SAN ANTONIO ? UTSA head women’s basketball coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair concluded her 2009-010 recruiting class with the signing of Ashleigh Franklin (Dallas, Texas/Connors State College), Kameisha Johnson (Mansfield, Texas/Connors State College) and Jermini Malone (Saline, La./Saline HS) to National Letters of Intent. The trio will join the Roadrunners for the upcoming season.
Franklin, a 5-8 guard, averaged 13.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, which ranked second and third, respectively, on the team last season. She helped Connors State College to a 30-4 overall record and a trip to the 2009 NJCAA Tournament. The Dallas native was a two-time first-team NJCAA All-Region II honoree. She also collected first-team all-conference accolades.
Johnson, a 6-0 forward, also hails from Connors State College where she played two seasons. She appeared in 28 games, while averaging 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season. The Mansfield native shot 48.8 percent from the floor, including 40 percent from downtown. She played a vital role helping Connors State College achieve a 30-4 overall mark and trip to the 2009 NJCAA Tournament. Johnson joined Franklin on the All-Region II first team. She also was a second-team all-conference honoree during the 2008-09 season.
Malone, a 5-6 guard, is coming off a championship after leading Saline to its first state championship and an overall record of 43-1 last season. A member of the varsity team since the eighth grade and was a five-time first-team all-district honoree. Malone was selected district MVP three times, including back-to-back years in 2007-08 and 2008-09. She averaged 15.0 points and 7.0 assists per game last season and capped off her high school career as the Class C MVP and a first-team all-state selection. She was named shreveporttimes.com First-Team All-Area in 2008 and 2009 and also selected to the Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association's first team a year ago. Malone also collected honorable mention rivals.com honors in 2007.
