November 20, 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Whitney Coleman, Shanese Harris, Jade Scaife, India Timpton and Bailey Williams have signed national letters-of-intent to attend UNCG and play basketball for the Spartans beginning in the fall of 2013, according to an announcement Tuesday by head coach Wendy Palmer.

Coleman (Morrisville, N.C./Cary) averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game at Cary High School last season, earning first-team all-conference, second-team all-district and most improved player accolades. She served as a team captain for head coach Patrick Daly and was a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. Coleman is also a Kappa Alpha Psi Scholar Award Winner. She played for the Lady Phoenix AAU program which is coached by Teddie McKoy.

Coach Palmer on Coleman: "The first word that comes to mind when Whitney's name comes up is perseverance. She possesses a strong belief in herself and her teammates – which enables her to consistently improve and make those around her, better. She has great size at the guard position and will contribute to our program in all areas. I think Whitney was a little under the radar on the recruiting circuit, and we feel we have a diamond in the rough."

Harris (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) tallied 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.6 assists per game last season at Western Branch under head coach Troy Terry and was named to the all-district first team. As a sophomore, she turned in even better numbers with 20.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 3.8 assists per contest. As a result, Harris earned second-team all-state, first-team all-region, first-team All-Tidewater and District MVP honors. Entering her senior campaign, she has scored 1,355 points and is just 85 shy of becoming Western Branch's all-time leading scorer (boys or girls). Harris played her AAU basketball with the TYO Lady Neptunes and the program is coached by Terry.

Coach Palmer on Harris: "Shanese is already an accomplished player, but I think her best basketball is ahead of her. She comes from a stable, successful high school program that has prepared her for the next level. Shanese has the potential to impact us immediately with her scorer's mentality on the offensive end and her athleticism in the defensive and rebounding categories."

As she enters her senior season, Scaife (Washington, Md./Archbishop Spalding) looks to build on a junior campaign in which she averaged 10 points, nine rebounds and four steals per game for head coach William "Bookie" Rosemond. She was named first team all-county by the Anne Arundel County Capital Gazette and earned first-team all-tournament honors at the Bishop Walsh Invitational. Scaife, who played her AAU basketball for head coach Keith Chestnut with the Alana Beard's Future program, was an honorable mention designation by the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun.

Coach Palmer on Scaife: "Jade was very heavily recruited by many schools and for good reason. I think she has the upside and versatility to be an impact in the post and on the perimeter. She plays at an intense, physical level that will fit in well. Jade is determined to be an impact player and she is eager to maximize her potential."

Timpton (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park), a rising senior at Myers Park High School, averaged 5.4 points, five rebounds and 3.1 steals per game her junior campaign, earning all-conference and all-state tournament accolades. Playing for head coach Barb Nelson, Timpton has served as a team captain, leading the Mustangs to 66 wins in three seasons. She is the Student Government Association representative for her class and played her AAU basketball for two programs – the Carolina Express (head coach Ulysses Hardy) and Boo Williams (head coaches Nadine Domond and Morris Smith).

Coach Palmer on Timpton: "India hails from one of the most elite High School programs in the state. She has the ability to impact the game in all statistical categories, but also with the intangibles. India possesses leadership and communication skills that enable her to hold a team together on the court and bring them together off the court."

Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) earned first-team all-district, all-region and all-state honors last season as a junior at Spotswood High School – averaging 17 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 4.8 steals per game. Under head coach Chris Dodson, she became the first player, male or female, to reach 1,000 career points during her junior season. Heading into her senior campaign, Williams has compiled 1,099 points, 347 rebounds, 385 assists and 316 steals. As a three-sport athlete (basketball, volleyball, track and field), she finished 10^th at the Virginia state track and field meet in the hurdles. Williams played her AAU basketball for head coach Randy Dunton's Team Virginia club and is a member of the National Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society.

Coach Palmer on Williams: "I just love Bailey's competitive spirit and work ethic. I have seen her play hurt and injured, winning and losing, and it doesn't affect how hard she plays. Bailey can play both the point and shooting guard positions very effectively. She has great court vision that enables her to be a threat on both ends of the floor."

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