Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Thomas Graning
Women's Basketball Inks Seven in Early signing Period
11/13/2019 12:50:00 PM | Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – Troy women's basketball head coach Chanda Rigby announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in the early signing period that began on Wednesday. All seven student-athletes will join the Trojans for the 2020-21 season.
Joining the Trojans next season will be five high school student-athletes and two junior college transfers. From the high school ranks Rigby welcomes Samira Moore, Janiah Ellis, Sharonica Hartsfield, Jelissa Reese and Kennedi White. The two junior college student-athletes joining Troy will be a pair of teammates from Jefferson College in Agustina Talasimov and Giana Copeland.
Samira Moore | 6-1 | Forward | Troy, Ala. | Charles Henderson HS
Get To Know Samira Moore
Moore is a hometown signee that currently plays for Troy women's basketball alum, Dyneshia Jones at Charles Henderson High School. On the court last season Moore led her team in rebounds and was voted the most improved player in back-to-back seasons. She helped guide her Charles Henderson High School squad to a State Championship in 2017-18 and a regional final last season while also being invited to the North/South All-Star Tournament. Away from basketball Moore is a member of the Beta Club, national honor society, the Dothan Super 8 and won first-place at the New York Choir Competition.
Rigby On Moore
"Signing Samira Moore is a huge boost for our program. She has a lot of natural athletic ability and she pushes herself to get better every day. Not only does her athleticism and style of play fit perfectly into our system, but having her fan base transfer across the street from Charles Henderson High to Trojan Arena will be a huge bonus."
Janiah Ellis | 5-10 | Shooting Guard | Moultrie, Ga. | Colquitt County HS
Get To Know Janiah Ellis
Ellis has put together an impressive high school career so far. As a freshman she averaged 13.3 points per game and was named a first team all-region player while also being invited to the Georgia All-Star game. After a sophomore season that saw her named a second team all-region performer, an all-star game participant and helped advance her team to the sweet 16 she came out as a junior and put up some eye-popping numbers. In 26 games she averaged 21.7 points, 7.7 rebounds. 2.9 steals and just under a block per game. Her junior campaign ended with Ellis being named the region player of the year and earning honorable mention all-state honors while also leading her team to a sweet 16 appearance and earning invitations to two different all-star games.
Rigby On Ellis
"Janiah is a strong guard who is a strong scoring threat. She can light up a score board by coming off of on ball screens as well as creating her own shots. I was proud that she was recently selected to the Georgia High School Athletics AAAAAAA preseason All-State team, and I can't wait to follow her progress throughout her senior season."
Sharonica Hartsfield | 5-5 | Point Guard | Oklahoma City, Okla. | Putnam City West HS
Get To Know Sharonica Hartsfield
Hartsfield stars at Putnam City West in Oklahoma City, Okla. and last season saw her program ranked as one of the top high school teams in the country. Hartsfield was averaging 8.6 points per game on 43 percent shooting in 16 games before her season was cut short. Prior to her junior season she helped lead her squad to the Oklahoma State Championship game.
Rigby On Hartsfield
"Sharonica is one of the most electrifying players that I have seen play on the AAU circuit. She is explosive, crafty, and a good decision maker. She is a point guard who makes her team better each time the offensive possession starts with the ball in her hands."
Jelissa Reese| 5-9 | Guard | Cordele, Ga. | Americus Sumter HS
Get To Know Jelissa Reese:
Reese signs with Troy after playing just one full season of high school basketball. In her full sophomore season, the 5-9 guard put up some impressive numbers. In the 24 games that she played, she averaged 16.8 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 steals, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. In just five varsity games as a freshman she averaged 14.4 points, 7.8 boards, 3.7 steals and 1.4 assists.
Rigby On Reese
"The ways that Jelissa can positively impact a basketball game are almost too numerous to list. As a defender, her speed and explosiveness enables her to cover a lot of ground quickly. She is one of the better high school guard rebounders I have seen. She can also score in multiple ways. She is a tough competitor and I believe she will be very successful within our system at Troy."
Kennedi White | 6-2 | Forward | Powder Springs, Ga. | Hillgrove HS
Get To Know Kennedi White
White had an impressive junior campaign averaging 10 points a game, including double-digit scoring nights in 14 of the 28 games she played in. She shot 68 percent from the line and 40 percent from the field. She was named the most improved player on her team while also earning athlete of the week honors after bringing down a season-high 19 rebounds against Marietta last January. She earned all-tournament team honors at the Pope Holiday Classic.
