  She’s also a very good mid-range shooter and she is aggressive and extremely competitive.”

Bridges also exhibited her talents while a part of the Essence AAU girls’ basketball program, widely regarded as one of the top AAU basketball teams in the country.

“Precious really stood out immediately,” Gardner said.  “She is a next level player who I expect to have an exceptional college career.  She really has amazing talent and will make an impact right away.”

 Teanna Robinson is a 6-foot-6 post player with seemingly limitless potential out of Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Ga.  As a junior, Robinson was second on the team in rebounding, averaging five caroms per game.

“Teanna has great size and she runs and catches very well,” Gardner said.  “She can be as good as she wants to be and it will be fun to coach her.”

Todd McCutcheon, head coach of the Berkmar High School team, identifies Robinson as a player who can contribute to Mercer’s program right away.

“Not only is she an excellent basketball player, but she is an excellent student as well,” McCutcheon said.  “She’s an extremely hard working and will be able to add a different dimension to the team with her height and ability.”

Robinson also competes as a member of the Atlanta Celtics, one of the top AAU programs in the state of Georgia. 

Smith, also a member of the Atlanta Celtics, will join Robinson in the jump to the collegiate level at Mercer.

Smith is a combo guard at Clarke Central High School who Gardner describes as a true competitor.

“Alesha is tough and plays hard every time she steps on the floor,” Gardner said.  “She got a great skill set and has a real fire in her belly to compete and win.”

Smith also brings a winning pedigree to the program, as she was an integral part of the Clarke Central team that went 19-6 and advanced to the second round of the state tournament a season ago.

Smith’s high school coach, Carla Johnson, insists she will be a great asset to the Mercer program.

“Alesha is an outstanding person,” Johnson said.  “She is solid academically and fundamentally on the basketball court.  I’m looking forward to watching Coach Gardner develop her into one of the best players in Georgia.”

Barnes is set to join the Bears in 2011 after completing her career at Whitefield Academy under direction of head coach Eddie James.  As a junior at Whitefield, Barnes averaged 16.9 points and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 32.9% from beyond the arc.

“Erichea’s toughness and ability to put the ball in the hoop will translate to the next level,” James said.  “Basketball is a priority to her.  She doesn’t just like basketball, she loves it, and that allows her to get better and improve.”

Gardner boasts that Barnes is the type of player who oozes leadership ability, a quality she has developed while competing for coach JD Davis and the Georgia Hoopstars AAU program.

“Erichea is a vocal guard who has the characteristics we look for in a leader,” Gardner said.  “In addition to her leadership qualities, she can shoot the three and score easily.  On the defensive end, she brings intensity and will get under you.”

Garnder and the 2010-11 version of the Bears tip off their season at Auburn on Nov.12.  Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. eastern.