Two Future Wolfpack Women Honored by McDonald’s All-American Game
1/6/2016 9:47:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Full List
RALEIGH – Both of the NC State women's basketball team's signees currently living in the United States were chosen as 2016 McDonald's All-American Games nominees, the organization announced Tuesday. Erika Cassell (Georgia) and Lucky Rudd (North Carolina) will be suiting up for the Wolfpack beginning with the 2016-17 season.
Cassell (ESPN #88 for the class of 2016) and Rudd (#78) will be joined in Raleigh next season by Canadian signee Aislinn "Ace" Konig (#38). Together, the three form one of the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation.
The 2016 McDonald's All-American Games will be played at the United Center in Chicago on March 30. A final roster for the games will be announced in the coming months.
Erika Cassell | 6-2 F | Marietta, Ga.
Four-star rated and given a scouts grade of 94, Erika Cassell is the No. 88 overall prospect and No. 16 forward in the class of 2016. She plays high school basketball for Holy Innocents' Episcopal School.
During both her sophomore and junior seasons, Holy Innocents' Episcopal School was a 5A Regional Champion and finished in second place at the Georgia State Championship. Cassell was a team captain both seasons. Her junior season was exceptionally strong, as she was named AJC Second Team All-State, earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Award Watch List, was named to the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Team, and helped her team win a school-record 31 games.
In addition to Erika's impressive athletic accomplishments, she also spends significant time off the court participating in charitable activities. Cassell began volunteering with the Atlanta Mission for Women and Children during her junior year and has spent her entire high school career participating in various breast cancer awareness events for both the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Susan G Komen charity.
Wes Moore: "Erika is an athletic forward with a high motor on both ends of the floor. She is a versatile scorer that is aggressive in the paint, but also has the ability to step out and bury the three. A relentless force on the boards, Erika is someone who can definitely rebound outside of her area."
Kiana "Lucky" Rudd | 5-9 G | Thomasville, N.C.
Four-star rated and given a scouts grade of 94, Kiana "Lucky" Rudd is the No. 78 overall prospect and No. 19 guard in the class of 2016.
Nicknamed "Lucky" due to the timely nature of her birth, the New Hope Christian Academy guard is coached by her father, Delaney, who is a Wake Forest alum and former NBA player. Lucky averaged 8.5 points and 1.3 assists per game during the 2013-14 season and upped both of those totals in 2014-15, scoring 12.5 points and dishing out 1.9 assists per contest.
Lucky led the New Hope Phoenix to the 2015 National Independent School Athletic Association National Championship on March 8, earning Tournament MVP honors along the way.
Wes Moore: "Lucky is a great shooter from deep behind the arc and also possesses an explosive first step, making her a matchup nightmare for most opponents. A scoring threat with the ball or off the ball, she and Ace will complement one another well and form a great 1-2 punch. Lucky will also be a playmaker on the defensive end for us."
#STATEment
RALEIGH – Both of the NC State women's basketball team's signees currently living in the United States were chosen as 2016 McDonald's All-American Games nominees, the organization announced Tuesday. Erika Cassell (Georgia) and Lucky Rudd (North Carolina) will be suiting up for the Wolfpack beginning with the 2016-17 season.
Cassell (ESPN #88 for the class of 2016) and Rudd (#78) will be joined in Raleigh next season by Canadian signee Aislinn "Ace" Konig (#38). Together, the three form one of the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation.
The 2016 McDonald's All-American Games will be played at the United Center in Chicago on March 30. A final roster for the games will be announced in the coming months.
Erika Cassell | 6-2 F | Marietta, Ga.
Four-star rated and given a scouts grade of 94, Erika Cassell is the No. 88 overall prospect and No. 16 forward in the class of 2016. She plays high school basketball for Holy Innocents' Episcopal School.
During both her sophomore and junior seasons, Holy Innocents' Episcopal School was a 5A Regional Champion and finished in second place at the Georgia State Championship. Cassell was a team captain both seasons. Her junior season was exceptionally strong, as she was named AJC Second Team All-State, earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Award Watch List, was named to the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Team, and helped her team win a school-record 31 games.
In addition to Erika's impressive athletic accomplishments, she also spends significant time off the court participating in charitable activities. Cassell began volunteering with the Atlanta Mission for Women and Children during her junior year and has spent her entire high school career participating in various breast cancer awareness events for both the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Susan G Komen charity.
Wes Moore: "Erika is an athletic forward with a high motor on both ends of the floor. She is a versatile scorer that is aggressive in the paint, but also has the ability to step out and bury the three. A relentless force on the boards, Erika is someone who can definitely rebound outside of her area."
Kiana "Lucky" Rudd | 5-9 G | Thomasville, N.C.
Four-star rated and given a scouts grade of 94, Kiana "Lucky" Rudd is the No. 78 overall prospect and No. 19 guard in the class of 2016.
Nicknamed "Lucky" due to the timely nature of her birth, the New Hope Christian Academy guard is coached by her father, Delaney, who is a Wake Forest alum and former NBA player. Lucky averaged 8.5 points and 1.3 assists per game during the 2013-14 season and upped both of those totals in 2014-15, scoring 12.5 points and dishing out 1.9 assists per contest.
Lucky led the New Hope Phoenix to the 2015 National Independent School Athletic Association National Championship on March 8, earning Tournament MVP honors along the way.
Wes Moore: "Lucky is a great shooter from deep behind the arc and also possesses an explosive first step, making her a matchup nightmare for most opponents. A scoring threat with the ball or off the ball, she and Ace will complement one another well and form a great 1-2 punch. Lucky will also be a playmaker on the defensive end for us."
#STATEment
Wes Moore Media Availability_Preseason, Tennessee
Friday, October 31
ACC Tipoff Q&A
Tuesday, October 07
Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones on ACCN Set at ACC Tipoff
Tuesday, October 07
Coach Moore ACCN Interview at ACC Tipoff
Tuesday, October 07