Players Mentioned
Bozzella Announces Four Inked To NLIs
11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Head coach Anthony Bozzella and the Seton Hall women's basketball team announced the signing of four future student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the fall signing period. Deja Winters, Shadeen Samuels, Tyeisha Smith and Skyler Snider will all suit up for The Hall beginning in the 2016-17 season.
"I love our class. I think our staff of Lauren DeFalco, Tiffany Jones-Smart, and Christian Stefanopoulos did a great job of getting different types of versatile players who each share the same mindset," Bozzella said.
"They all come from winning programs and they are all winners. They can each play different positions, they can all shoot the ball well. Every single kid in this class shoots the three well and I think that's a big thing that's going to help us in our spacing and the way we play. I'm excited for it. I give the staff a tremendous amount of credit, I really do."
See below for a full bio on each of the four newcomers, who hail from four states spanning the country.
Deja Winters | 5'11 | G/F | Richmond Heights, Ohio | Richmond Heights
Before SHU: Helped lead Richmond Heights to its first district title as a junior…averaged over 20 points per game to eclipse the 1,000 career point mark during her junior season…named Division III All-District Player of the Year…All-District and All-Ohio…named to Cleveland.com Honorable Mention All-State list…ranked the No. 126 overall prospect by Dan Olson Collegiate report and 31st at her position…a top-five guard in Ohio in the Class of 2016 per Tom Jenkins report.
Bozzella on Winters: "Deja Winters was one of the first players in this class that we targeted after we saw her play. She has been very well coached throughout her high school and AAU career. Her dad is her high school coach and he's a tremendous coach and her AUU coach and has done a great job with her as well. I love her versatility, love her ability to defend. I think she is going to be one of the premier defenders in the conference right away. Deja is just a hard-nosed, tough player."
Shadeen Samuels | 6'0 | F | Ossining, N.Y. | Ossining
Before SHU: Four-year starter for an Ossining High team that has won three-consecutive New York state championships… has already amassed 1,026 career points, 496 rebounds and over 200 assists and steals in 77 games…averaged 19.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.6 steals in her junior 2014-2015 season…First Team All-MSG Varsity and First Team All-State…ranked No. 192 overall by Dan Olson Collegiate Report and No. 31 at her positon.
Bozzella on Samuels: "Shadeen plays in one of the premier high school programs in the country. She's coached so hard and in a college way that will enable her to make a seamless transition into Seton Hall. I love her versatility. She reminds me of a young Tabatha Richardson-Smith which is a lot for someone to say but I see a lot of similarities between her and Tab. If she could have a similar type of career then we'll be getting one of the best players in the BIG EAST."
Tyeisha Smith | 5'8 | G | Baltimore, Md. | St. Frances Academy
Before SHU: Plays at the high school level with St. Frances Academy in Baltimore under head coach Jerome Shelton…led St. Frances to an 18-4 record and the No. 5 ranking in Maryland per MaxPreps…Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection…averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds and three assists per game as a junior...ranked the No. 128 prospect in the Class of 2016 by ASGR scouting service.
Bozzella on Smith: "I think Tye can be the sleeper of this whole group. She is a combo guard that is tough and physical and is in great shape. She has been trained tremendously throughout her high school career. I just think Tye has the ability to certainly become an All-Conference BIG EAST player. Her potential is through the roof."
Skyler Snider | 5'11 | G/F | Kearney, Neb. | Kearney
Before SHU: Stars for Kearney High, where she led the Bearcats to a 20-7 record in 2014-15 and the No. 17 overall ranking in Nebraska per MaxPreps…Second Team Class-A All-State…Third Team Super-Stater in Nebraska…averaged 16.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a junior…starred on the AAU circuit last summer with the Cornhusker Shooting Stars, earning All-Tournament Team nods at four events and scoring over 30 points on six occasions…consensus top-250 prospect.
Bozzella on Snider: "Skyler is a typical Midwestern, physical player. I love the idea that she can play two positions on the floor and her shooting ability. She'll fit certainly into our system right away. I think Skyler will have a big impact here."
The Pirates will also announce one other addition to the 2016 incoming class at a later date.
