North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Adds Crutchfield and Jones in Early Signing Period
11/9/2016 10:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
November 9, 2016
RALEIGH – Head coach Wes Moore and the NC State women's basketball team picked up two strong commitments on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday, as Kai Crutchfield and Kayla Jones signed National Letters of Intent to join the Wolfpack beginning with the 2017-18 season.
Kai Crutchfield | 5-8 Guard | Raleigh, N.C. | Millbrook High School
A four-star guard awarded a scouts grade of 94 by ESPNW, Kai Crutchfield is currently listed as the No. 24 guard and the No. 82 player in the class of 2017. A native of Raleigh, N.C., Crutchfield attends local Millbrook High School where she hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds of the 2016 NCHSAA 4A state championship win over Northwest Guilford.
Wes Moore (NC State head coach): "Kai can play on both ends of the floor. She is strong and can match up well defensively, having the strength and quickness to get that done. On the offensive end, she has continued to expand her game. She can shoot the three, take you off the bounce, and be a factor on the offensive boards, just as she was to win the state championship last year. She's also a person of great character who is a really good addition to our program as we graduate some very talented guards."
Crutchfield's Accomplishments through Three Seasons
Member of the National Honor Society … Associated Press 1st Team All-State (2015-16) … NCBCA Player of the Year (2015-16) … News & Observer Girls Basketball Player of the Year (2015-16) … All-USA NC Girls Basketball Second Team (2015-16) … 4A State Championship MVP (2015-16) … Midtown Raleigh Athlete of the Week (March 2016) … District Player of the Year (2015-16) … First Team All-District for three straight seasons … First Team All-Metro for three straight seasons … Academic All-Conference for three straight seasons … First Team All-Conference for three straight seasons … High School OT Holiday Invitational All-Tournament Team (2014) … Leon Brogden Christmas Tournament MVP (2013).
Dan Olson (Director of ESPNW HoopGurlz and the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report): "Athletic, strong, and capable of playing either guard position, Crutchfield is a scorer, delivering deep and in bunches, or off the dribble with a knack for finding the basket in traffic. She is one of the elite guards of the 2017 class."
Kayla Jones | 6-1 Forward | Jamesville, N.C. | Riverside High School
A four-star forward awarded a scouts grade of 90 by ESPNW, Kayla Jones is currently listed as the No. 20 forward in the Class of 2017. A native of Jamesville, N.C., Jones attends Riverside High School, where she has earned two Conference Player of the Year awards.
Wes Moore: "With the graduation of Jennifer Mathurin, we feel like Kayla can come in at the 4 position as somebody who can shoot the three in addition to taking it off the dribble. She should be a factor on the boards at both ends. She has a big upside coming off an ACL injury but should be good to go. We hope to watch her have a good senior year and come here ready to contribute."
Jones' Accomplishments through Three Seasons
Academic All-Conference Award (2014-16) … Two Rivers Conference Player of the Year (2013-14 and 2014-15) … All-State Team (2013-14 and 2014-15) … NCHSAA Most Outstanding Class 1A Player (2013-14 and 2014-15) … Eastern Regional Class A MVP (2013-14 and 2014-15) … USA Today High School Sports Second Team (2014-15) … High School OT Holiday Invitational All-Tournament Team (2014 and 2015) … Riverside High School Team MVP (2013-14 and 2014-15) … Her 2015-16 season was cut short due to injury.
Dan Olson: "Versatility is what best describes Jones. Slowed by injury into her junior season in high school, Jones is capable of playing at an elite level, scoring efficiently in the paint as well as pulling defenders to the arc. She is a mismatch producer."
NC State officially opens the 2016-17 season at home against Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 12. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. from Kay Yow Court inside Reynolds Coliseum.
#GoPack
RALEIGH – Head coach Wes Moore and the NC State women's basketball team picked up two strong commitments on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday, as Kai Crutchfield and Kayla Jones signed National Letters of Intent to join the Wolfpack beginning with the 2017-18 season.
Kai Crutchfield | 5-8 Guard | Raleigh, N.C. | Millbrook High School
A four-star guard awarded a scouts grade of 94 by ESPNW, Kai Crutchfield is currently listed as the No. 24 guard and the No. 82 player in the class of 2017. A native of Raleigh, N.C., Crutchfield attends local Millbrook High School where she hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds of the 2016 NCHSAA 4A state championship win over Northwest Guilford.
Wes Moore (NC State head coach): "Kai can play on both ends of the floor. She is strong and can match up well defensively, having the strength and quickness to get that done. On the offensive end, she has continued to expand her game. She can shoot the three, take you off the bounce, and be a factor on the offensive boards, just as she was to win the state championship last year. She's also a person of great character who is a really good addition to our program as we graduate some very talented guards."
Crutchfield's Accomplishments through Three Seasons
Member of the National Honor Society … Associated Press 1st Team All-State (2015-16) … NCBCA Player of the Year (2015-16) … News & Observer Girls Basketball Player of the Year (2015-16) … All-USA NC Girls Basketball Second Team (2015-16) … 4A State Championship MVP (2015-16) … Midtown Raleigh Athlete of the Week (March 2016) … District Player of the Year (2015-16) … First Team All-District for three straight seasons … First Team All-Metro for three straight seasons … Academic All-Conference for three straight seasons … First Team All-Conference for three straight seasons … High School OT Holiday Invitational All-Tournament Team (2014) … Leon Brogden Christmas Tournament MVP (2013).
Dan Olson (Director of ESPNW HoopGurlz and the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report): "Athletic, strong, and capable of playing either guard position, Crutchfield is a scorer, delivering deep and in bunches, or off the dribble with a knack for finding the basket in traffic. She is one of the elite guards of the 2017 class."
Kayla Jones | 6-1 Forward | Jamesville, N.C. | Riverside High School
A four-star forward awarded a scouts grade of 90 by ESPNW, Kayla Jones is currently listed as the No. 20 forward in the Class of 2017. A native of Jamesville, N.C., Jones attends Riverside High School, where she has earned two Conference Player of the Year awards.
Wes Moore: "With the graduation of Jennifer Mathurin, we feel like Kayla can come in at the 4 position as somebody who can shoot the three in addition to taking it off the dribble. She should be a factor on the boards at both ends. She has a big upside coming off an ACL injury but should be good to go. We hope to watch her have a good senior year and come here ready to contribute."
Jones' Accomplishments through Three Seasons
Academic All-Conference Award (2014-16) … Two Rivers Conference Player of the Year (2013-14 and 2014-15) … All-State Team (2013-14 and 2014-15) … NCHSAA Most Outstanding Class 1A Player (2013-14 and 2014-15) … Eastern Regional Class A MVP (2013-14 and 2014-15) … USA Today High School Sports Second Team (2014-15) … High School OT Holiday Invitational All-Tournament Team (2014 and 2015) … Riverside High School Team MVP (2013-14 and 2014-15) … Her 2015-16 season was cut short due to injury.
Dan Olson: "Versatility is what best describes Jones. Slowed by injury into her junior season in high school, Jones is capable of playing at an elite level, scoring efficiently in the paint as well as pulling defenders to the arc. She is a mismatch producer."
NC State officially opens the 2016-17 season at home against Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 12. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. from Kay Yow Court inside Reynolds Coliseum.
#GoPack
Players Mentioned
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