CHARLESTON, S.C. - College of Charleston women's basketball head coach Natasha Adair has announced her signing class for 2012. The class includes three transfers and one who graduated from high school this past year.
Erin Hall (Wake Forest), Afreyea Tolbert (Northeastern), Breannah Davis-Bloom (Norfolk State) and Shannon Hines (RS Central High School) make up the class for the Cougars. Hines and Tolbert will be eligible to play immediately, while Hall and Davis-Bloom will have to sit out a season before playing.
Hall, a 5-8, redshirt junior guard from Norcross, Ga., played in 26 games for the Demon Deacons during the 2011-12 season. Against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Hall had a career game with 16 points in 18 minutes, connecting on four-of-nine from beyond the 3-point arc.
"Erin Hall is a tremendous asset to our Cougar family," Adair said. "I am very honored to be coaching her again. Erin brings ACC experience and a tireless work ethic on and off the court. "E" is a true competitor and has the ability to score anywhere on the court. Her deep range 3's and mid-range accuracy will have an immediate impact on our programs success."
Hall made 26 three-pointers on the year, which was third-most on the team, including a pair of clutch three-pointers in the second half of a victory against NC State.
"I got a really positive vibe from everyone when I came on my visit," Hall said. "The players and coaches are all on the same page and are excited about the start of something special."
Tolbert, a 5-10 guard from Teaneck, N.J. played two seasons for Northeastern, while she played in 49 total games with 15 starts and averaged 9.2 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game in her second season.
"Afreyea is an explosive player who brings energy and enthusiasm to the game," Adair said. "She is a great rebounder who isn't afraid to get into the mix. Her toughness and ability to create excites me as I prepare for our success. She will also change the game defensively because of her quickness, her ability to anticipate and commitment to make hustle plays."
Tolbert made the most of her first career start as she scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds against Syracuse. Later that season she scored a career-high 18 points against William & Mary and finished the season with 10 double-figure scoring games.
"I think the coaching staff here is ready to make an immediate impact and I can't wait to help turn the program around," Tolbert said. "We have all the things here we need to be successful."
Davis-Bloom, a 5-5 redshirt sophomore from Winston-Salem, N.C. played her freshman year at Norfolk State, appearing in three games.
"Breannah is a hard nose competitor," Adair said. "I have watched her grow over the past six years and I know she will be a great floor general at the point position. She is a student of the game and has a very high basketball IQ. Her ability to breakdown defenses will increase offensive flow and emphasize pace as well as ball security. She takes pride in her development and work ethic and will be a great leader for our program."
Davis-Bloom capped off an excellent high school career as a four-year letter winner at Carver High School. She scored 1,417 points for her career, including 17.5 points per game in her senior year to go along with 5.6 assists, 3.8 steals and 3.1 rebounds per game averages en route to being named the Piedmont Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
"I'm really excited to come to the College of Charleston," she said. "This school has a great academic reputation and I'm looking forward to having fun and working hard with my teammates as we build this program."
Hines, a 5-7 guard who will be a freshman in the fall is a native of Spindale, N.C. and played her high school basketball at Rutherford-Spindale Central High School.
Hines made history on Feb. 3, 2012 as she became the first athlete in school and Rutherford county lore and the 42nd player in North Carolina history to reach 2,000 career points. Hines averaged 22.3 points per game her senior season and finished her career with 2,147 points.
"Shannon is a scorer," Adair said. "She is a versatile player who gives us an immediate scoring option on the perimeter. She will be hard to guard because she can score in multiple situations. She is a determined worker and serious about making us a better team. Shannon is a good person who will always put her team first and we are thrilled to have her on our team."
Hines was named the Player of the Year for her conference and Female Player of the Year for her high school as well as being a four-time All-Conference honoree and two-time All-State selection. Outside of athletics Hines was active in volunteerism, student council and was voted homecoming queen.
"When I came on my visit I immediately fell in love with the campus and city and knew this was the right fit," Hines said. "I immediately felt a sense of family and team support for the coaches and kids already on the team and am excited to begin my career in Charleston."
College of Charleston Women's Basketball Signing Class
Erin Hall, 5-8 guard, Norcross, Ga., (Wake Forest)
Afreyea Tolbert, 5-10 guard/forward, Teaneck, N.J., (Northeastern)
Breannah Davis-Bloom, 5-5 guard, Winston-Salem, N.C., (Norfolk State)
Shannon Hines, 5-7 guard Spindale, N.C., (RS Central High School)
