ATLANTA (Apr. 11) — The Georgia Tech women’s basketball team has signed three high school standouts to national letters of intent, head coach Agnus Berenato announced Wednesday.
Nefertiti Walker (Riverdale, Ga./Woodward Academy), Tabasha Taylor (Viena, Ga./Dooly County High School) and Maya Monroe (Berkley Heights N.J./Governor Livingston High School) have committed to play basketball at Georgia Tech.
“I think this is a great class,” Berenato said. “I think this class gives us more athleticism, a definite three-point weapon and more defensive versatility. I think we can do more things because of the student-athletes who are coming in. They’ll definitely help us get to the next level.”
Walker, a 5-7 guard, averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals a game as a senior at Woodward Academy. A 2001 USA Today honorable mention All-America selection, Walker earned first-team Class AAA All-State honors as a junior and second-team Class AAAA All-State honors, as well as Metro Atlanta Prep Team of the Year accolades, as a senior. She scored more than 1,500 points at Woodward Academy and North Clayton High School.
“Nefertiti is a great scorer,” Berenato said. “She will really add to our team because of her three-point shot. She has a great release. Nefertiti comes from a great basketball program and has a great coach. Her work ethic is tremendous and will fit right into our system.”
“After receiving letters from other schools, when Georgia Tech got involved it was an easy decision because I always wanted to play at Georgia Tech,” Walker said. “I can be a piece of the puzzle and help get Georgia Tech to the NCAA Tournament.”
Taylor, a 5-8 guard, can play at both the shooting guard and point guard positions. She joined the 1,000 Point Club as a junior at Dooly County High School and earned Atlanta Tip-Off Club Player of the Month honors. After tearing an anterior cruciate ligament prior to her senior year, she returned to action in mid-January.
“Tabasha brings versatility at the point and two-guard positions,” Berenato said. “She distributes the ball well. She’s a slasher with great quickness and speed. We really like here individual defensive intensity. She plays excellent person-to-person defense.”
Monroe, a 6-2 forward, is the daughter of NBA Hall of Fame enshrinee and New York Knicks legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. She has played basketball for just three years, but led her Governor Livingston team in rebounds and blocked shots all three seasons. As a senior this year, Monroe averaged 11 points and 14 rebounds per game.
“Maya obviously comes from great genes, but she has developed her basketball talent on her own,” Berenato said. “She has good size, good hands and is versatile on the press. Maya will really help us with traps and the up-tempo type of game that we like. She can block or rebound and get down to the other end of the court for a layup.”
“I liked the atmosphere at Georgia Tech,” Monroe said. “I felt it was a really good fit after I spent time with the players and coaches.”
The three players will join a Georgia Tech squad that has advanced to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament each of the last two years.
