Lady Bobcat Hoops Inks Five More for 2008-09

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – With five jerseys needing to be filled due to the departure of last year’s senior class, the Georgia College & State University women’s basketball program and head coach John Carrick released five more signees set to don GCSU uniforms in 2008-09.

Three junior college transfers and a pair of freshmen will join the Lady Bobcats next season, four hailing from the Peach State with a fifth coming from California.

“This is one of the strongest recruiting classes we’ve had in quite some time,” said Carrick, heading into season 26 as the Lady Bobcat head coach. “There’s a lot of athleticism here that will allow us to pick up the pace on both ends of the floor and really apply pressure on opposing teams, offensively and defensively.”

Junior combo guard Daniela Nopuente comes to Georgia College after two seasons at Tallahassee Junior College in Florida. She played in 25 games as a freshman at TCC, averaging 10.8 points per contest, hitting team-highs by shooting .472 and hitting 32 three-pointers. A native of Daly City, Calif., she played at Westmoor High School. The 5-foot-7 guard led her team in scoring for all four of her varsity seasons, scoring 19.3 points per game in 2005, earning All-Central Coast and All-Northern California. She was also named to the Bay Area Top-10 and a Top-40 in San Francisco.

“Daniela is a strong combo guard with excellent shooting and intensity in her play,” said Carrick. “She’s a good student, and I’ll look for her to come in and play right away.”

A transfer from Middle Georgia College, Candice Clark is a 5-foot-8 wing player and All-Region First Team selection a year ago. In her sophomore season, she averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals, ranking 22nd in the nation in rebounding. She played her freshman season at Brewton Parker College, earning All-SSAC Freshman Team honors. A graduate of Houston County High School, she was an All-Region selection and helped her team to back-to-back region titles.

“It’s always enjoyable to sign a local kid that can really play,” said Carrick. “She’ll help us pick up the tempo as she’s an outstanding defender and rebounder with strong intensity.”

A Dublin, Ga. native and Chattanooga Junior College transfer, Nicole Barnes is the tallest of the five signees at 5-foot-11. The forward will play either the 3-or-4 role and was named to the All-Region squad in high school twice. She also made it on the Dublin Courier Herald Heart of Georgia All-Star Team four times in her high school career. She scored her 1,000th career point in her junior season, and was named to three all-star squads in her senior year.

“Nicole is an athletic 3-4 forward,” said Carrick. “She’s a very intense player with local roots who will be exiting to watch.”

Freshman 5-foot-7 guard Amanda Irwin hails from Hiawassee, Ga., coming to Bobcat country from Towns County High School. The team captain of a 28-4 State Championship Final Four squad a year ago, she averaged 12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.8 steals per contest her senior season. She was named to the All-Region First Team and selected Honorable Mention All-State by a pair of organizations. She will also qualify for the GCSU Athletic Outstanding Student Scholarship.

“Amanda is an extremely quick combo guard, with great command and floor awareness,” said Carrick. “She has great grit and toughness that will help her compete at this level right away.”

A 5-foot-8 guard, Kaila Parham was a member of the Class AA Final Four Savannah Christian High School squad in 2008.

“Kaila will be looked at for a 1-or-2 guard spot,” said Carrick. “She’s an intense player who can shoot and comes from a great high school program.”

The class of five joins early signee Tammeisha Law, a 5-foot-11 forward from Cedar Shoals High School.