North Carolina State University Athletics
Yow Signs Six to National Letter of Intent
11/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State head coach Kay Yow has announced the signing of six players to a national letter of intent from the class of 2006 - Sharnise Beal (5-9 Guard, New Britain HS/New Britain, Conn.), Lucy Ellison (6-1 Forward, LaGrange Academy/Shiloh, Ga.), Nikitta Gartrell (5-10 Guard, Benjamin E. Mays HS/Atlanta, Ga.), Chanita Jordan (6-5 Center, University City HS/Philadelphia, Pa.), Amber White (5-6 Guard, Coatesville HS/Coatesville, Pa.) and Megan Zullo (5-8 Guard, Farmville Central HS/Greenville, N.C.) Four guards, one forward and one center are among the list of NC State signees. The group of six marks just the second time in Wolfpack basketball history in which Coach Yow has signed six incoming freshmen. The previous six-member class was signed in 1999.
"This is one of the best classes from top to bottom we have recruited at NC State," said NC State head coach Kay Yow. "We are excited about each person's individual talent as well as the impact they will have on our team."
Sharnise Beal is a 5-foot-9 guard from New Britain, Conn. She enters her senior season as the 14th best guard in the nation according to ASGR (All Star Girls Report) and is 54th overall nationally. She is also ranked 47th among the nation's top 50 players according to Street & Smith. Beal is a two-time all-state player, ranked by CHSCA (Connecticut High School Coaches Association) in the LL Class as a sophomore and junior. As a two-time all-conference honoree, Beal enters her final season 51 points shy of 1,000 for her career and averaged 13.8 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game and 2.3 steals per game as a junior. This 2005 Street & Smith All-America Honorable Mention also directed New Britain to back-to-back conference titles as a freshman and sophomore. The team was ranked ninth in the state in 2004-05 and has been in the top 10 all three of her seasons.
"Sharnise is very athletic and is a great leaper," said Yow. "She has one of the best mid-range games in the country. She can penetrate and create scoring opportunities."
Lucy Ellison is a 6-foot-1 forward from Shiloh, Ga. As the 11th ranked wing/forward combo player entering her senior season, Ellison is one of the top players nationally according to ASGR. In addition to her position ranking, she is ranked 63rd nationally. In her three seasons at LaGrange Academy, Ellison has averaged 14.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg. As a sophomore she led her team to the state semifinals. Her high school team is ranked No. 1 in the GISA (Georgia Independent School Association) 2-A. In her last two seasons she has averaged a double-double (16.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg). Additionally, Ellison has participated in both the Reebok All-America camp and adidas Top 10 camp.
"Lucy is an outstanding rebounder," said Yow. "She plays strong and is explosive and physical. She also has three point range and can put it on the floor and score."
Nikitta Gartrell is a 5-10 guard from Atlanta, Ga. She helped her USA Youth Festival White team to a Silver Medal this past summer while averaged 23.4 minutes per game and 6.8 ppg. Gartrell is ranked 10th as a point guard nationally by ASGR and is 33rd among all of the ranked players. Additionally she is ranked 18th among the nation's top 50 seniors according to Street & Smith. As a junior at Benjamin E. Mays HS, Gartrell averaged 25.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 7.0 apg and 6.0 spg as she led her team to the Atlanta City Championship title and to the Sweet 16 of the Georgia State 4-A tournament. As a freshman she helped her team to the 2003-04 4-A State Championship crown. Over the last three seasons, Gartrell has averaged 19.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.7 apg and 5.4 spg. She garnered all-state honors the last three seasons and is 200 points away from becoming the first player in school history to reach the 2,000 career point plateau.
"Nikitta is very quick and athletic," said Yow. "She has a complete game - she can penetrate and break down the defense and she has three-point range. Nikitta also has three-point range. She has a great work ethic and can challenge anyone defensively."
Chanita Jordan, a 6-foot-5 center from Philadelphia, is ranked as the 50th best center in the nation by ASGR. At University City High School, Jordan averaged 19.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg and 3.0 blocks per game in the last three seasons. She posted her first career triple double in her junior season with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 11 blocks, all career highs as well. In her junior season, Jordan led her school to its first state championship game appearance and finished as the state's runner-up champion. She garnered a Street & Smith All-America Honorable Mention award following the season. In addition, she has helped her teams to two PL 2-A Championship titles.
"Chanita is very athletic and has a major upside," said Yow. "She rises above and finishes around the basket. She can be a big time rebounder and scorer."
Amber White is a 5-foot-6 point guard out of Coatesville, Pa. She is currently the sixth-best point guard in the nation according to ASGR and is 21st overall among the nation's top players. USA Today named her to the Top 25 as a junior. She posted season-highs of 44 points, 12 assists, 11 steals and eight rebounds last year. In the last three seasons she has averaged 21.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.0 spg and 8.0 apg. White is a three-time Street & Smith All-American. She spent this summer with the USA Youth Development Festival Red Team. In those five games she led her team in steals with 16 total and was also second among all three USA teams with that total.
"Amber is a strong and physical guard who can shoot the three but also looks to penetrate and create for herself and for her teammates," said Yow. "She is one of the top guards in the country and has very good knowledge of the game."
Megan Zullo is the local player among the six signees, out of Greenville, N.C. As a 5-foot-8 guard, Zullo has posted career averages of 20.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.8 apg and 4.5 spg entering her senior season. She netted a career-high of 42 points as a sophomore. Last season Zullo averaged 21.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.9 apg and 3.6 spg. She had two triple doubles as a sophomore and has 16 double figure games already. Zullo is a three-time All-Carolina Conference recipient, three-time Regional Tournament MVP, three-time MVP of the North Carolina state 1-A tournament and three-time All-Area. Additionally, Zullo is a two-time All-State honoree. She was also the runner-up for North Carolina Miss Basketball the last two seasons.
"Megan is an underrated combination guard," said Yow. "She is a great shooter and plays smart, hard-nosed basketball. Megan really understands the game and has the ability to make others around her better."
NOTES: The group of six marks just the second time in Wolfpack basketball history in which Coach Yow has signed six incoming freshmen. The previous time was in 1999-2000, a class that included WNBA draftee Kaayla Chones. Ellison and Gartrell, both from Georgia will become the eighth and ninth players all-time from the state of Georgia, Gartrell will be the third player from Atlanta. NC State also welcomes Jordan and White, both from Philadelphia, bringing the total all-time players from Philly to four and from the state of PA to five. NC State has never signed a player from the state of Connecticut. Additionally, with the signing of Zullo, NC State will have 37 players all-time signed from its home state of North Carolina.
