The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
High school All-American Gayle signs National Letter of Intent with Women's Basketball
11.20.2007 | Women's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Ashley Gayle, an All-America 6-4 forward from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev., has signed a National Letter of Intent for the 2008-09 academic year, as announced by University of Texas women's basketball head coach Gail Goestenkors Tuesday.
Regarded as one of the top high school post players in the nation, Gayle is ranked as the No. 5 recruit nationally overall by the Blue Star Basketball, No. 19 by Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, No. 29 by All-Star Girls Report, and 40th by HoopGurlz.com -- four of the top national recruiting services.
Gayle, who led Bishop Gorman to back-to-back Nevada State 4A state championships as a sophomore and junior in 2006 and 2007, is the third and final player to sign with the Longhorns during the November early signing period.
Last Wednesday, on the first day of the signing period (concludes Nov. 21), Goestenkors inked two other standouts: 5-6 combination guard Yvonne Anderson (Columbia, Missouri/Columbia-Hickman HS) who is ranked as the No. 7 guard nationally by HoopGurlz.com and 21st overall by Blue Star Basketball; and Ashleigh Fontenette, a 5-8 All-State combination guard from nearby Pflugerville, Texas and State 4A basketball power Connally HS.
Gayle is a two-year All-State performer who earned EA Sports Second Team All-America honors last year after leading 31-2 Bishop Gorman to the Nevada state title for the second year in a row. Gayle averaged 11.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game as a junior.
She also played in the 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival this past summer.
This preseason, Gayle is a Sporting News All-American Second Team pick, and her Bishop Gorman HS squad is ranked No. 4 nationally in the preseason ESPN Elite 25 High School rankings and No. 5 nationally in the USA Today Super 25 (national team rankings).
In her three years at Bishop Gorman, Gayle has helped Coach Sheryl Krmpotich's team post an impressive 91-5 record.
"The signing of Ashley Gayle gives our team a legitimate inside presence," noted Goestenkors. "She is strong and athletic and quick off the floor, which makes her a force on defense as a shot-blocker and on the glass. I'm thrilled that she will join our program next fall. Ashley waited until Monday [Nov. 19] to sign her National Letter of Intent as Bishop Gorman decided to hold an all-sports college signing ceremony on its campus. Ashley comes to Texas with great experiences. She's won two high school state championships, she plays on one of the top summer club teams, and she's played in the USA Basketball system.
I am thrilled with the three student-athletes we've signed during the November signing period," Goestenkors said. "Gayle, Yvonne Anderson and Ashleigh Fontenette represent the type of student-athlete we want at The University of Texas -- competitors who have versatility and who will fit in perfectly with our running and pressing style of play."
Below is biographical information on Ashley Gayle.
Ashley Gayle (6-4 F/C, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman HS)
- In the national recruiting services, is ranked No. 5 overall by the Blue Star Basketball ... No. 19 by Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Basketball Report ... No. 29 by All-Star Girls Report ... 40th by HoopGurlz.com
- Preseason Sporting News All-America Second Team
- Ranked in the top 10 nationally among all power forwards/post players
- 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival participant
As a Junior
- 2006-07 EA Sports All-America Second Team
- Led Bishop Gorman to the No. 15 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 and to the No. 2 ranking in the West Region
- Bishop Gorman went 31-2 record and won its second straight Nevada State 4A championship ... Bishop Gorman defeated Centennial 87-66 for the title (Feb. 23, 2007), with Gayle collecting 21 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks
- 2006-07 First Team All-State, First Team All-Southwest Division
- 11.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game averages
As a Sophomore
- All-State Third Team, First Team All-Southwest Division
- Led 31-1 Bishop Gorman to its first girls basketball Nevada 4A state championship
- Bishop Gorman went undefeated in the state of Nevada, losing only one game -- at the Nike Tournament of Champions to the Marin Catholic (Calif.) team
- Averaged 10.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.3 blocks per game
As a Freshman
- Averaged 8.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.3 bpg to help Bishop Gorman to a 29-2 record
Other
- Played in 2006 and 2007 summers for the powerhouse West Coast Elite AAU club basketball team
- Also participated in Bishop Gorman track and field, in the high jump and discus