Pirates Ink Three To NLI's During Early Signing Period
November 10, 2016 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina Women's Basketball Head Coach Heather Macy announced the addition of three newcomers, including a pair of in-state players, who have signed National Letters of Intent during the NCAA's Early Signing Period.
Tamia Hicks, Necole Hope and Ariyana Williams will be eligible to play for the Pirates beginning with the 2017-18 season.
TAMIA HICKS
A 6'1 native of Knightdale, N.C., Hicks attends Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, and has lettered the last two seasons at Southeast Raleigh High School under head coach Nicole Sampson-Meyers after one year at Enloe High School. As a sophomore, Hicks helped the Bulldogs reach the NCHSAA 4A state championship game where she recorded five blocks. As a junior, the team reached the state quarterfinals and finished the year with a 27-4 overall record and 13-1 mark in conference play. As an eighth-grader on the AAU circuit, she was a member of the National Invitational AAU Championship squad and currently plays for the Carolina Flames under head coach Arne Morris.
Hicks is the daughter to her mother Tomiko, and father, Derrick, who played on Wake Forest's men's basketball team for two seasons before continuing his career professionally with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
"We are very excited to have Tamia join our basketball family at East Carolina," Macy said. "She will bring a physical presence around the basket and a high basketball IQ. Tamia has the ability to score in the paint, as well as step out and knock down the perimeter shot. She is also a tenacious offensive rebounder. Tamia is an outstanding student and a natural leader, which are qualities we value greatly in our program."
NECOLE HOPE
A 5'10 guard from Waldorf, Md., Hope has had a decorated career in her first three seasons at North Point High School under head coach Michael Serpone. As a junior in 2015-16, she was named County Player of the Year and garnered first team all-county and all-conference honors while guiding her team to a 24-3 overall record, 14-1 ledger in the region and the SMAC and regional championships. Hope received numerous awards, including North Point's MVP, scholar-athlete and Minds in Motion Award, which is handed down by the Maryland Public Schools Athletic Association for students possessing a 3.25 minimum GPA.
As a sophomore, Hope helped the Eagles to the county title while receiving all-county first team and all-conference second team nods. During her freshman campaign, she contributed to North Point's SMAC and regional championship runs. On the AAU circuit, she plays for Havoc City under coach Boogie Washington.
"Necole is an explosive wing scorer," Macy said. "She has the ability to score at all three levels which will make her a very tough match up. Necole is an outstanding defender, as her length and athleticism allow her to guard multiple positions on the floor. Necole and her high school team have enjoyed a ton of success during her career and we look forward to her bringing that winning mentality to our program."
ARIYANA WILLIAMS
A 5'9 guard from Morganton, N.C., Williams has amassed 1,359 points, 332 rebounds, 307 assists and 258 steals through her first three seasons at Freedom High School, and is rated as three-star prospect according to ESPN.com. In each of the last two seasons, she has been tabbed to the Associated Press All-State Team, named the Burke County Player of the Year and Northwestern Conference Player of the Year.
The three-time all-conference and all-county choice also led the Patriots to the NCHSAA 3A State Championship as a junior where she was named the game's MVP following a 53-50 victory over North Guilford. Williams averaged 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game in 2015-16, after putting up 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals during her sophomore campaign. She has scored double-digit points in all 20 state playoff games in which she has played.Â
"We are pleased to welcome Ariyana to Pirate Nation," Macy said. "She is a very versatile player that will be a great fit for our offensive system. Ariyana is excellent at pushing the ball up the floor to create opportunities for herself and her teammates. She is a proven leader and winner as evidenced by her play in Freedom's undefeated run to a state championship last year and her performance in the classroom. Coach Amber Reddick has done an outstanding job developing her into an all-around player that will be ready for the next level."
East Carolina opens its 2016-17 regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 11 against Greensboro. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum.
Tamia Hicks, Necole Hope and Ariyana Williams will be eligible to play for the Pirates beginning with the 2017-18 season.
TAMIA HICKS
A 6'1 native of Knightdale, N.C., Hicks attends Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, and has lettered the last two seasons at Southeast Raleigh High School under head coach Nicole Sampson-Meyers after one year at Enloe High School. As a sophomore, Hicks helped the Bulldogs reach the NCHSAA 4A state championship game where she recorded five blocks. As a junior, the team reached the state quarterfinals and finished the year with a 27-4 overall record and 13-1 mark in conference play. As an eighth-grader on the AAU circuit, she was a member of the National Invitational AAU Championship squad and currently plays for the Carolina Flames under head coach Arne Morris.
Hicks is the daughter to her mother Tomiko, and father, Derrick, who played on Wake Forest's men's basketball team for two seasons before continuing his career professionally with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
"We are very excited to have Tamia join our basketball family at East Carolina," Macy said. "She will bring a physical presence around the basket and a high basketball IQ. Tamia has the ability to score in the paint, as well as step out and knock down the perimeter shot. She is also a tenacious offensive rebounder. Tamia is an outstanding student and a natural leader, which are qualities we value greatly in our program."
NECOLE HOPE
A 5'10 guard from Waldorf, Md., Hope has had a decorated career in her first three seasons at North Point High School under head coach Michael Serpone. As a junior in 2015-16, she was named County Player of the Year and garnered first team all-county and all-conference honors while guiding her team to a 24-3 overall record, 14-1 ledger in the region and the SMAC and regional championships. Hope received numerous awards, including North Point's MVP, scholar-athlete and Minds in Motion Award, which is handed down by the Maryland Public Schools Athletic Association for students possessing a 3.25 minimum GPA.
As a sophomore, Hope helped the Eagles to the county title while receiving all-county first team and all-conference second team nods. During her freshman campaign, she contributed to North Point's SMAC and regional championship runs. On the AAU circuit, she plays for Havoc City under coach Boogie Washington.
"Necole is an explosive wing scorer," Macy said. "She has the ability to score at all three levels which will make her a very tough match up. Necole is an outstanding defender, as her length and athleticism allow her to guard multiple positions on the floor. Necole and her high school team have enjoyed a ton of success during her career and we look forward to her bringing that winning mentality to our program."
ARIYANA WILLIAMS
A 5'9 guard from Morganton, N.C., Williams has amassed 1,359 points, 332 rebounds, 307 assists and 258 steals through her first three seasons at Freedom High School, and is rated as three-star prospect according to ESPN.com. In each of the last two seasons, she has been tabbed to the Associated Press All-State Team, named the Burke County Player of the Year and Northwestern Conference Player of the Year.
The three-time all-conference and all-county choice also led the Patriots to the NCHSAA 3A State Championship as a junior where she was named the game's MVP following a 53-50 victory over North Guilford. Williams averaged 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game in 2015-16, after putting up 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals during her sophomore campaign. She has scored double-digit points in all 20 state playoff games in which she has played.Â
"We are pleased to welcome Ariyana to Pirate Nation," Macy said. "She is a very versatile player that will be a great fit for our offensive system. Ariyana is excellent at pushing the ball up the floor to create opportunities for herself and her teammates. She is a proven leader and winner as evidenced by her play in Freedom's undefeated run to a state championship last year and her performance in the classroom. Coach Amber Reddick has done an outstanding job developing her into an all-around player that will be ready for the next level."
East Carolina opens its 2016-17 regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 11 against Greensboro. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum.
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