April 12, 2006
ATLANTA – Jasmine Duffey, one of the top centers in the country according to the All Star Girls Report, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Georgia Tech beginning in the fall, head coach MaChelle Joseph announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Jonesboro High School standout averaged 12 points and nine rebounds a game this past season and is ranked the No. 18 prospect in the nation, according to the Blue Star Report, and the No. 29 prospect in the nation according to the All Star Girls Report. The 6-7 center is also rated the No. 4 player in the nation at her position.
Duffey joins Dolores Bootz, who finished her playing career in 1988, as the tallest people to ever play for the Georgia Tech women’s basketball program.
A three-time Street & Smith honorable mention All-American, Duffey has been a part of the USA Youth Development Festival and Nike All-American Camp as well as a member of the AAU National Champion 16U Georgia Metros. The four-year captain under basketball coach John Kovzel at Jonesboro High School also played one year of volleyball and participated in high jump during the 2006 track season.
“This is an exciting day for our program,” said Joseph. “Not only have we signed the highest-ranked player that we’ve ever had at Tech, but also because we were able to keep one of the top players in the nation at home.”
Duffey’s No. 18 national ranking is one spot higher than Kasha Terry, who was ranked the No. 19 prospect in 2001. Terry recently became just the third Yellow Jacket to be drafted by the WNBA when the Indiana Fever selected her in the second round.
“Jasmine is an exciting player who changes the game because of her size inside,” added Joseph. “She presents mismatches because of her unique offensive skills. We think that she will be a great addition to an already solid class.”
Duffey joins an already strong class that includes center Tiffany Blackmon (Gastonia, NC), guard/forward Nia Josiah (Frederick, Md.) and guard Janaé Stokes (Vidalia, Ga.), who signed during the early signing period in November. Among the four players, three are Street & Smith Honorable Mention All-Americans with the other being named a 2005 Atlanta Journal Constitution Terrific Ten member.
Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball Signees
Tiffany Blackmon, C, 6-3, Gastonia, NC, (Hunter Huss)
Jasmine Duffey, C, 6-7, Jonesboro, Ga. (Jonesboro)
Nia Josiah, G/F, 6-1, Frederick, Md. (Governor Thomas Johnson)
Janaé Stokes, G, 5-7, Vidalia, Ga. (Vidalia)
