CSUN Women's Basketball Adds 4 In Spring Signing Period
4/23/2021 10:16:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN interim women's basketball coach Lindsey Foster has announced the signing of Jayda Adams, Michelle Duchemin, Emma Merriweather, and De'Jah Williams to continue their playing career for the Matadors.
"Our staff is very excited about these four young women joining our program," Foster said. "Jayda, Michelle, Emma and De'jah bring competitiveness, athleticism and skill sets that will make an immediate impact. Off the court, each of them have unique and fun-loving personalities that CSUN women's basketball alumni, fans and supporters will really enjoy getting to know."
Adams is a graduate transfer from Duke who will have two years of eligibility remaining. An Irvine native, Adams suffered a pair of knee injuries that forced her to miss both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. She appeared in appeared in 63 games (two starts) in two years for the Blue Devils. Prior to her injuries. Adams scored 153 points, grabbed 66 rebounds, and had 52 assists for Duke.
A 2017 graduate of Mater Dei High School, she was a top-100 recruit in three polls. She ranked No. 36 by Prospects Nation, No. 41 by All Star Girls Report), and No. 88 by the Blue Star Report. Adams played for the United States U16 National Team in 2015, helping the squad to a 4-1 record and a Bronze Medal in Puebla, Mexico.
The 6-0 guard/forward was named first-team All-County and second-team All-CIF as a senior, leading Mater Dei to the CIF Championship game. She averaged 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a senior.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jayda back home to Southern California," Foster said. "She is a strong student who is extremely competitive and loves the game. Jayda brings great experience to our program coming from Duke and also, one of the best high school programs in the country at Mater Dei."
"Jayda is a very talented player, smart and passionate about the game, said Kevin Kiernan, head girls' coach at Mater Dei High School. "Jayda is also a tremendous teammate who will make an immediate impact."
Duchemin will be a 2021 graduate of Windward High School in Los Angeles. She averaged a double-double as a junior, scoring 12.7 points and posting 11.4 rebounds per game. She was chosen 2018 All-CIF Southern Section as a freshman.
Duchehmin was selected as one of the top 50 juniors in the Southern Section in 2020 by Scorebooklive.com and was 11th in the Silverwavesmedia.com top 100 in SoCal Girls Basketball rankings. Duchemin also competed for the track team at Windward, winning the Southern Section Division 4 high jump championship.
"Michelle stood out to me from the first time I watched her compete," said Foster. "She is a great athlete with an incredibly high ceiling. Coming from one of the best high school programs in the country, she has a great foundation to build on."
"Michelle is one of the most athletic players in Southern California," said Winward head coach Ebony Hoffman. "She plays with passion and grit making her impact felt immediately."
Merriweather is no stranger to the CSUN program as she began her collegiate career at Long Beach State. After averaging 8.6 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Beach during the 2017-18 campaign, Merriweather transferred to Texas Tech where she sat out 2018-19 as a redshirt. A 6-5 center, Merriweather moved to Kansas last year where she played in 19 games and scored 43 points, grabbed 85 rebounds, and blocked 15 shots.
A 2017 graduate of Lakeside High School in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Merriweather was named All-State, All-Area, and All-CIF during her prep career. She averaged a double-double in high school (10 ppg, 13 rpg) and graduated as the school record holder for career blocks after averaging 5.3 blocks per game in her career. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.
"Emma adds more height and invaluable experience to our roster," Foster commented. "She has a great feel around the basket and is also a strong rebounder and shot blocker. It is exciting to have her finish her playing career back home in California."
"Emma is a hard worker both on and off the court to improve her craft," said Anthony Williams, the former head coach at Lakeside High School. "She has a great personality and shows extreme care for both her teammates and coaches, she was a pleasure to coach."
Williams arrives in Northridge as a transfer from Iona College and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Williams sat out the 2020-21 season after averaging 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 28 appearances for the Gaels in 2019-20. A MAAC Academic Honor Roll honoree, she scored a season-high 20 points against Quinnipiac on Jan. 2, 2020.
Williams began her collegiate career at the University at Albany where she played in 20 games as a redshirt freshman during the 2018-19 season. A Philadelphia, Pa. native, she graduated from Imhotep Charter High School in 2017 where she averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per game as a senior. She was selected first-team All-League on two occasions and helped the team to a Public League title as a junior.
"De'jah is strong and athletic and has the ability to play multiple positions for us," Foster said. "She is a good student who also brings great experience with her."
"De'jah is a determined, focused young lady who won't let her past predict her level of success," said Lemar Washington, head coach of the Imhotep Charter School.
