April 23, 2015
THE FLATS –
Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach MaChelle Joseph announced on Thursday that Elo Edeferioka has signed a Grant-In-Aid to join the Yellow Jackets for the 2015-16 season. Edeferioka will transfer from Hofstra and sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
“Elo is an impact player,” Joseph said. “Her ability to rebound the basketball is impressive. She is the type of low post presence we need to compete at the top of the ACC. I am excited to bring Elo to Georgia Tech.”
Edeferioka joins Martine Fortune, Dejoria Howard and Ciani Cryor, who all signed NLI’s in November, as the incoming Yellow Jacket class in 2015. Fortune, Howard and Cryor were ranked as the #14 recruiting class in the nation by Blue Star Basketball. The All Star Girls Report tabbed the class as the 25th best while Prospect’s Nation ranked it at #26 in the country.
“With her combination of size, toughness and skill, Elo Edeferioka will make a major impact for the Yellow Jackets,” Keil Moore of Prospects Nation said. “She comes to the Flats with two years of experience and will immediately bolster the frontline as soon as she is cleared to play. Her ability to make an impact on either side of the ball will give the Yellow Jackets an immediate post presence.”
“Elo will bring a physical presence to any game she enters,” Kevin Lynch of the Blue Star Report said. “She is a ferocious rebounder with the ability to score with contact. She has soft hands, a nice jumper shot and the skill to score from 15 feet and in.”
Elo Edeferioka, Forward, 6’3″, Warri, Nigeria, Hofstra
Edeferioka played both her freshman and sophomore seasons at Hofstra. As a sophomore, Edeferioka started 32 out of 33 games, averaging 9.2 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game and 25.6 minutes per game.
The Warri, Nigeria, native, averaged 1.0 blocks per game and led the Pride with 32 total blocks. She had 13 double-figure scoring games last season, including a 22-point outing against Central Connecticut. Also against Central Connecticut, Edeferioka grabbed 13 rebounds for her first of eight double-doubles of the season. Edeferioka aided Hofstra to a 20-13 overall record, an 11-7 CAA record and an appearance in the first round of the WNIT last season.
As a freshman, Edeferioka averaged 6.3 points and 7.4 rebounds and played in all 29 games, making 22 starts. She was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association Rookie Team in 2014 and garnered CAA Rookie of the Week honors on March 3. She finished fourth in the CAA for offensive rebounds with an average of three per game and eighth in blocks with a 0.9 per-game average. Her total rebounds put her at eighth in the conference. Edeferioka recorded three double-doubles during her freshman campaign and shot 44.1 percent from the field.
Edeferioka also brings international experience to the Jackets, having played for the Nigerian national team in the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.
Edeferioka attended the Life Center Academy in Burlington, New Jersey for high school. As a senior, Edeferioka averaged 9.0 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game and 3.0 blocks per game. Edeferioka was named the MVP of the 2013 ISAA Tournament while leading the Life Center Academy to a 28-3 record overall and a No. 1 ranking for prep schools in the state by the Star-Ledger. Edeferioka and Life Center Academy won the NACA national championship after defeating New Hope Christian. She was named to the Star-Ledger’s third-team all-prep team as a senior.
–TogetherWeSwarm–
