Troy Signs Two JUCO Standouts

TROY, Alabama – The Troy women's basketball team earned the signatures of a pair of junior college standouts on Wednesday to bolster it's 2017 signing class joining Pearl-Cohn High School's Shawnta Shaw, who signed last week.

Japonica James and Jas Hill will join the Trojans next season from Tallahassee Community College where they led the Eagles to a 23-8 record a year ago and are off to a 4-0 start in 2017-18. Both are Mobile natives and played prep basketball at LaFlore High School. During their time in the Rattler program, James and Hill directed the school to the Class 6A state championship and a 34-0 record.

"I've been watching these two since high school and I've never seen a better guard-post duo than them," head coach Chanda Rigby. "I'm very proud that they made the choice to be Trojans."

At TCC, James is averaging 24.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, which is second in the nation. Hill scored 29 points and was 6-for-16 from 3-point range in her first action of the year on Saturday. Hill finished third in the Panhandle Conference in scoring last season while James was sixth in scoring and ranked third with 7.9 rebounds per game en route to being named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year.

JAPONICA JAMES
Freshman (TCC): Played in 31 games, started in 21 for head coach Franqua Bedell … Averaged 17.6 points and ranked sixth in Region 8 in total points scored accumulating 546 … ranked first in Region 8 with a 56.2 field goal percentage, third with 136 offensive rebounds and a total of 246 rebounds on the season averaging 7.9 boards per game … Earned numerous accolades including first team Junior/Community College Coaches' All-American … Named the 2016-2017 Panhandle Conference Player of the Year … Named to the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 All-State team … Named All-Tournament Team for the Region 8 Basketball Tournament ... Selected for the All-Panhandle Conference First Team … Set the school record with 39 points over Pensacola on Jan. 7, 2017 after her teammate, Jas Hill, tied the school record with 38 in the game before … Posted 10 double-doubles on the season, including seven in conference play

Prep: Enjoyed a star-studded career at LeFlore High School under head coach Darrell Walton ... Led her team to a 34-0 record and Class 6A state championship in 2016 ... Posted 23 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in title game and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player ... Alabama's Class 6A Player of the Year and Runner-up for Miss Basketball ... The Coastal Alabama Player of the Year, also named first team All-Coastal Alabama ... two-time first team all-state selection ... Selected to AL.com Super All-State first team ... Alabama Sports Writers Association's Super 5 ... Named to American Family Insurance All-USA Alabama Girls Basketball second-team ... Selected to participate in Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game

JAS HILL
Freshman (TCC): Started 24 of 31 games played as a freshman averaging 30.9 minutes per game for head coach Franqua Bedell … Second leading scorer on the team with 19.3 points per game … Led team with 2.7 steals per contest … Named to the Coaches All-Panhandle Conference Team first team … Named the NJCAA Region 8 Women's Basketball Player of the Week twice … Shot 41.7 percent (15-of-36) overall from the floor, 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from the three-point line and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from the free throw line … Tied the school record on December 30 (with Jeraldine Campbell, 2013) with 38 points in TCC's win over Northeast Mississippi ... Scored double digits in 28 games … Scored 20-plus points in 16 games … Led the nation in scoring for 16 consecutive weeks

Prep: Standout player at LeFlore High School under head coach Darrell Walton ... Led LeFlore to a 34-0 record and Class 6A state championship in 2016 ... Tied an Alabama State Tournament record with seven 3-pointers and finished with 27 points in LeFlore's state championship game win ... Named to the all-tournament team ... Averaged 20.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, also led the team in assists ... Named first team Class 6A all-state ... Named to All-Coastal Alabama first team ... Named to the AL.com Super All-State second team ... Selected to South All-Star Team for the 2015 AHSADCA (Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association) All-Star Games

Troy University Athletics

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