WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford women's basketball coach Jennifer Rizzotti announced the signing of four players to join the Hawks as member of the Class of 2017. Among the new signee's is Bloomfield native Alyssa Reaves a standout at Northwest Catholic in West Hartford.
Joining Reaves as freshman for the 2013-14 season will be Deanna Mayza from Pennsburg, Pa., Morgan Lumb from North Andover, Mass. and La'Trice Hall from Buffalo, N.Y. Mayza and Lumb enter as members of the backcourt, while Hall and Reaves will add depth to the frontcourt.
"We are very excited about the outstanding recruiting class we have coming to Hartford next year,” said Rizzotti. “What makes them special is how much each one of them wanted to come to play for our program and be a part of our winning tradition. With our departing senior class, we were determined to bring in a dynamic group of players at multiple positions that would be ready to make an immediate impact. Our staff feels like we accomplished that goal."
Reaves is entering her fourth year as a starter for Northwest Catholic, where she led the 2011 team to the Class L quarterfinals. She is a two-time All-Central Connecticut Conference West selection as a junior and sophomore and was named to the New Haven Register All-State Honorable Mention. Reaves also played AAU ball for the Connecticut Attack.
“We are excited about finding Alyssa in our own backyard,” commented Rizzotti. 'She has spent the past few years getting to know our program and we feel that she is exactly what we need in this recruiting class. She's an athletic, strong, determined post player whose work ethic and potential make her an exciting prospect for our future.”
Hall enters her senior year at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart after averaging 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists last season helping lead the Sharks to their third-straight Monsignor Martin Athletic Association championship. Her team would go on to the CHSAA state championships where they lost in the Class A semifinals. Following her junior year, Hall was named All-Catholic First Team, second team All-Western New York and second team All-Bee News. Hall played her AAU ball for the New York Revolution.
“Successful programs always have players like La'Trice on their teams,” exclaimed Rizzotti. “She is a utility player that can assume any role on the floor. I've seen her as a scorer in some games, a facilitator in others and a defensive stopper as well. She's the kind of "glue" player that ties all the other pieces together and I feel like she fits perfectly into this recruiting class.”
Mayza enters as a 5-7 combo guard who averaged 18 points in her junior year at The Hill School. She helped lead Hill to the title game of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League as well as the title game of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools last season. She is a two-time First Team Pottstown Mercury All-Area honoree and was named the Pottstown Mercury Girl's Basketball Player of the Year last season.
“Deanna is as tough as they come,” stated Rizzotti. “She can score and distribute the ball but what impressed me the most was how much she impacts the game defensively as well. She loves the game, is the ultimate competitor and does whatever it takes to help her team win.”
Lumb, a 5-8 guard, averaged 15.4 points, five rebounds and four assists last season, her junior year at North Andover High School. She led North Andover to the 2011-12 St. Mary's League Championship scoring a career-high 31 points in the title game. Lumb was named All-Cape Ann League as a sophomore and junior and received Eagle Tribune All-Star honors following the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. She also played AAU ball with the Visionary Basketball Club where she helped lead the team to the 2009 state title and finished 17th in the nation.
“Morgan has a tremendous passion for the game of basketball,” said Rizzotti. “I love that she's always playing or working out because she wants to get the most out of her game. She has a scoring mentality and I'm not sure we've had anyone that can match her ability in putting pressure on the defense from the point guard position.”
