2008-09 Media Guide
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Florida JUCO post standout inks with Clayton State women’s basketball
Central Florida Community product was NJCAA All-Region and All-American

MORROW, Ga. – April 21, 2009 – Fresh off a second NCAA Division II "Elite Eight" appearance in the last three seasons, Clayton State women’s head basketball coach Dennis Cox took the first step towards reloading the Lakers for the 2009-10 season with the signing on Monday of post player Breanna Fort from Central Florida Community College.

Fort, a 6-footer from Hawthorne, Fla., is the first signee of Clayton State’s 2009-10 recruiting class. Cox expects her to make an immediate impact in the post for Clayton State with the graduation of starting posts Shanrika Hardeman and Lisa Jackson. Fort is the second player from Central Florida to continue her career at Clayton State, following in the footsteps of All-Peach Belt Conference guard Nikkisha Pritchett.

The Lakers are coming off an impressive 26-7 mark this season.

"We are thrilled that Breanna has chosen to be a Laker," said Cox, 125-37 in five seasons at Clayton State. "We are impressed with her work ethic and aggressive style of play that will be a tremendous asset in our pressure defense and up-tempo transition game. She comes ahead of the learning curve having played in a similar system at CFCC, so we look forward to her making an impact for us right away."

Fort lettered two seasons at Central Florida under head coach Cheryl Rice, and she really stepped to the forefront this season for the Lady Patriots. Fort averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game, while shooting 55 percent from the field. She was a first team All-Mid-Florida Conference selection, NJCAA first team All-Region VIII and NJCAA honorable mention All-American.

As a freshman in the 2007-08 season, Fort averaged nine points and six rebounds a game, while shooting 46 percent from the field. She earned second team All-Mid-Florida Conference in the process.

"We are happy for Breanna. She made a great decision to continue her career at Clayton State," said Rice. "She turned out to be a diamond in the rough for us coming out of high school, and we look forward to seeing her excel at the next level."

Fort was an unprecedented five-year starter for head coach Barry Hutchison at Hawthorne High School. She was a three-time All-Area selection and three-time Class 2A All-State selection in pacing Hawthorne to four straight FHSAA Class 2A State Tournament berths.

"She was always a very coachable player who I believe hasn’t reached her full potential yet as a player," said Hutchison. "She’s very fundamentally sound, has good hands in the post and runs the floor very well."