Nov. 14, 2015
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach MaChelle Joseph announced that Zutorya Cook and Anne Francoise Diouf have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Yellow Jacket program beginning in the 2016-17 season.
“We are so excited to add Zutorya and Anne to our Georgia Tech women’s basketball family,” head coach MaChelle Joseph said. “These are two great athletes that fit our system but more importantly they are two amazing people that have the same core values as our program.”
Prospect’s Nation tabbed Georgia Tech’s recruiting class as the #35 recruiting class in the country. Blue Star Basketball ranks Georgia Tech’s recruiting class the #38 recruiting class in the nation.
“Georgia Tech really helped their backcourt with Zutorya and Diouf will provide depth in the front court to start off,” Bret McCormick of the All Star Girls Report said.
“Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph and her staff will add Zutorya Cook of Marietta, Ga., and Anne Diouf of Eustis, Fla., as members of their 2016 recruiting class,” Keil Moore of ProspectsNation and JumpOffPlus said. “The duo has propelled Tech to the No. 35 spot in the country according to ProspectsNation.”
Zutorya Cook – 5′ 7″ Osborne High School, Marietta, Ga., Point Guard
Point guard Zutorya Cook joins the Yellow Jackets from nearby Marietta, Ga. ESPNWRanks her as the 27th point guard in the 2016 class and she was given three out of five stars and a scout’s grade of 90. ProspectsNation ranks her as the 62nd player overall in the class of 2016 and the 11th best point guard while ProspectsNation gave her four stars out of five in her position rating. Blue Start Basketball tabbed her as the 43 recruit in the 2016 class. Cook was also given a 4.5 star grade by JumpOffPlus and tabbed the No. 53 recruit by the All Star Girls Report.
“Zutorya is a lightening quick guard that is one of the top defensive players in the 2016 class,” Joseph said. “She brings depth to our backcourt and adds a defensive presence that will help us be one of the top defensive teams in the ACC.”
Cook has played basketball at Osborne High School for Ray Smith for four seasons and was named a captain for three of those years. As a junior, Cook was named to the AJC’s 2015 AAAAAA All-State Second Team. As a sophomore, she garnered 2014 AAAAA All-State First Team accolades from the AJC and was named to the Class AAAAA All-State Second Team by the Georgia Sports Writers Association. She was also named the Region Player of the Year in 2014. In 2013, Cook was a USA Basketball U16 national team trials participant. As a freshman, she was named to the AJC’s AAAAA All-State Second Team in 2013 and was named to the Class AAAAA All-State Second Team by the Georgia Sports Writers Association. She has been named All-Region and All-County for Cobb County all three seasons and was a two time MVP in 2013 and 2014.
“There might not be a player in the class of 2016 that was a more natural fit for MaChelle Joseph and the Georgia Tech style of play than Zutorya Cook,” Moore said. “Cook is a high-level on ball defender with a developing offensive game. The 5-foot-7 guard has the ability to contribute at either the point or as a wing and should be able to thrive as a natural fit in Georgia Tech’s system.”
Throughout her career at Osborne High School, Cook averaged 15.5 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game and 5.1 steals per game. During the 2015 season as a junior, she averaged 12.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game and 3.5 steals per game. As a junior, she recorded one double-double and scored in double-digits in 20 games. Cook assisted her team in going 25-3 her junior season and aided Osborne in winning the Region 4AAAAAA title and leading them to a trip to the state quarterfinals. As a sophomore she averaged 17.4 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game and 5.2 steals per game and scored a career-high 29 points against Pope. Cook averaged 16.6 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 5.6 assists per game and 6.7 steals per game as a freshman. Cook joined two of her high school teammates as being the first three players in Osborne High School history to commit to a Division I program. Cook grew up attending Georgia Tech women’s basketball games.
“Zutorya Cook is among the most explosive open floor prospects in the nation,” Dan Olsen, the director of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and espnW Hoopgurlz, said. “She is very tough to contain, with a knack for finding the rim with regularity. With an emerging perimeter game, Cook now commands respect either deep or off the dribble. She is certainly an exciting player in up-tempo and a disruptive defender as well.”
