With the signing of Taylor Williams and Brandi Goodman to national
letters of intent on Wednesday, the University of Memphis women's
basketball team was able to address two needs — a perimeter scorer and a
post player who not only can rebound and score inside, but can step
outside and hit shots as well.
And with Williams and Goodman joining last year's No. 39 ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN's HoopGurlz, Tigers coach Melissa McFerrin likes the nucleus she has assembled as her team moves to the Big East Conference in 2013-14.
"Our freshman class this year is a national-level class," McFerrin said. "I think Brandi and Taylor are at that level also. We have good raw material to work with. Are we going to be absolutely 100 percent ready to play in the Big East? That remains to be seen.
"But I like starting with this core of young people. Now we've got to continue to add impact-type players to a group of already very good players."
Williams, a 6-1 combo guard, is from Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan. McFerrin envisions Williams playing on the wing, providing the Tigers with a deadly long-range shooter, as well as another capable defender.
As a junior last year, Williams averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. She chose Memphis over Oklahoma State, UTEP, Wichita State, Davidson and Denver.
"That's probably something we've been a little deficient in, is our perimeter shooting," McFerrin said. "I would say that's probably what she does best. She'll have to become a very consistent shooter for us. She has very deep range. It's just a matter of getting up enough shots so that the ball goes in more than it comes off the rim."
Goodman is a 6-2 forward from Obion County Central High School in Troy, Tenn. Last season, she helped lead the Lady Rebels to 35-3 record and a spot in the TSSAA Class 2A state championship game when she averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Goodman can score inside as well as outside, where McFerrin sees her some day stepping out behind the 3-point line. Goodman is also a fierce rebounder.
She enters this season with 1,270 boards and a shot at catching Tennessee's all-time leader, former Collierville, University of Tennessee and WNBA star Nikki McCray, who recorded 1,720 rebounds.
"She's a post player that has size, has mass, has good touch from the 3-point line," McFerrin said.
And with Williams and Goodman joining last year's No. 39 ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN's HoopGurlz, Tigers coach Melissa McFerrin likes the nucleus she has assembled as her team moves to the Big East Conference in 2013-14.
"Our freshman class this year is a national-level class," McFerrin said. "I think Brandi and Taylor are at that level also. We have good raw material to work with. Are we going to be absolutely 100 percent ready to play in the Big East? That remains to be seen.
"But I like starting with this core of young people. Now we've got to continue to add impact-type players to a group of already very good players."
Williams, a 6-1 combo guard, is from Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan. McFerrin envisions Williams playing on the wing, providing the Tigers with a deadly long-range shooter, as well as another capable defender.
As a junior last year, Williams averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. She chose Memphis over Oklahoma State, UTEP, Wichita State, Davidson and Denver.
"That's probably something we've been a little deficient in, is our perimeter shooting," McFerrin said. "I would say that's probably what she does best. She'll have to become a very consistent shooter for us. She has very deep range. It's just a matter of getting up enough shots so that the ball goes in more than it comes off the rim."
Goodman is a 6-2 forward from Obion County Central High School in Troy, Tenn. Last season, she helped lead the Lady Rebels to 35-3 record and a spot in the TSSAA Class 2A state championship game when she averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Goodman can score inside as well as outside, where McFerrin sees her some day stepping out behind the 3-point line. Goodman is also a fierce rebounder.
She enters this season with 1,270 boards and a shot at catching Tennessee's all-time leader, former Collierville, University of Tennessee and WNBA star Nikki McCray, who recorded 1,720 rebounds.
"She's a post player that has size, has mass, has good touch from the 3-point line," McFerrin said.
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