THE FLATS – On National Signing Day, Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach Nell Fortner announced the signing of four Yellow Jackets. The Georgia-rich signing class features four local natives to Atlanta.
Dani Carnegie – 5-9, Guard (Conyers, Ga./Grayson High School)
A four-star recruit by ESPN HoopGurlz, Carnegie is ranked the third-highest recruit in the state of Georgia and ranked No. 62 overall. A strong contributor at Grayson High School, the Conyers, Ga., native earned first team 6A all-State recognition by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2022. She was also an AJC honorable mention 6A all-State selection in 2021, and most recently, a 2023-24 Sandy’s Spiel GHSA Girls Class 7A Preseason All-State first team honoree.
Carnegie is tabbed No. 54 and No. 2 in the state of Georgia by Prospects Nation. She played AAU basketball for FBC Supreme Team with fellow signee, Wright. Carnegie chose Georgia Tech over Alabama, Baylor, Florida State, Louisville and Kentucky.
“Dani can score at any level in this game,” said Fortner. “She is a versatile player with her physical strength, ability to shoot the long-range three and ability to play the point guard or off-guard positions. She has a lot of tools right now and we will continue to add to her skill set as she goes through our program.”
Gabbie Grooms – 5-9, Guard (Sharpsburg, Ga./Landmark Christian)
The 2023 AJC 2A Player of Year, Grooms has earned several accolades during her high school career, including Class A Private All-State second team honors in 2022. She also started the 2023-24 campaign receiving GHSA Girls Class 4A Preseason All-State first team recognition by Sandy’s Spiel.
A prolific scorer at Landmark Christian, amassing over 1,000-career points, Grooms was the Region 5 Class 2A Region Player of the Year in 2023. By Prospects Nation, Grooms is a four-star recruit ranked No. 55 overall, No. 14 at her position and No. 3 in Georgia. Grooms played AAU basketball for Southeast All-Stars, alongside fellow signee, Tianna Thompson.
“Gabbie has been around the game of basketball her entire life with her mother having a prolific playing career at Georgia and professionally,” said Fortner. “When Gabbie is on the floor, she has an energy about her game that is going to be very valuable to us. She is a strong downhill guard that can get to the rim or pull-up for the jumper.”
Tianna Thompson – 5-10, Guard (Mableton, Ga./The Galloway School)
Thompson helped The Galloway School to a 2023 state runner-up finish, helping propel her to earn preseason all-State first team recognition by Sandy’s Spiel ahead of the 2023-24 season. Having scored over 1,000-career points at The Galloway School, Thompson has earned AJC Class A Private All-State first- and second-team honors in 2022 and 2021, respectively. She has also been named the Region 6B Class A-DI Region Player of the Year in 2023.
Thompson is a four-star recruit by Prospects Nation, and is the top-ranked recruit in Georgia, No. 45 overall and No. 9 at her position. Additionally, Thompson is ranked No. 92 overall by Jr. All Star. She chose Georgia Tech over Auburn, Harvard, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. Her father, Rich, is a member of the 2001 Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, having been a member of the track and field team from 1988-91.
“Another legacy athlete with Georgia Tech connections, Tianna is an all-around basketball player,” Fortner noted. “She is a versatile player with speed and quickness alike Kara Dunn or Tonie Morgan, and that is exciting because we want to continue to grow our program in the vain of pushing tempo and being a versatile team, and Tianna adds to that.”
Chazadi “Chit Chat” Wright – 5-4, Guard (Decatur, Ga./Wesleyan)
A two-time all-State honoree by the AJC, Wright earned first-team 3A all-State in 2023 and first-team Class A Private all-State in 2022. She earned Sandy’s Spiel GHSA Girls Class 3A Preseason All-State first team honors ahead of the 2023-24 season. Wright has also earned Region 7 Class 3A Region Player of the Year honors, having scored over 1,000-career points at Wesleyan.
A four-star recruit by ESPN HoopsGurlz, Wright is ranked No. 79 overall is the fourth-highest recruit in the state of Georgia. By Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, Wright is ranked No. 3 in Georgia, No. 24 at her position and No. 74 overall. She is a four-star recruit by Prospects Nation and ranked No. 71 overall by Jr. All Star. Wright chose Georgia Tech over Boston College and Vanderbilt.
“Chit Chat is one of the most exciting point guards I have seen in a long time,” commented Fortner. “I can’t compare her to anyone because she is truly unique. She might be small in stature, but she is huge in heart and ability to play basketball. Her decision making, passing skills, ability to see the court and her high basketball IQ are going to be very important to us.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with this class that we are signing,” Fortner concluded. “These are four incredibly high-level guards that are skilled in so many different ways, which is exciting as a coach because you can do a multitude of things when they are all on the floor. We are excited about the future of Georgia Tech women’s basketball and what we are building here as we continue to grow this program.”
Competitive Drive Initiative Turn 2
Looking to build on the success of last year’s Competitive Drive Initiative, Georgia Tech, the Georgia Tech Foundation and Georgia Tech athletics are partnering once again to launch Competitive Drive Initiative Turn 2. CDI Turn 2 has a goal of raising $2.5 million in new gifts to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund’s Athletic Scholarship Fund by Dec. 31, and Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Foundation will match eligible gifts to accelerate the impact for Tech athletics. Like last year, not only will gifts to CDI Turn 2 be matched, but so will the contributor’s benefits in the way of A-T Fund giving levels and priority points. To learn more and contribute online, visit atfund.org/turn2.
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