Lady Hornets' New Recruits Ignite Excitement for Coach MJ Baker!

Lady Hornets' New Recruits Ignite Excitement for Coach MJ Baker!

On July 10, 2025, excitement filled the air as Head Coach MJ Baker unveiled her first recruiting class for the Lady Hornets. This promising lineup is set to shake things up for the upcoming 2025-26 season, with Baker eager to bring a fresh dynamic to the team.

The recruiting class features standout players eager to make their mark. First up is Kaitlyn Sanders, a 5-5 guard from Miami, FL, transferring from Rollins College, where she dazzled with an average of 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season, leading the Sunshine State Conference in three-point shooting at .438. Another impressive talent is Katiya Casey, a 5-6 guard hailing from Crestview, FL. She arrives from Pensacola State College after earning first-team All-Panhandle Conference honors, showcasing her ability to score with an average of 10.1 points and 2.3 rebounds.

New Faces in the Roster

Joining these Floridian talents are several players from different states and countries. Micah Hanna, a 5-8 guard from Ocoee, FL, comes from Santa Fe College with averages of 11.0 points and 6.7 rebounds. Maria Luisa Montes, standing at 5-10 and originally from Seville, Spain, is transferring from Central Arizona College after posting an average of 9.5 points and making waves with a career-high of 24 points against Cuyamaca College.

Also on the roster is Julia Clavero, a 6-2 forward from Barcelona, Spain. Her experience at Basketball Almeda, where she averaged 10.2 points per game and claimed the title of Champion of Catalonia, adds international flair to the squad. Rounding off the class is Allison Reese, a Houston native and 5-5 guard from Independence CC, noted for her impressive average of 13.8 points per game and a standout performance where she scored a career-high 25 points against Fort Hays Tech Northwest.

These recruits will be alongside Vanessa Coleman, a previous signee recognized as the 13th best small forward in Oklahoma, providing a strong foundation for the team’s future. Coach Baker is enthusiastic about their potential to enrich the Lady Hornets‘ competitiveness and culture as she sets to begin her first season after coaching ten years at Eastern Florida State College, where she had a remarkable record of 183 wins to 58 losses, three conference championships, and three appearances in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.

The Broad Landscape of Women’s Basketball Recruitment

The buzz surrounding women’s basketball is palpable, especially as ESPN highlights that collegiate attention on female athletes has reached unprecedented levels. With the success of Team USA capturing gold at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and the upcoming U19 FIBA Women’s World Cup, talent showcases like these create a vibrant recruiting landscape.

Talented players, particularly those from the 2026 recruiting class, are making big decisions that could shape future teams. Notable figures include Madison Booker from Texas, who has been turning heads with her remarkable stats, and Jerzy Robinson, whose scoring ability mirrors that of Mikaylah Williams from LSU. Comparisons like these illustrate the deep well of potential athletes, as coaches like Baker seek to build competitive rosters from impressive ranks.

It’s an exhilarating time for women’s basketball, and the Lady Hornets are hoping to ride the wave of emerging talent. With Coach Baker at the helm, the combination of fresh faces and seasoned experience from veterans promises a thrilling season ahead.