PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer has announced the signing of Alabama natives Maori Davenport and Joiya Maddox to national letters of intent to play for the Scarlet Knights beginning in the 2019-20 season, it was announced on (Tuesday).
"With the signing of Joyia and Maori, we have recruited winners both on and off the court," said Stringer of the two early signing period Scarlet Knights.
"These young ladies have won state championships at their respective high schools and I am so happy that both of them indicated that their current number one goal is to help their teams win another championship this season."
Davenport. a 6-4 forward hailing from Troy, Alabama, ranks as the No. 1 post player in the country according to Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, the No. 15 overall prospect and No. 2 post player according to espnW HoopGurlz and No. 17 overall recruit by Prospect Nation.
A two-time AL.com Super-State and Alabama Sports Writers Association First Team 5A All-State selection, Davenport led Charles Henderson High School to its first state title in 2018 behind 18.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.1 blocks and 1.7 assists per game. She was also runner-up Alabama Miss Basketball to current Scarlet Knight and fellow Alabama native Zipporah Broughton.
This past summer, Davenport guided Team USA to the FIBA American U18 Championship in Mexico City, earning all-tournament honors. During her gold medal stint, which included starts in four of team's six games, she averaged 7.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest.
As a sophomore, Davenport averaged 15.4 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists and totaled 181 blocks. She also set an Alabama High School Athletic Association record with 19 blocked shots and 25 rebounds and registered a rare triple-double.
"Maori is considered by all the scouting reports in the country as one of the top players in the class of 2019 at her position," said Stringer. "It is evident, that by Maori being selected to the 2018 FIBA U18 All-Tournament team that she is one of the post players next in line to represent USA Basketball on the world stage. I feel very blessed to have an opportunity to coach and mentor Maori throughout the next steps in her basketball and academic careers."
"Despite all of her accolades in her young athletic career, Maori remains a humble, driven, focused and determined individual," continued Stringer. "Maori possesses outstanding character traits that were instilled in her at a young age because of her family structure. Maintaining high grades, being on time for class, not missing school, being a leader in her community, school and athletic teams are not only a priority in her household, these things are simply a way of life for her."
Maddox is a 5-10 guard hailing from Hoover, Alabama, who ranks as the No. 28 guard prospect by espnW HoopGurlz.
A two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association Third Team selection, Maddox was named to the Alabama High School Athletic Association North-South Basketball Game as a junior, where she registered 15 points and four rebounds.
In the winter of 2018, Maddox helped Hoover High School to the Northwest Regional Final, while the previous season she averaged 10 points per game in leading Hoover to the Class 7A state title, the team's first state title since 2013.
In 2017, her Hoover High School squad ranked as high as No. 9 in the espnW 25 Power Rankings, winning 21 of the first 22 games of the year.
Maddox joined fellow 2018 Scarlet Knight signee Davenport on the AAU Alabama Roadrunners Montgomery. In the opening round game of the PSB Spring Showdown, Maddox poured in 28 points, which included dropping in seven 3-pointers.
"Joyia is an excellent shooter with great range," noted Stringer. "She will be able to extend the defenses that we face, allowing our inside players more opportunities to score. Her athleticism and length on defense will continue to allow us to put intense defensive pressure on our opponents, both in the half-court and with the 55 press. It is our hope that Joiya, by the end of her career at Rutgers, that she will have broken many of the 3-point shooting records."
"Joiya's strong foundation has laid the framework for her to be successful in whatever she chooses to undertake," continued Stringer. "She is an incredible young lady and will be a great ambassador for Rutgers University. University professors will be so proud to call her one of their students. As much as I am going to enjoy her playing for the Scarlet Knights, I know that I am going to enjoy the interaction with Joiya off the court as well."
"With the signing of Joyia and Maori, we have recruited winners both on and off the court," said Stringer of the two early signing period Scarlet Knights.
"These young ladies have won state championships at their respective high schools and I am so happy that both of them indicated that their current number one goal is to help their teams win another championship this season."
Davenport. a 6-4 forward hailing from Troy, Alabama, ranks as the No. 1 post player in the country according to Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, the No. 15 overall prospect and No. 2 post player according to espnW HoopGurlz and No. 17 overall recruit by Prospect Nation.
A two-time AL.com Super-State and Alabama Sports Writers Association First Team 5A All-State selection, Davenport led Charles Henderson High School to its first state title in 2018 behind 18.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.1 blocks and 1.7 assists per game. She was also runner-up Alabama Miss Basketball to current Scarlet Knight and fellow Alabama native Zipporah Broughton.
This past summer, Davenport guided Team USA to the FIBA American U18 Championship in Mexico City, earning all-tournament honors. During her gold medal stint, which included starts in four of team's six games, she averaged 7.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest.
As a sophomore, Davenport averaged 15.4 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists and totaled 181 blocks. She also set an Alabama High School Athletic Association record with 19 blocked shots and 25 rebounds and registered a rare triple-double.
"Maori is considered by all the scouting reports in the country as one of the top players in the class of 2019 at her position," said Stringer. "It is evident, that by Maori being selected to the 2018 FIBA U18 All-Tournament team that she is one of the post players next in line to represent USA Basketball on the world stage. I feel very blessed to have an opportunity to coach and mentor Maori throughout the next steps in her basketball and academic careers."
"Despite all of her accolades in her young athletic career, Maori remains a humble, driven, focused and determined individual," continued Stringer. "Maori possesses outstanding character traits that were instilled in her at a young age because of her family structure. Maintaining high grades, being on time for class, not missing school, being a leader in her community, school and athletic teams are not only a priority in her household, these things are simply a way of life for her."
Maddox is a 5-10 guard hailing from Hoover, Alabama, who ranks as the No. 28 guard prospect by espnW HoopGurlz.
A two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association Third Team selection, Maddox was named to the Alabama High School Athletic Association North-South Basketball Game as a junior, where she registered 15 points and four rebounds.
In the winter of 2018, Maddox helped Hoover High School to the Northwest Regional Final, while the previous season she averaged 10 points per game in leading Hoover to the Class 7A state title, the team's first state title since 2013.
In 2017, her Hoover High School squad ranked as high as No. 9 in the espnW 25 Power Rankings, winning 21 of the first 22 games of the year.
Maddox joined fellow 2018 Scarlet Knight signee Davenport on the AAU Alabama Roadrunners Montgomery. In the opening round game of the PSB Spring Showdown, Maddox poured in 28 points, which included dropping in seven 3-pointers.
"Joyia is an excellent shooter with great range," noted Stringer. "She will be able to extend the defenses that we face, allowing our inside players more opportunities to score. Her athleticism and length on defense will continue to allow us to put intense defensive pressure on our opponents, both in the half-court and with the 55 press. It is our hope that Joiya, by the end of her career at Rutgers, that she will have broken many of the 3-point shooting records."
"Joiya's strong foundation has laid the framework for her to be successful in whatever she chooses to undertake," continued Stringer. "She is an incredible young lady and will be a great ambassador for Rutgers University. University professors will be so proud to call her one of their students. As much as I am going to enjoy her playing for the Scarlet Knights, I know that I am going to enjoy the interaction with Joiya off the court as well."