Rigby On White
"Kennedi can do everything we need our post players to be able to do at Troy. She runs to the rim hard in transition, she is an extremely aggressive rebounder, and she scores the ball well. She is also a mobile defender with a very competitive nature."
Agustina Talasimov | 6-0 | Guard/Forward | Lloret de Mar, Girona | Jefferson College
Get To Know Agustina Talasimov
Talasimov hometown of Lloret de Mar, Girona is a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia, Spain. Before she came over to America to play at Jefferson College Talasimov was a force on the basketball court. She helped lead her team to three Catalan Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017 while also competing in four Spanish championships, 2014, 2015 and two in 2017. Talasimov will have three years of eligibility remaining when she arrives at Troy for the 2020-2021 season.
Rigby On Talasimov
"Agustina will add another dimension to our style of Trojan basketball. She has basketball intelligence and automatically raises the game of her teammates around her. Her body type and her skill set can both be described as "versatile", and this helps us toward one of our program goals of playing position-less basketball."
Giana Copeland | 6-5 | Center | Savannah, Ga. | Sol C Johnson HS | Jefferson College
Get To Know Giana Copeland
Copeland was a defensive force while in high school earning defensive player of the year honors in both 2017 and 2018. She was named all-region first team in 2016-17 and in the 2017-18 season. She holds region records for the most blocks in a game with 23. She helped lead her squad to back-to-back Georgia State Championship games, finishing as the runner-up in 2017 and winning the state title in 2018. Following her high school career Copeland attended Daytona State College where she appeared in 23 games and averaged 4.5 points per game. Copeland is ranked 17th nationally at her position and the 78th overall prospect according to the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
Rigby On Copeland
"It is not easy to find a 6-5 post player who runs the floor like a guard and plays with high energy. Giana embodies all of these qualities. Her length will add a defensive component to our game that we have not had since I have been at Troy. I believe our roster instantly upgraded when we signed Giana."
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #GrindToShine | #OneTROY
Joining the Trojans next season will be five high school student-athletes and two junior college transfers. From the high school ranks Rigby welcomes Samira Moore, Janiah Ellis, Sharonica Hartsfield, Jelissa Reese and Kennedi White. The two junior college student-athletes joining Troy will be a pair of teammates from Jefferson College in Agustina Talasimov and Giana Copeland.
Samira Moore | 6-1 | Forward | Troy, Ala. | Charles Henderson HS
Get To Know Samira Moore
Moore is a hometown signee that currently plays for Troy women's basketball alum, Dyneshia Jones at Charles Henderson High School. On the court last season Moore led her team in rebounds and was voted the most improved player in back-to-back seasons. She helped guide her Charles Henderson High School squad to a State Championship in 2017-18 and a regional final last season while also being invited to the North/South All-Star Tournament. Away from basketball Moore is a member of the Beta Club, national honor society, the Dothan Super 8 and won first-place at the New York Choir Competition.
Rigby On Moore
"Signing Samira Moore is a huge boost for our program. She has a lot of natural athletic ability and she pushes herself to get better every day. Not only does her athleticism and style of play fit perfectly into our system, but having her fan base transfer across the street from Charles Henderson High to Trojan Arena will be a huge bonus."
🚨 A 6-1 Forward from Troy, Ala.
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Troy's very own Samira Moore to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/5lnLfRcKCV
Janiah Ellis | 5-10 | Shooting Guard | Moultrie, Ga. | Colquitt County HS
Get To Know Janiah Ellis
Ellis has put together an impressive high school career so far. As a freshman she averaged 13.3 points per game and was named a first team all-region player while also being invited to the Georgia All-Star game. After a sophomore season that saw her named a second team all-region performer, an all-star game participant and helped advance her team to the sweet 16 she came out as a junior and put up some eye-popping numbers. In 26 games she averaged 21.7 points, 7.7 rebounds. 2.9 steals and just under a block per game. Her junior campaign ended with Ellis being named the region player of the year and earning honorable mention all-state honors while also leading her team to a sweet 16 appearance and earning invitations to two different all-star games.
Rigby On Ellis
"Janiah is a strong guard who is a strong scoring threat. She can light up a score board by coming off of on ball screens as well as creating her own shots. I was proud that she was recently selected to the Georgia High School Athletics AAAAAAA preseason All-State team, and I can't wait to follow her progress throughout her senior season."
🚨 A 5-10 Shooting Guard from Moultrie, Ga.