The quartet joins McKenzie Hudgen, Macy Smith, and Kayanna Spriggs in the 2021-22 recruiting class. Hudgen, Smith, and Spriggs joined the Matadors during the Fall signing period.
~#UniteTheValley~
"Our staff is very excited about these four young women joining our program," Foster said. "Jayda, Michelle, Emma and De'jah bring competitiveness, athleticism and skill sets that will make an immediate impact. Off the court, each of them have unique and fun-loving personalities that CSUN women's basketball alumni, fans and supporters will really enjoy getting to know."
Adams is a graduate transfer from Duke who will have two years of eligibility remaining. An Irvine native, Adams suffered a pair of knee injuries that forced her to miss both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. She appeared in appeared in 63 games (two starts) in two years for the Blue Devils. Prior to her injuries. Adams scored 153 points, grabbed 66 rebounds, and had 52 assists for Duke.
A 2017 graduate of Mater Dei High School, she was a top-100 recruit in three polls. She ranked No. 36 by Prospects Nation, No. 41 by All Star Girls Report), and No. 88 by the Blue Star Report. Adams played for the United States U16 National Team in 2015, helping the squad to a 4-1 record and a Bronze Medal in Puebla, Mexico.
The 6-0 guard/forward was named first-team All-County and second-team All-CIF as a senior, leading Mater Dei to the CIF Championship game. She averaged 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a senior.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jayda back home to Southern California," Foster said. "She is a strong student who is extremely competitive and loves the game. Jayda brings great experience to our program coming from Duke and also, one of the best high school programs in the country at Mater Dei."
"Jayda is a very talented player, smart and passionate about the game, said Kevin Kiernan, head girls' coach at Mater Dei High School. "Jayda is also a tremendous teammate who will make an immediate impact."
Duchemin will be a 2021 graduate of Windward High School in Los Angeles. She averaged a double-double as a junior, scoring 12.7 points and posting 11.4 rebounds per game. She was chosen 2018 All-CIF Southern Section as a freshman.
Duchehmin was selected as one of the top 50 juniors in the Southern Section in 2020 by Scorebooklive.com and was 11th in the Silverwavesmedia.com top 100 in SoCal Girls Basketball rankings. Duchemin also competed for the track team at Windward, winning the Southern Section Division 4 high jump championship.
"Michelle stood out to me from the first time I watched her compete," said Foster. "She is a great athlete with an incredibly high ceiling. Coming from one of the best high school programs in the country, she has a great foundation to build on."
"Michelle is one of the most athletic players in Southern California," said Winward head coach Ebony Hoffman. "She plays with passion and grit making her impact felt immediately."
Merriweather is no stranger to the CSUN program as she began her collegiate career at Long Beach State. After averaging 8.6 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Beach during the 2017-18 campaign, Merriweather transferred to Texas Tech where she sat out 2018-19 as a redshirt. A 6-5 center, Merriweather moved to Kansas last year where she played in 19 games and scored 43 points, grabbed 85 rebounds, and blocked 15 shots.
A 2017 graduate of Lakeside High School in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Merriweather was named All-State, All-Area, and All-CIF during her prep career. She averaged a double-double in high school (10 ppg, 13 rpg) and graduated as the school record holder for career blocks after averaging 5.3 blocks per game in her career. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.
"Emma adds more height and invaluable experience to our roster," Foster commented. "She has a great feel around the basket and is also a strong rebounder and shot blocker. It is exciting to have her finish her playing career back home in California."
"Emma is a hard worker both on and off the court to improve her craft," said Anthony Williams, the former head coach at Lakeside High School. "She has a great personality and shows extreme care for both her teammates and coaches, she was a pleasure to coach."
Williams arrives in Northridge as a transfer from Iona College and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Williams sat out the 2020-21 season after averaging 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 28 appearances for the Gaels in 2019-20. A MAAC Academic Honor Roll honoree, she scored a season-high 20 points against Quinnipiac on Jan. 2, 2020.
Williams began her collegiate career at the University at Albany where she played in 20 games as a redshirt freshman during the 2018-19 season. A Philadelphia, Pa. native, she graduated from Imhotep Charter High School in 2017 where she averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per game as a senior. She was selected first-team All-League on two occasions and helped the team to a Public League title as a junior.
"De'jah is strong and athletic and has the ability to play multiple positions for us," Foster said. "She is a good student who also brings great experience with her."
"De'jah is a determined, focused young lady who won't let her past predict her level of success," said Lemar Washington, head coach of the Imhotep Charter School.
The quartet joins McKenzie Hudgen, Macy Smith, and Kayanna Spriggs in the 2021-22 recruiting class. Hudgen, Smith, and Spriggs joined the Matadors during the Fall signing period.
~#UniteTheValley~
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