Cox announces 2006-07 Clayton State women’s basketball recruiting class

Four Florida junior college standouts set to join the Lakers this season

MORROW, Ga. --- AUGUST 9, 2006 ---  With his third season at the helm of the Clayton State women’s basketball program on the horizon, Laker head coach Dennis Cox returned to his Florida roots to reel in his third recruiting class at Clayton State. Joining the Lakers for the 2006-07 season are junior college standout center Lynette Jackson and wings Nikkisha Pritchett, Shantel Ragin and Tamara Layton.

The foursome joins a Clayton State program that has produced 25-7 and 25-6 seasons over the last two years under Cox. That includes the 2004-05 Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championship and two straight trips to the second round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

“Overall, we couldn’t be prouder of our incoming class,” said Cox, who was a junior college head coach for 14 seasons in Florida prior to coming to Clayton State in 2004. “(Assistant) coach (Shannon) Reid, the rest of our staff and our returning players did a tremendous job in recruiting these fine players and I believe we will see them make an immediate impact for us this season.”

A 6-foot-4 junior center from Fayetteville, N.C., Jackson gives the Lakers and legitimate presence in the post along with returning seniors Alecia Humphrey and Tracey Browne. As the center this past season at Seminole Community College in Ocala, Fla., Jackson was an All-NJCAA Region 8 selection, averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots a game. She led the region in blocked shots and was fifth in the region in scoring and eighth in rebounding.

Jackson was a high school All-American during her prep career at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, N.C.

“Lynette may be the best post I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach, and we’ve had some great ones,” Cox said. “She’ll reject a lot of shots and she’s a tenacious rebounder. We’re excited to have her.”

Pritchett brings a legitimate shooting threat from the perimeter. The 5-7 junior wing from Orlando, Fla., was an All-NJCAA Region 8 selection this past season at Central Florida Community College in Ocala. She averaged 17 points and two steals a game, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range. Pritchett also led Jones High School in Orlando to the state championship during her senior season.

She will probably step in at one wing position with the graduation of seniors Jasmine Patterson, Cynthia Conseil and Carlie Anderson.

“Nikki’s going to be a great guard for us. She does all the things that fit our system,” Cox said. “She can shoot with range, puts the ball on the floor and defends the passing lanes well in the press.”

A player that Cox calls the “Sleeper” of the class is Ragin. The 5-9 junior forward from Pembroke Pines, Fla., was an All-NJCAA Region 8 performer this past season at Florida Community College of Jacksonville after transferring from NCAA Division I Florida International. She averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals a game in leading FCCJ to its first conference championship in 15 years. She was a product of Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines.

With her size and ability, Ragin is in almost the same mold as the graduated Patterson and Conseil.

”Though her stats are not that glaring, Shantel is a very versatile player that just does a lot of things to help her team win,” Cox said. “She’s going to be a real good one for us.”