In 2012, Cook was the starting guard for the Pistols Team Elite – an AAU team that won the national championship. She was also a member of the Hoop Atlanta First Annual Father Daughter Tournament Champion team.
“Zutorya is ultra-quick, explosive in transition, has great court vision and a high IQ,” McCormick said. “She has the ability to set the table and score. She is a good on ball defender. She should be able to hang with the guards in the ACC.”
Cook was born on October 18, 1997 in Marietta, Ga., and is the daughter of Kenneth Cook. She has four siblings – Kenneth Cook Jr., Natasha Cook, D’reyl Cook and Heaven Tiggs. Her father Kenneth served seven years in the U.S. Marines and is a Gulf War Veteran. He also played for the Marine Corps basketball team from 1985-1992. Cook also was a member of Osborne’s cross country team for three seasons.
Cook chose Georgia Tech because of the education, basketball and environment. Her hobbies include running long distances and helping kids. She started playing basketball at age two and a half because it was a family sport. She lists her most memorable athletic accomplishment as being offered at Georgia Tech and her most memorable nonathletic accomplishment as placing second in the science fair.
Anne Francoise Diouf – 6’4″, Dakar, Senegal, IMG Academy, Post
Anne Francoise Diouf, a native of Senegal, joins the Jackets from Bradenton, Fla. Diouf is ranked as the 15th post player by ESPN.com. ProspectsNation ranks her as the 94th player in the class of 2016 and the 16th post player in the class. ProspectsNation also gave her four stars out of five for her position. The All Star Girls Report named her the No. 209 recruit.
“Anne is long and athletic,” Joseph said. “She is a presence on the glass and on the block. She has a high energy personality that will help us on both ends. Anne has great upside and will be a great teammate and student -athlete at Georgia Tech.”
She attended Liberty Christian Prep in Tavares, Fla., for the 2014-15 season where she played center for Marcus Sparkman. Diouf was named to the SIAA First Team All-State team and tabbed as the MVP for the Liberty Christian Prep Varsity Team. Diouf also plays for Essence Girls Basketball, a Nike Youth Elite Program.
“Anne Diouf brings quality size to Georgia Tech’s frontline,” Moore said. “As a 6-foot-4 post, she has been an emerging prep prospect with her size and athleticism helping her standout on a national scene. She has the potential to be an exciting two-way post prospect as both scoring with her back to the basket and defending the rim are well within her capabilities.”
“Ann is athletic, long and has the ability and skill to score inside and outside,” McCormick said. “She is originally from Senegal and in a year or two will really surprise people. She will fit head coach MaChelle Joseph’s full court pressure defense with her length and athleticism.”
Diouf was born on April 22, 1997 and is the daughter of Paul and Marie Helene Diouf. She was born in Dakar Medina Gounass Senegal and is right handed. Diouf has five older brothers. Her brother Erick is currently a sophomore on the Louis-Clark State men’s basketball team in Idaho. Her brother Edouard played amateur basketball in Germany while her brother Michel was a professional basketball player in Denmark. Her brother Pierre is also an amateur basketball player in Senegal.
“Anne Diouf is a stock-riser among prospects in the class of 2016,” Olsen said. “Early in her basketball career, Anne has made significant impact with her mobility, creativity against mismatches and emerging post play. The ceiling is high for Diouf.”
Diouf chose Georgia Tech because she puts her academics first, Georgia Tech is a prestigious institution and Georgia Tech has one of the best teams in the country. She lists her hobbies as listening to music, having a good time with friends and watching movies. Diouf began playing basketball at 12 years old and discovered her passion for basketball at age 15 when playing with her brothers. Watching her brothers play basketball and succeed made her fall in love with the sport. She lists her most memorable athletic accomplishment as playing AAU with an EYBL team.
—TogetherWeSwarm–
