The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Basketball signs five for 2020-21
11.13.2019 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns signed four prep players and one graduate transfer.
The University of Texas women's basketball program on Wednesday announced the signing of four prep players to National Letters of Intent and one graduate transfer to an Athletic Scholarship Agreement, head coach Karen Aston announced.
2019-20 TEXAS SIGNING CLASS
|
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Hometown/High School / Previous School |
ESPN.com Rank (Overall/Position) |
|
Katie Benzan |
G |
5-6 |
Wellesley, Mass. / Noble and Greenough School / Harvard University |
N/A – Grad Transfer |
|
Ashley Chevalier |
G |
5-7 |
Chatsworth, Calif. / Sierra Canyon |
52 / 17 |
|
Elyssa Coleman |
F |
6-3 |
Humble, Texas / Atascocita |
-- / 13 |
|
Shay Holle |
G |
6-0 |
Austin, Texas / Westlake |
97 / 27 |
|
Precious Johnson |
F/C |
6-5 |
Baytown, Texas / Sterling |
-- / 32 |
Katie Benzan (5-6, G, Wellesley, Mass. / Noble and Greenough School / Harvard University)
Benzan will join the Longhorns as a graduate transfer for the 2020-21 season from Harvard, where she was a first-team All-Ivy League selections in each of her three years in Cambridge.
Benzan etched her name all throughout the Harvard record book. She is the Crimson's all-time leader in career three-pointers made [287]. She also ranks sixth all-time at Harvard in assists per game [4.1], seventh in points per game [13.7] and 14th in total points scored [1,223].
As a junior in 2018-19, Benzan led her team with 14.3 points per game and 4.2 assists per game, while making a program-best 103 three-pointers. Her 3.43 treys per game ranked seventh in the nation. She earned espnW National Player of the Week honors after leading her team to a road victory at No. 14 Cal, marking the program's first win against a ranked opponent since 1998.
Benzan was a prep player at the Noble and Greenough School. In her five years starting there, she led her team to a 125-8 overall record, scored 2,153 career points and was named the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year in 2015-16.
Coach Aston says …
"Katie brings a wealth of experience and maturity to our program, from which we will benefit greatly. She comes from a basketball family with her brother playing in college and her parents coaching. Katie knows the game and understands how to articulate to others. Her perimeter shooting will be a huge plus, but her leadership will also be key. I'm excited to see what she can accomplish in the year she will be in a Longhorn uniform."
Kara Leary, Director of the New England Crusaders says …
"Katie Benzan is a tremendous player and a tireless worker. Her accolades speak for themselves as she arrived on the Ivy League scene, and made an immediate impact with three straight years on the All-Conference First Team, and being Harvard's leading scorer and assists person each of her three years. Her Harvard group competed for the Ivy League title against stalwarts Penn and Princeton, and she helped Harvard to two WNIT postseason wins during that time. Katie has been a winner at every level of basketball that she has played on. On the prep level, she led her Nobles and Greenough high school team to five consecutive New England Championships and a 125-8 record. Texas is getting a tremendously skilled basketball player, a tremendously hard worker and a great, great person. We were blessed to have had her play in our program, and look forward to cheering her on as she competes with the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Conference and on the national stage next year."
Ashley Chevalier (5-7, G, Chatsworth, Calif. / Sierra Canyon)
Chevalier is a point guard from Sierra Canyon High School who is the No. 52 overall player as ranked by espnW and the No. 17 player at the point guard position.
She led her team to the 2019 California Open Division State Championship with a 33-1 overall record. She scored 20 points and dished out seven assist in the championship game.
Chevalier was named a First-Team All-State selection as a junior by CalHiSports. She averaged 13 points per game, six rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game in 2018-19.
Both of her parents played collegiately and have careers in the coaching profession. Her father, Andre, is the head boys coach at Sierra Canyon and her mother, Michelle, is the head women's basketball coach at Pierce College.
Coach Aston says …
"Ashley is a competitor who I'm thrilled to bring to the Forty Acres. She understands the role of a point guard and takes it very seriously. Her approach to the game will translate, as will her competitive fire. Her mother and father are both coaches and she is from a winning culture in high school, all of which have fostered her mindset. I am anxious to watch Ashley grow as a young lady and basketball player here at Texas."
Alicia Komaki, Sierra Canyon Head Coach, says …
"Ashley is a competitor. You see her will to win any time she steps on the court. Every elite athlete is talented, but Ashley possesses the intangibles that are the backbone to success – grit, IQ and self-motivation. She wants to be great and won't stop short or cut any corners. Texas fans are going to love watching her compete."
Elyssa Coleman (6-3, F, Humble, Texas / Atascocita)
Coleman is the No. 13 forward in the class of 2020, according to espnW. She has played in 95 career games for Atascocita, averaging 7.4 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game during the three-year span.
