April 11, 2002
ATLANTA — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team completed the signing of the top class in school history, by inking 5-11 guard Mallorie Winn to a national letter of intent during the spring signing period, Yellow Jacket head coach Agnus Berenato announced on Thursday.
Winn, from Bishop?s High School in San Diego, Calif., is the sixth member of the Yellow Jackets? recruiting class for 2002.
Winn joins five other signees in the class, including prep All-American Kasha Terry, a 6-4 center from Douglas County High in Douglasville, Ga., Ashley Guerrant, a 6-3 forward from East Lansing High in East Lansing, Mich., Megan Harpring, a 5-9 guard from The Marist School in Duluth, Ga., April Johnson, a 6-2 power forward from Jones County High in Macon, Ga., and Jessica Williams, a 6-1 power forward from Riverdale High in Riverdale, Ga.
“My staff and the team did a phenomenal job of bringing in the best class that we have ever had here at Georgia Tech,” said Berenato. “We’re trying to go to the next level in everything that we do and we were fortunate that this year there were student-athletes right here in Georgia that could do well both on the court and in the classroom. With the addition of Mallorie, the class becomes even better. This will be an impact class and not a group that will be role players for us. We expect all of them to contribute immediately next year.”
Winn is the second guard in the class and will give the Yellow Jackets added depth at both point and off guard positions. She was the top player for Bishop?s this past season, averaging 16.4 points per game and leading the Knights to a sixth-straight CIF-San Diego Section Division IV title. Winn led all scorers in the championship game, pouring in 32 points while converting 12-of-19 field goal attempts and adding eight rebounds and six steals. Her efforts were rewarded, as she was a first-team selection for the All-San Diego Section by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“I think that Mallorie will really be able to help us immediately at the guard position,” said Berenato. “She has great size at 5-11 and is very versatile on the court. She is a different player than what we currently have on the team in that she can shoot the three and can also penetrate and pull up for jumpers. Being the daughter of a coach, she is very graceful on the court and has a phenomenal court sense. She will make the people around her better because of her knowledge of the game of basketball. Mallorie is a finesse player and she has quick hands on defense, which allows her to guard players on the perimeter while also being able to post up a smaller guard inside.”
“It?s very exciting to come into the Georgia Tech program at this time with so many new players coming in at the same time,” said Winn. “The program is doing well right now and it will be good to be a part of that. Also, playing in the ACC was a big draw for me, it will be an honor to be able to play there.”
When asked why she chose Georgia Tech, Winn replied, “On my official visit, I really liked Atlanta and felt like I could fit in there even though it?s far from home. I also considered UCLA and Temple, which is in the east, so going away from home wasn?t really an issue. I liked the players that are already there and I connected with the coaches and can really see them helping me in my career. Another thing was certainly a factor was that Georgia Tech is such a great school academically.”
GEORGIA TECH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEESAshley Guerrant, 6-3, F, East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing)Megan Harpring, 5-9, G, Duluth, Ga. (Marist)April Johnson, 6-2, F, Macon, Ga. (Jones County)Kasha Terry, 6-4, C, Douglasville, Ga. (Douglas County)Jessica Williams, 6-1, F, Riverdale, Ga. (Riverdale)Mallorie Winn, 5-11, G, San Diego, Calif. (Bishop?s)
