TENNESSEE LANDS NATION'S BEST RECRUITING CLASS

Nov. 13, 2003

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt announced today that she had received signed national letters of intent from: Nkolika (Nikki) Anosike, 6'4", C, Staten Island, N.Y., St. Peter's H.S.; Sybil Dosty, 6'3", C, Tucson, Ariz., Salpointe Catholic H.S.; Alexandra (Alex) Fuller, 6'3", F, Shelbyville, Tenn., Shelbyville Central H.S.; Alexis Hornbuckle, 5'11", G, Charleston, W. Va., South Charleston H.S.; Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, 5'9", G, Pomona, Calif., Lynwood H.S., and Candace Parker, 6'3", F, Naperville, Ill., Naperville Central H.S.

Summitt's "Super Six" is regarded as the best signing class in the nation according to the Blue Star Index. BSI has Tennessee rated number one, followed by Maryland, LSU, Duke, Georgia, Rutgers, Stanford, Kentucky, Connecticut and Purdue.

"This is the greatest recruiting class in the modern era," commented Mike Flynn, Editor of the Blue Star Index to USATODAY.com.

Others have concurred as well. "Right now, I agree that it could be the best ever (recruiting class),'' commented Bret McCormick, scouting director for All-Star Girls report, to the Chicago Sun-Times. "The class was really good before, but Candace put them over the top.''

What does the winningest coach in women's basketball think about her latest signees in her 30th season at the helm of the Lady Vols? "We are extremely excited to have attracted a class as tremendously talented as this one," said Summitt. "Not only are they outstanding student-athletes, but they are great young ladies who will fit right in to the Lady Vol family.

"The entire staff and players all contributed to the recruiting effort. I can't say enough about our staff - they all rose to the challenge of recruiting such a large and talented class of players. And the current Lady Vols were outstanding hostesses as they delivered the message about life as a Lady Vol basketball player, our winning brand of basketball and the standards of success we achieve in the classroom and on the court," said Summitt.

It just doesn't get any better than this," exclaimed the coach.

Class Notes: The signing class features two centers (Anosike and Dosty), two forwards (Fuller and Parker) and a pair of guards (Hornbuckle and Wiley-Gatewood). All six are multi-decorated high school All-Americans from six different states (Arizona, California, Illinois, New York, Tennessee and West Virginia). Dosty becomes the first Lady Vol to hail from the state of Arizona. First to commit to the Lady Vols? Wiley-Gatewood committed to Tennessee entering the ninth grade. Last to commit to UT? Parker announced her decision on the eve of signing day, live on ESPNEWS from the ESPN Sports Zone in Chicago. Three of the players - Parker, Hornbuckle and Wiley-Gatewood - are considered the number one recruit in the nation at their positions. Detect a slight British accent in Anosike's speech? Her mother is from Nigeria. Six is not the largest class Summitt has ever signed. In 1980, she signed seven players: Lynne Collins, Tanya Haave, Reba Hairston, Pat Hatmaker, Mary Ostrowski, Mina Todd and Paula Towns. Hairston decided to give up basketball and concentrate on academics after she enrolled at UT, thus reducing the class to six players. Current Lady Vol assistant coach Holly Warlick was a member of a signing class of six players in 1976 which included: Fonda Bondurant, Susie Davis, Sherri Fancher, Kathy O'Neil, Emily Roberts and Warlick. Warlick's initial scholarship to UT was in Track & Field as a 400-meter runner.

Thumbnails of the 2003-04 Lady Vol Signing Class

Nkolika (Nikki) Anosike (pronounced Ann-O-sick-E), 6'4" C,

Staten Island, N.Y., St. Peter's H.S. (15 ppg, 14 rpg)

Parade All-America Second Team (2003), USA Youth Development Festival East Team, Nike All-America Camp (2003), Street & Smith All-America Third Team (2003), HM (2001, 2002); adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star (2002), USA Today Junior All-America, NY Class A All-State 6th Team (2002), Newsday All-City First Team (2003), All-Borough First Team (2001, 2002).

Quoting Coach Pat Summitt: "Nikki has great speed and quickness, and she runs the floor hard. She will be a great complement to our transition game. Additionally, she has great presence in the paint with her tremendous mobility."

Sybil Dosty (pronounced Dos-TEE), 6'3", C,

Tucson, Ariz., Salpointe Catholic H.S. (21 ppg, 13 rpg)

Nike All-America Camp (2001), Student Sports Junior All-America, Student Sports Freshman All-America, Street & Smith All-America HM (2001, 2002, 2003).

Quoting Coach Pat Summitt: "Sybil is a very skilled basketball player with great court awareness. She has worked hard to extend her range as a consistent three-point shooter. A solid ballhandler at 6'3", she also has great posting skills."

Alexandra (Alex) Fuller, 6'3 F,

Shelbyville, Tenn., Shelbyville Central H.S. (18 ppg, 9 rpg, 71% FG)

USA Today Junior All-America, USA Today Freshman All-America, Student Sports Junior All-America, Nike All-America Camp (2002, 2003), AAU 16U All-America (2003), Street & Smith All-America Second Team (2003), HM (2001, 2002); AP All-State First Team (2003), Tennessean Mid-State Player of the Year (2003).

