Katie Meier Announces Miami's 2012 Signing Class
April 11, 2012
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s basketball program welcomes the 2012 signing class consisting of three high school standouts, as announced on Wednesday by head coach Katie Meier.
The three members of the class are Caprice Dennis of Detroit, Mich., Keyona Hayes of Austell, Ga. and Macy Keen of Tamarac, Fla.
“All three of these young ladies are going to have an immediate impact,” Meier said. “They have the potential to come into Miami and be very successful playing at the next level.”
Keen, out of Fort Lauderdale’s Dillard High School, has been ranked as high as the No.37 overall prospect and as the seventh best center in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz.
The 6-5 center transferred to Dillard as a junior and helped lead the Panthers to two straight class 5A state titles. As a senior, she averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game.
“Macy is a defensive specialist. She protects the basket, protects the paint and plays with an incredibly ferocious tenacity,” Meier said. “She has gotten better and better every time she has stepped on the court while playing for Marcia Pinder, a high school coaching legend.”
Caprice Dennis, a native of Detroit, Mich. is a four-star prospect according to ESPN HoopGurlz. She is ranked as the No. 47 overall prospect and the No. 16 guard in the country.
“Caprice is a huge sign for us, an obvious need that we had to address in recruiting,” Meier said. “We recruited for the entire year and she wanted the process to continue to the late signing. It is a real compliment to our staff for the efforts they made in getting one of the nation’s best guards to come play for us down here at the U.”
During her senior season at Pershing High School, Dennis led her team to a record of 15-1 as they lost the championship game to King High School. She averaged 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game. Her best game of the year was a 56-point effort in which she hit 11 of 13 three-point shots.
The 5-9 guard brought home multiple awards during the 2011-12 season, as she was named the AP Class A Player of the Year by the Michigan Chapter of the Associated Press and also won the Detroit Public School League Miss Basketball Award. She was also named to the All-State Dream Team by the Detroit News.
“She’s an exciting player, she presses and pushes tempo,” added Meier. “It’s going to be a real smooth transition for her, coming from the great Pershing High School under her coach Shawn `Twigg’ Hill, to our style of play.”
Hayes, a 6-1 forward from Saint Francis High School in Alpharetta, Ga. has been ranked as high as the No. 31 overall prospect by Blue Star Basketball. ESPN HoopGurlz ranked her as the No. 11 forward in the nation.
“Keyona is a very, very versatile basketball player that was so well coached by Aisha Gaddis at St. Francis,” Meier said. “She can beat you from the three-point line or take her game inside and punish you while generating fouls and finishing with contact.”
The native of Austell, Ga. was recently named to the 2012 GSWA Class A All-State First Team and the 2012 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class A All-State First Team following a senior season in which she averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds per game. Hayes averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five blocks per game as a junior and 19 points and 13 rebounds as a sophomore.
“She’s going to bring so much to our program, especially in regards to rebounding,” Meier concluded. “She’s just a very lovable young lady and she’s is going to be a blessing to coach.”
What Others are Saying About Miami’s Signing Class
Keil Moore – Peach State Hoops
On the class as a whole: “With two players of the caliber of Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams leaving the University of Miami this 2012 class will have big shoes to fill, but the talent coming to Coral Gables next fall is capable of keeping Miami on the ACC and national stage.”
Caprice Dennis: “Last summer Dennis was as good as any guard in the country. She was able to showcase her ability to create off of the bounce and make plays for her teammates which helped her garner a wave of national attention from media and college coaches. Dennis has the ability to be a dynamic combo guard that can help Miami create offense in both the half court as well as in transition.”
Keyona Hayes: “Keyona Hayes is one of the best rebounding forwards in the class of 2012. At 6-foot-1 she has great size for both forward positions and plays the game with a lot of energy. Hayes is a kid who has continued to improve over the years as she has added more face-up ability to her game and is starting to shoot the ball with confidence on the perimeter.”
Macy Keen: “Macy Keen was one of the most highly coveted post players in the country for the class of 2012. Keeping her home in Miami was a big get for Coach Katie Meier and her staff. Keen should deliver as a centerpiece for the Hurricanes in years to come. Keen, a 6-5 post player, has the ability to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball from day one. She is long, athletic, and active which are three qualities you want in a post player. As Keen continues to add to her offensive arsenal, look for her to be one of the best post players in the ACC for years to come.”
Dan Olsen – Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
“The Hurricanes sign local product Macy Keen (6-5 C Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard), a true low post insider with vast potential.”
“Caprice Dennis (5-9 SG/1 Detroit, Mich./Pershing) is perhaps the most sought after unsigned senior in 2012. She gives Miami a combo-guard with size, athleticsm and a scorer’s mentality.”
“Keyona Hayes (6-1 SF Marietta, Ga./St. Francis) could impact immediately for the Hurricanes in her career.”
Brett McCormick – All-Star Girls Report
“Miami is consistently bringing in Top 100 players. Coach Katie Meier and her staff have done an outstanding job. Meier’s contract extension was very deserving. Miami is a true Top 25 program.”
