SENATOBIA – Coming off a stellar first season that saw Northwest march to a 17-10 overall record and a runner-up finish in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament, women's basketball head coach Troy Howell and assistant coach Carla Bartee have solidified their incoming freshman class.

A total of 12 newcomers will join Northwest for the 2020-21 season, including out-of-state players Tierra Trotter, Curenity Emerson and Nylah Ballard. They will join a young Lady Rangers roster that only brings back one returner from last season, sophomore guard Morgan Hodum.

Scroll down for more information on each student-athlete, including commentary from Howell.
 
 

NAME	POS	HT.	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
Nylah Ballard	C/F	5-11	Adamsville, Ala.	Minor
Ebony Fulford	G	5-7	Ellisville, Miss.	South Jones
Kolten Blakeney	F/C	6-0	Taylorsville, Miss.	Taylorsville
JaDajah Reynolds	G	N/A	Ocean Springs, Miss.	St. Martin
Ashton Stanley	F	N/A	Waynesboro, Miss.	Wayne Academy
I'Yana Ragin	G	5-4	Baldwyn, Miss.	Baldwyn
Nariah Alexander	G/F	N/A	Senatobia, Miss.	Senatobia
Sha'Kirria Everett	G/F	5-6	Waynesboro, Miss.	Wayne County
Tierra Trotter	G	5-4	Bryant, Ark.	Bryant
Curenity Emerson	F	5-9	Ruston, La.	Ruston
Presley Kate Hansford	F	N/A	Senatobia, Miss.	Senatobia
Tali Delgado	G	5-6	Olive Branch, Miss.	Center Hill

Nylah Ballard, G
Adamsville, Ala. (Minor HS)
***Stats were not available***

Coaches' Commentary: "Nylah will bring size and athleticism to us at the post position. She is a true power forward and we will be depending on her to control the boards."


Ebony Fulford, G
Ellisville, Miss. (South Jones HS)
Played for coaches Jay Stafford and Sherri Cooley at South Jones…helped the Braves to a 15-14 overall record and the second round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs as a senior…selected team captain during her senior season.

Coaches' Commentary: "Ebony a great shooter and ball handler. She will bring lots of speed and quickness to our program this season."


Kolten Blakeney, F/C
Taylorsville, Miss. (Taylorsville HS)
Played for coach Angela Moore at Taylorsville…named team captain as a senior and helped the Lady Tartars to a 22-9 record and the third round of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs last season…scored a career-high 35 points vs. Seminary on Dec. 26, 2019…selected to Mississippi Play Sports Top 50 Seniors list and the inaugural Mississippi Gridiron All-State team as an honorable mention choice…also played volleyball, softball and participated in cheer while at THS.

Coaches' Commentary: "Kolten is a talented power forward with a great mid-range jumper. She also comes to us with size and athleticism."


JaDajah Reynolds, G
Ocean Springs, Miss. (St. Martin HS)
Played for coach Gina Bell at St. Martin and helped the Lady Yellow Jackets to a 22-7 record, the Region 7-6A championship and the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs as a senior.

Coaches' Commentary: "JaDajah is a point guard that can truly run a team. Her ball-handling skills are superb and she also brings speed and quickness to our program."

 

Ashton Stanley, F
Waynesboro, Miss. (Wayne Academy)
Played for coach Tamber Proctor at Wayne…selected to the WTOK All-Scholastic Sports Team after her senior year…was an MAIS state champion in track running the 400m and 4X200m relay as a freshman and an eighth-grader…set the MAIS Class AAA record in the triple jump in 2019…also played softball and was selected an All-American cheerleader at WA.

Coaches' Commentary: "Ashton is a small forward that is extremely athletic and a great defender. She comes to us from a good program at Wayne Academy and we can't wait to see what she does as a Lady Ranger."


I'Yana Ragin, G
Baldwyn, Miss. (Baldwyn HS)
Played for coach Reneetra Pippin at Baldwyn…helped the Lady Bearcats to a 24-6 overall record, a Region 2-1A championship and a runner-up finish in the MHSAA Class 1A state tournament as a senior…scored 21 points in the championship game loss to Pine Grove…averaged 15.8 points per game during her senior season and 16 points per game during her four-year varsity career…began the season with recognition as a Mississippi Gridiron Preseason Player to Watch and ended it with an honorable mention selection to the inaugural Mississippi Gridiron All-State team…also selected to the Mississippi Sports Network 1A All-State first team…left Baldwyn with 1,295 career points and playoff appearances in all four prep seasons.