Quoting Coach Pat Summitt: "Alex has a scorer's mentality. She is a solid offensive player and very versatile. She is committed to playing hard at both ends of the court."

Alexis Hornbuckle, 5'11 G,

Charleston, W. Va., South Charleston H.S. (21 ppg, 10 rpg, 6 apg, 5 spg, 4 bpg)

Parade All-America First Team (2003), Second Team (2002), USA Today All-America Second Team (2003), USA Today Junior All-America, USA Today Sophomore All-America, Nike All-America Camp (2001, 2002, 2003), Student Sports All-America First Team (2003), Student Sports Sophomore All-America and Freshman All-America, Street & Smith All-America First Team (2003), Second Team (2002), Sixth Team (2001); USA Youth Development Festival East Team, Student Sports All-East Second Team, Gatorade West Virginia Player of the Year (2003), AAA All-State First Team (2001, 2002, 2003), AAA All-State Co-Captain (2002), AAA All-State Captain (2003), Conference Player of the Year (2001 and 2002).

Quoting Coach Pat Summitt: "Alexis is explosive in the open court and she can change the complexion of the game in a hurry. She has great court awareness - she can find a path to the basket or nail a pull-up jumper."

Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, 5'9 G,

Pomona, Calif., Lynwood H.S. (25 ppg, 9 rpg, 10 apg, 5 spg)

Parade All-America First Team (2003), USA Today All-America Second Team (2003), Nike All-America Camp (2000, 2002, 2003), Street & Smith All-America First Team (2003), Third Team (2002), Sixth Team (2001) and HM (2000); Student Sports All-America Second Team (2003), Student Sports All-America First Team (2002), Student Sports National Sophomore of the Year, Student Sports Freshman All-America, USA Today Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior All-America, USA Youth Development Festival West Team, AAU 16U All-America (2001), Showtime Nationals MVP (2002), Student Sports All-West First Team (2002), CIF-SS I-AAA Player of the Year (2001), CIF-SS 1AA Co-Player of the Year (2002), CIF I-AAA All-State First Team (2001), Cal-Hi Sports Div. I Player of the Year (2002), Cal-Hi Sports All-State First Team (2002), Cal-Hi Sports State Freshman of the Year (2001), Sophomore of the Year (2002), Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Basketball (2002), Co-MVP of Deep South Classic Gold Division, adidas Top Ten Camp Underclass All-Star co-MVP (2001), Los Angeles Times All-Star (2003), Long Beach Press Telegram Player of the Year (2002), All Area Team.

Quoting Coach Pat Summitt: "Sa'de is a true point guard with the ability to create for herself and others. She is a big time player under pressure and has a tremendous feel for the game. Sa'de has a knack for knocking down big shots."

Candace Parker, 6'3", F,

Naperville, Ill., Naperville Central H.S. (24.2 ppg, 14.2 rpg, 3.4 spg)

Naismith High School Player of the Year (2003), USA Today National Player of the Year (2003), Gatorade National Player of the Year (2003), Student Sports National Player of the Year (2003), Parade All-America First Team (2003), Second Team (2002), Student Sports All-America First Team (2003), USA Today All-America Third Team (2002), Nike All-America Camp (2001, 2002), Student Sports All-America Second Team (2002), Student Sports Freshman All-America, USA Today Junior All-America, USA Today Freshman All-America, Street & Smith All-America First Team (2002, 2003), Fifth Team (2001), and HM (2000); USA Youth Development Festival North Team, Student Sports All-Midwest First Team (2002), Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year (2002, 2003), Illinois Ms. Basketball (2002, 2003), Sun-Times All-State & All-Area Teams, IBCA All-State First Team (2001 and 2002), News-Gazette All-State First Team, Chicago Tribune All-State Second Team (2001) and First Team (2002, 2003), Chicago Sun-Times All Area Team (2003), Deep South Classic 17&U "A" Division MVP (2002). Parker's decision marked the first time ESPNEWS televised the oral commitment of an NCAA women's basketball player. Parker, touted as just the second high school girl to ever dunk, listed Duke, Texas, Maryland and DePaul as her final choices before selecting Tennessee. Parker announced her decision from the ESPNZone in Chicago. Parker and LeBron James were named the 2003 Naismith prep basketball players of the year. Parker is the only high-school junior ever to win the award. As a junior at Central High School in Naperville, Ill., in the 2002-03 season, Parker's team went 35-0 to win the program's first Illinois Class AA state championship.

Quoting Coach Pat Summitt: "Candace is the most versatile 6'3" player (at this stage of her game), that I've ever seen. She has the ability to play every position on the floor from point guard to post. Truly a great inside-outside player, she can elevate at the rim, create off the dribble, post-up, knock down threes and be an intimidator on defense - the total package."

University of Tennessee Athletics

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