May 11, 2011
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech women’s basketball has signed Sarah Hartwell for the 2011-12 season, head coach MaChelle Joseph announced Wednesday.
Hartwell joins the early 2011 signing class, ranked 24th in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz, that the Yellow Jackets inked in November. That two-player class included top prospects Sydney Wallace, a 5-10 guard from Georgia, and Tjasa Gortnar, a 6-2 power forward from Slovenia.
“I am really excited to be joining the Georgia Tech program,” Hartwell said. “I felt like the team and coaches were really a family, and made me feel very comfortable. I’m looking forward to playing on a team with up-tempo offense and where tough defense is important. Academically, Georgia Tech is very strong as well which is important to me.”
Hartwell, a 5-10 guard from Tacoma, Wash., attended Bellarmine Prep where she was a three-time team captain. As a senior, Hartwell tallied 15.8 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game in leading her team to a 22-7 record, including a perfect 14-0 conference mark. The athletic guard scored at least 20 points nine times in her final prep season and finished in double digits 24 of 29 outings.
“We are excited to add a student-athlete like Sarah to our program,” Joseph said. “Her speed, length and athleticism will be an asset for our program. I look forward to having her join our team.”
Hartwell, from the same hometown as Alex Montgomery, racked up a bevy of honors in her scholastic campaign. In 2008, Hartwell was named The Narrows League Four A Freshman of the Year, and MVP in 2010 and 2011. She helped lead her team to Narrows League titles in 2009, ’10 and ’11, while being named all-state second team as a junior and first team as a senior.
The multisport star helped her team to state track & field titles in 2008 and 2009. Hartwell was a member of the 4×100 meter relay team that captured the state crown in 2008, and titles in the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays in 2009.
“Sarah has all the physical tools to play the guard position at a high level,” said Chris Hansen of ESPN HoopGurlz. “What is great about her game is that she plays both sides of the ball.”
Hoopgurlz ranks the four-star Hartwell as the 29th best guard in the class of 2011.
Fans are encouraged to follow Georgia Tech women’s basketball on Twitter, @GTWBB, and like the Yellow Jackets on Facebook, GTWomensBasketball, for an inside look at the program.
–RamblinWreck.com–