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Janiah Ellis to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/iTK4pqnh56
Sharonica Hartsfield | 5-5 | Point Guard | Oklahoma City, Okla. | Putnam City West HS
Get To Know Sharonica Hartsfield
Hartsfield stars at Putnam City West in Oklahoma City, Okla. and last season saw her program ranked as one of the top high school teams in the country. Hartsfield was averaging 8.6 points per game on 43 percent shooting in 16 games before her season was cut short. Prior to her junior season she helped lead her squad to the Oklahoma State Championship game.
Rigby On Hartsfield
"Sharonica is one of the most electrifying players that I have seen play on the AAU circuit. She is explosive, crafty, and a good decision maker. She is a point guard who makes her team better each time the offensive possession starts with the ball in her hands."
🚨 A 5-5 Point Guard from Oklahoma City, Okla.
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Sharonica Hartsfield to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/ZNKq1spbJ5
Jelissa Reese| 5-9 | Guard | Cordele, Ga. | Americus Sumter HS
Get To Know Jelissa Reese:
Reese signs with Troy after playing just one full season of high school basketball. In her full sophomore season, the 5-9 guard put up some impressive numbers. In the 24 games that she played, she averaged 16.8 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 steals, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. In just five varsity games as a freshman she averaged 14.4 points, 7.8 boards, 3.7 steals and 1.4 assists.
Rigby On Reese
"The ways that Jelissa can positively impact a basketball game are almost too numerous to list. As a defender, her speed and explosiveness enables her to cover a lot of ground quickly. She is one of the better high school guard rebounders I have seen. She can also score in multiple ways. She is a tough competitor and I believe she will be very successful within our system at Troy."
🚨 A 5-9 Guard from Cordele, Ga.
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Jelissa Reese to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/SbidUvNrG0
Kennedi White | 6-2 | Forward | Powder Springs, Ga. | Hillgrove HS
Get To Know Kennedi White
White had an impressive junior campaign averaging 10 points a game, including double-digit scoring nights in 14 of the 28 games she played in. She shot 68 percent from the line and 40 percent from the field. She was named the most improved player on her team while also earning athlete of the week honors after bringing down a season-high 19 rebounds against Marietta last January. She earned all-tournament team honors at the Pope Holiday Classic.
Rigby On White
"Kennedi can do everything we need our post players to be able to do at Troy. She runs to the rim hard in transition, she is an extremely aggressive rebounder, and she scores the ball well. She is also a mobile defender with a very competitive nature."
🚨 A 6-2 Forward from Powder Springs, Ga.
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Kennedi White to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/KnVgRdwCLg
Agustina Talasimov | 6-0 | Guard/Forward | Lloret de Mar, Girona | Jefferson College
Get To Know Agustina Talasimov
Talasimov hometown of Lloret de Mar, Girona is a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia, Spain. Before she came over to America to play at Jefferson College Talasimov was a force on the basketball court. She helped lead her team to three Catalan Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017 while also competing in four Spanish championships, 2014, 2015 and two in 2017. Talasimov will have three years of eligibility remaining when she arrives at Troy for the 2020-2021 season.
Rigby On Talasimov
"Agustina will add another dimension to our style of Trojan basketball. She has basketball intelligence and automatically raises the game of her teammates around her. Her body type and her skill set can both be described as "versatile", and this helps us toward one of our program goals of playing position-less basketball."
🚨 A 6-0 guard/forward from Lloret de Mar, Girona
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Agustina Talasimov to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/jwjVVeRBzk
Giana Copeland | 6-5 | Center | Savannah, Ga. | Sol C Johnson HS | Jefferson College
Get To Know Giana Copeland
Copeland was a defensive force while in high school earning defensive player of the year honors in both 2017 and 2018. She was named all-region first team in 2016-17 and in the 2017-18 season. She holds region records for the most blocks in a game with 23. She helped lead her squad to back-to-back Georgia State Championship games, finishing as the runner-up in 2017 and winning the state title in 2018. Following her high school career Copeland attended Daytona State College where she appeared in 23 games and averaged 4.5 points per game. Copeland is ranked 17th nationally at her position and the 78th overall prospect according to the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
Rigby On Copeland
"It is not easy to find a 6-5 post player who runs the floor like a guard and plays with high energy. Giana embodies all of these qualities. Her length will add a defensive component to our game that we have not had since I have been at Troy. I believe our roster instantly upgraded when we signed Giana."
🚨 A 6-5 Center from Savannah, Ga.
— Troy Trojans WBB (@TroyTrojansWBB) November 13, 2019
Help us welcome Giana Copeland to the Trojan family‼️#OneTROY⚔🏀 pic.twitter.com/LhMQnApBa4
Follow TROY Women's Basketball
Social: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Join The Conversation: #GrindToShine | #OneTROY
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