Women's Basketball Inks Three Players in Early Signing Period
Nov. 9, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Head coach Katie Meier has announced the signing of three players, Charmaine Clark (Savanna, Ga.), Kathryn Hester (Hickory, N.C.) and Eboni Sadler (Miami, Fla.), to National Letters of Intent to play at the University of Miami in the November early signing period.
The three-player class, the first under first-year head coach Katie Meier, includes local standout Sadler who hails from Miami’s Norland High.
“The best thing about this group of players is that they are all extremely eager to be a part of a new tradition,” said Meier of the quartet. “I don’t take that lightly. I think that shows a tremendous amount of character in the fact that they assume the responsibility of being a part of a new era here at UM.
“Each of these players want to make a name for themselves within the program, but I feel like more importantly, they all want to take this program in the right direction and that is what ultimately attracted them to Miami.
“I thank these young ladies for their confidence and belief in us and our vision. I know their experience at UM will be tremendous, and I certainly know they will be playing for some excited coaches,” Meier added.
A preseason high school All-America nominee, Sadler, a 5-foot-11 guard, is ranked the No. 32 high school guard in the country by the Mike White All-Star Girls Report. Last season, she averaged 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game earning her First Team All-State honors.
“Eboni is a gifted wing player,” said Meier of Sadler. “It is very rare that you see such a great athlete who is also a great shooter. She has tremendous range with a beautiful shooting touch. She’s also one of the best rebounding guards I have ever seen. We expect her to be an immediate contributor to this program, both on and off the court.”
Sadler, who has earned All-Dade County honors in each of the past two seasons, is regarded by many recruiting reports to be one of the top talents in the South Florida area and is considered by most to be among the top five players in the state of Florida.
“The fact that Eboni is from Miami, the fact that she seemed really drawn to us as a staff as soon as we arrived was really important,” said Meier. “She has a real enthusiasm and love for The University and when you sign a player with that excitement, who has such great character and a terrific family, not to mention her being one of the best players in the country, you have to feel blessed.”
“I’d like to thank her coach, Carla Harris-Curry, an alumni and former player at UM, for her positive involvement.”
Clark, a 5-foot-9 guard-forward at the Bradwell Institute in Savanna, Ga., averaged 12 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.8 blocks per game last season en route to being named the District Player of the Year as a junior. Last season, Clark also garnered Second Team All-Region honors and was named a First Team All-Central Region selection.
“Charmaine is a very versatile, complete player,” said Meier of Clark. “She’s the type of player that could realistically play four different positions. This particular signee is going to surprise a lot of people. She can get up and down the court, and she is just as comfortable posting up as she is bringing the ball down the court. Plus, she has that knack for defense and rebounding that I felt we really needed in this class. She is going to be a special, dynamic player in this program.”
Hester, a 6-foot-2 post player from Newton-Conover High School in Hickory, N.C., was named the Observer New Enterprise Athlete of the Year and the Hickory Daily Record Women’s Basketball Player of the Year following an impressive junior season where she led her team to the North Carolina State semi-finals. She was also named an All-Conference selection last season, marking her third-consecutive all-league accolade.
“Kathryn is a physical prescience for us,” said Meier of Hester. “I have recruited her for three years now and was very fortunate to be able to, in a sense, sneak her out of North Carolina. She can score from anywhere on the court, and presents a tough match-up. She is certainly not afraid of contact, which I love as a coach, and is a tremendous, aggressive defensive rebounder. She is a young lady that I have a tremendous amount of confidence in.”
2005 Women’s Basketball Signees
Charmaine Clark
5-9
Guard/Forward
Savanna, Ga.
The Bradwell Institute
Averaged 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.8 blocks per games as a junior2005 District Player of the Year2005 Second Team All-Region2005 First Team All-Central Virginia2005 All-Northwest Region2004 Second Team All-District2003 Honorable Mention All-Region
Kathryn Hester
6-2
Center/Forward
Hickory, N.C.
Newton-Conover High School
2005 Observer New Enterprise Athlete of the Year2005 Hickory Daily Record Player of the Year2005 All-Conference selection2005 All-Western Regional Team selection2005 Charlotte Observer All-Piedmont Team2004 All-Conference selection2003 All-Conference selection
Eboni Sadler
5-11
Guard
Miami, Fla.
Norland High School
Ranked the No. 32 guard in nation by Mike White All-Star Girls ReportRanked among the top five players in the state of Florida in the class of 2006Averaged 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assist per game as a junior2005 Miami Herald First Team All-Dade2004 Miami Herald First Team All-Dade2005 First Team All-State2004 Second Team All-StateStreet and Smith All-America Honorable Mention selection in 2005.Led Norland High School in scoring as a sophomore and juniorAdidas Top Ten Camp Underclass All-Star in 2004High school coach, Carla Harris-Curry, played at UM from 1990-93