Coaches' Commentary: "I'Yana is an excellent three-point shooting threat and like so many others in our class, she will also bring speed and quickness to our program this season."


Nariah Alexander, G/F
Senatobia, Miss. (Senatobia HS)
Played for coach Tosheba Jones at Senatobia…helped the Lady Warriors to a 28-4 overall record, a Region 2-3A regular season and tournament championship and the MHSAA Class 3A state championship as a senior...selected to the inaugural Mississippi Gridiron All-State second team...spent the first three years of her varsity career at Strayhorn High School, helping the Lady Mustangs to a 12-13 overall record as a junior and back-to-back playoff appearances as a freshman and sophomore.

Coaches' Commentary: "Nariah is a local student-athlete that has had successful experience at two local high school programs. Like everyone else in our class, she will bring us lots of athleticism on both sides of the ball."


Sha'Kirria Everett, G/F
Waynesboro, Miss. (Wayne County HS)
Played for coach Gina Skelton at Wayne County…helped the Lady War Eagles to a 20-6 record, a Region 8-5A championship and the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs as a senior.

Coaches' Commentary: "Sha'Kirria is a great shooter and another player that will add to our strong depth at the guard positions."


Tierra Trotter, G
Bryant, Ark. (Bryant HS)
Played for coach Brad Matthews at Bryant…helped the Lady Hornets to a 17-11 record and the second round of the Arkansas High School Activities Association Class 6A state playoffs as a senior…averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game during her final campaign…increased her scoring average to 22.1 points per game during the final eight games of the season…selected to the AHSAA 6A-Central All-Conference team and the 6A All-State team after her senior season…also chosen to the All-State Tournament team after scoring a career-high 31 points vs. Rogers…received All-Conference recognition after her sophomore and junior seasons and was selected 7A All-State in 2018 after her sophomore season.

Coaches' Commentary: "Tierra is another strong out-of-state player that has great skill. She really knows how to run a team and take command when needed."


Curenity Emerson, F
Ruston, La. (Ruston HS)
Played for coach Ryan Bond at Ruston…led the Lady Bearcats in scoring during her final campaign and was selected second team All-District 2-5A…selected the Kim Dupree State Farm Athlete of the Month for March 2020.

Coaches' Commentary: "Curenity is a small forward with a great mid-range game. She will be able to bring us great size and athleticism."


Presley Kate Hansford, F
Senatobia, Miss. (Senatobia HS)
Played for coach Tosheba Jones at Senatobia…helped the Lady Warriors to a 28-4 record, a Region 2-3A regular season and tournament championship and the MHSAA 3A state championship as a senior…chosen the C-Spire Scholar Student-Athlete for Senatobia in the championship game…currently holds the Senatobia discus record and was a member of the Lady Warriors' 4A state champion track team in 2019.

Coaches' Commentary: "PK is another talented local player that we were fortunate to pick up. She is an excellent rebounder and will bring us some great help on defense."


Tali Delgado, G
Olive Branch, Miss. (Center Hill HS)
Played for coach Emily Owens at Center Hill…helped the Lady Mustangs to the MHSAA Class 5A state playoffs as a senior…prior to her time at Center Hill, paced coach Pete Carr's Beaumont (Calif.) Cougars to a 15-12 record, a share of the Mountain Pass League title and the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation Division 3A Southern Section playoffs as a junior…averaged 12 points, 2 assists, and 2.6 steals per game during her junior season…selected to the Mountain Pass League All-League first team after her junior season…also chosen as an MVP in the inaugural Temecula Valley Thanksgiving Shootout.

Coaches' Commentary: "Tali was someone who flew under the radar this past season after moving here from California and we were fortunate to add her to our program for this upcoming season."


For more about the program, follow along with the Northwest Lady Rangers on Twitter (@NWCC_Rangers) and at nwccrangers.com.