Troy Women's Basketball Team Adds Two Forwards
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: June 13, 2012
First-year head coach
Chanda Rigby and the Troy women's basketball program announced the
signing of forwards Simone Johnson and Annaya Moore on Tuesday.
Johnson and Moore, both standing over six feet tall, become the third and fourth members of Rigby's inaugural signing class to go along with guards Joanna Harden and Britney McCloud.
"Both young ladies (Johnson and Moore) come from super families that we have enjoyed getting to know during the recruiting process," said assistant coach Jennifer Graf. "We are truly honored to have both as a part of our Trojan Family."
Johnson comes to Troy from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., while Moore comes to Troy out of national-power Bolingbrook High School in Illinois.
Be sure to check back with TroyTrojans.com for more information on Troy Athletics. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics. Fans can also find Troy women's basketball on Twitter at @TroyWomensBball.
Simone Johnson | 6-5 | F | Ellenwood, Ga. (Jefferson College)
Simone Johnson, a 6-foot-5 forward, comes to Troy after spending the 2011-12 season at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. Johnson played a major role for a Vikings squad that finished seventh at the NJCAA National Championship, a tournament where Rigby's Pensacola State squad finished third.
Johnson averaged 5.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for the Vikings who went 3-1 at the NJCAA National Tournament after posting a 28-4 mark in the regular season and Regional Tournament.
Johnson went to Jefferson after graduating from Westlake High School in the Atlantic metro area in 2010. During her senior season at Westlake, the Ellenwood, Ga., native averaged 9.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for the 13th ranked high school team in the country as they finished 24-4 and reached the Class 5A semifinals.
"Simone is a tremendous signee for us because she fills the need for a true post player," said Graf. "She is 6-foot-5 and is naturally a big presence for us in the paint. We are excited to incorporate a skilled post player with the versatility we have on the perimeter."
Annaya Moore | 6-2 | F | Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS)
Annaya Moore, a 6-foot-2 forward, comes to Troy after spending the last two seasons at powerhouse Bolingbrook High School in Illinois. Moore attended Morgan Park High School in Illinois for the previous two seasons.
Moore scored 14 points per game and grabbed 16 rebounds per game for Bolingbrook, the seventh ranked high school team in the nation, as they fell just short of their fourth straight Illinois Class 4A State Championship in 2012.
Moore is one of eight players from Bolingbrook to sign a Division I scholarship this year, including her twin sister Nia who has signed to play at Tennessee. Also among the signees is Parade Magazine All-American Morgan Tuck who has signed with Connecticut.
Moore originally signed with UAB.
"Annaya is a huge signee for us because she is simply a winner," said Graf. "She is coming from a program that knows what it takes to compete at a high level, and she has the work ethic to transpire that winning attitude into our program. She is a versatile forward that will fit nicely into our up-tempo style of play."
Troy Women's Basketball 2012 Signing Class *Ashley Beverly-Kelley (5-7, G) - Adamsville, Ala. (Minor HS) Joanna Harden (5-8, G) - Pompano Beach, Fla. (Northwest Florida St.) Simone Johnson (6-5, F) - Ellenwood, Ga. (Jefferson College) Britney McCloud (5-10, G) - Decatur, Ala. (Gulf Coast St.) Annaya Moore (6-2, F) - Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS)
Johnson and Moore, both standing over six feet tall, become the third and fourth members of Rigby's inaugural signing class to go along with guards Joanna Harden and Britney McCloud.
"Both young ladies (Johnson and Moore) come from super families that we have enjoyed getting to know during the recruiting process," said assistant coach Jennifer Graf. "We are truly honored to have both as a part of our Trojan Family."
Johnson comes to Troy from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., while Moore comes to Troy out of national-power Bolingbrook High School in Illinois.
Be sure to check back with TroyTrojans.com for more information on Troy Athletics. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics. Fans can also find Troy women's basketball on Twitter at @TroyWomensBball.
Simone Johnson | 6-5 | F | Ellenwood, Ga. (Jefferson College)
Simone Johnson, a 6-foot-5 forward, comes to Troy after spending the 2011-12 season at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. Johnson played a major role for a Vikings squad that finished seventh at the NJCAA National Championship, a tournament where Rigby's Pensacola State squad finished third.
Johnson averaged 5.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for the Vikings who went 3-1 at the NJCAA National Tournament after posting a 28-4 mark in the regular season and Regional Tournament.
Johnson went to Jefferson after graduating from Westlake High School in the Atlantic metro area in 2010. During her senior season at Westlake, the Ellenwood, Ga., native averaged 9.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for the 13th ranked high school team in the country as they finished 24-4 and reached the Class 5A semifinals.
"Simone is a tremendous signee for us because she fills the need for a true post player," said Graf. "She is 6-foot-5 and is naturally a big presence for us in the paint. We are excited to incorporate a skilled post player with the versatility we have on the perimeter."
Annaya Moore | 6-2 | F | Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS)
Annaya Moore, a 6-foot-2 forward, comes to Troy after spending the last two seasons at powerhouse Bolingbrook High School in Illinois. Moore attended Morgan Park High School in Illinois for the previous two seasons.
Moore scored 14 points per game and grabbed 16 rebounds per game for Bolingbrook, the seventh ranked high school team in the nation, as they fell just short of their fourth straight Illinois Class 4A State Championship in 2012.
Moore is one of eight players from Bolingbrook to sign a Division I scholarship this year, including her twin sister Nia who has signed to play at Tennessee. Also among the signees is Parade Magazine All-American Morgan Tuck who has signed with Connecticut.
Moore originally signed with UAB.
"Annaya is a huge signee for us because she is simply a winner," said Graf. "She is coming from a program that knows what it takes to compete at a high level, and she has the work ethic to transpire that winning attitude into our program. She is a versatile forward that will fit nicely into our up-tempo style of play."
Troy Women's Basketball 2012 Signing Class *Ashley Beverly-Kelley (5-7, G) - Adamsville, Ala. (Minor HS) Joanna Harden (5-8, G) - Pompano Beach, Fla. (Northwest Florida St.) Simone Johnson (6-5, F) - Ellenwood, Ga. (Jefferson College) Britney McCloud (5-10, G) - Decatur, Ala. (Gulf Coast St.) Annaya Moore (6-2, F) - Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook HS)