As a junior in 2018-19, Coleman – returning from ACL surgery – averaged 9.7 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game and 1.7 blocks per game in leading her team to its second consecutive undefeated district title and a 31-8 overall record. Atascocita advanced to the Region III-6A tournament for the second consecutive season and Coleman earned first-team all-district honors.
As a sophomore in 2017-18, Coleman was named District 21-6As Defensive MVP. She averaged 9.3 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 blocks per game.
As a freshman in 2016-17, Coleman averaged 3.0 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks per game.
Prep Girls Hoops has named Coleman one of the top Greater Houston Area posts to watch in 2019-20. Her Atascocita team has won 36 consecutive district games entering Coleman's senior campaign.
Coach Aston says …
"I'm so excited that Elyssa chose to further her academic and basketball career here at Texas. The future is so bright for this young lady. She is a much-needed presence for us in the paint and has a defensive prowess about her that I love. Her family is also from an athletic background and her message is always to compete and be great. Elyssa is just scratching the surface of what she can be. It will be exciting to see her progress at Texas."
Corey Hegwood, DFW Elite Basketball Club Director, says …
"Elyssa is a great player whose best days are still ahead of her. It will be exciting to watch her grow as a Longhorn."
Veronica Johnson, Atascocita Head Coach, says …
"Elyssa is a great kid that works hard on the court and in the classroom. After coming off a season-ending ACL tear her sophomore year, she proved to everyone that she was going to come back stronger, faster and better. As a junior, she worked her way back onto the court and led the team in blocked shots by being a big inside presence for us. As a captain this year, she is leading her team every day in practice and games. Elyssa is determined to make the younger players coming behind her better players by displaying top-notch leadership on and off the court. She may come off really shy at first but, in all actuality, she is the goofiest kid around. Don't let the shyness fool you."
Shay Holle (6-0, G, Austin, Texas / Westlake)
Holle is an espnW top-100 player and is the No. 27 guard in the class of 2020. A four-year starter, she is a two-time all-state selection and was the 2019 District 25-6A Most Valuable Player. As a junior in 2018-19, Holle surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her Westlake career.
In Holle's junior season, she averaged 18 points per game and 10 rebounds per game for a team that reached the third round of the Class 6A Playoffs before losing to Converse Judson, the eventual state champion.
In addition to her basketball success, Holle also competes in track and field for the Chaps and holds several school records in the sprints.
Both of Holle's parents were collegiate athletes. Her father, Eric, played defensive end for the Longhorns and spent five seasons with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Her mother, Michelle, played softball at Blinn College and Angelo State. Her sisters, Bailey and Brooke, currently play basketball for Texas State.
Coach Aston says …
"I am absolutely thrilled that Shay is going to be a Longhorn. She is a Westlake product with Burnt Orange in her blood. It won't be hard to see that she loves Texas and will play her heart out for the name on the front of the jersey. I would describe Shay as the Energizer bunny – never stops moving and is a contagious player. She can shoot the perimeter shot really well. Her time at Westlake has really enhanced her understanding of the game. She will get better and better every day because of her approach to work. It's who she is and her ceiling for achieving great things in the classroom and on the court is very high."
Katie Hensle, Westlake Head Coach, says …
"I have loved every second of the opportunity to coach Shay. She is, first and foremost, a great teammate who is always willing to put the needs of the team above any individual goals. She leads every day by example, never allowing herself to be out-worked. Through her hard work and dedication, Shay has developed into one of the best players in the country. Texas is getting a great athlete and player but, most importantly, a great person."
Precious Johnson (6-5, F/C, Baytown, Texas / Sterling)
Johnson is the No. 32 post player in the class of 2020, according to espnW. Prep Girls Hoops has named Johnson one of the top Greater Houston Area posts to watch in 2019-20.
As a junior in 2018-19, Johnson averaged 14.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game and 5.0 blocks per game. She was a first-team All-District selection as a junior and, in her sophomore campaign, was named her team's Most Valuable Player.
Coach Aston says …
"Precious is going to be so much fun to watch grow as she dons a Longhorn uniform. She flew under the radar but I believe she is going to be a force in the paint as she transitions to the college game. She's eager to learn and is a sponge with a desire to be successful. She will be another post presence that we need. On her visit, she and her family loved Texas and it was definitely a mutual feeling."
Derrick Wright, Texas Phenoms Head Coach, says …
"Precious Johnson has been really special to me. She has been with us since the eighth grade. She is one of the most coachable and self-determined kids I have ever met."
Monique Everett, Sterling Head Coach, says …
"She didn't play her freshman year and didn't play AAU the summer after. Her fitness, determination and drive have led her to opportunities she hadn't thought of. The talent was always there, she just needed to commit to tapping into it."
