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Women's Basketball Inks Three During Signing Period
11/20/2017 2:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University women's basketball head coach Joanne P. McCallie, along with recruiting coordinators Hernando Planells and Rene Haynes, announced Monday the signing of Onome Akinbode-James (Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria), Rayah Craig (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Uchenna Nwoke (Denver, Colo.) to national letters of intent to attend Duke in the fall of 2018.
“It's a great, great class,” commented McCallie. “They are three exceptional women, all dedicated to great academics, great basketball and a desire to make history at Duke as we pursue our first national championship. They are special because they work extremely hard, they are very athletic and each of them offers something completely different.”
Duke's class has been listed No. 20 nationally by Prospects Nation.
Below is a listing of each signee:
Rayah Craig
5-10 * Guard * Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain H.S.)
Ranking:
No. 90 (Collegiate Girls Report), No. 93 (ESPN HoopGurlz), No. 105 (Prospects Nation), No. 147 (Blue Star Report)
High school/AAU:
Earned All Player of the Year and Desert Mountain MVP in 2017 … a three-time AIA All-Section First Team selection in 2015, 2016 and 2017 … a three-time Player of the Game selection … averaged 21.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.5 steals as a junior at Desert Mount H.S. … as a sophomore, averaged 14.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.9 blocks … averaged 15.7 points, 7.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.5 blocks as a freshman.
Personal:
Full name is Rayah Leighann Craig … born in Olympia, Wash. … daughter of Barnaby and Dina Craig … has two brothers, Chris (22) and Jordan (20).
McCallie on Craig:
“Rayah is a jet-quick point guard. She needs to get physically stronger, but she is a jet-quick point guard who gives us more athleticism in the guard position so we can press, run and be more effective in that way. She is a natural leader. She thinks and plays the game and is best off the bounce right now. She is someone who is really going to develop and enjoy the collegiate game.”
Onome Akinbode-James
6-3 * Forward/Center * Blairstown, N.J. (Blair Academy)
Ranking:
No. 77 (Collegiate Girls Report), No. 81 (ESPN HoopGurlz), No. 114 (Blue Star Report), No. 104 (Prospects Nation)
High school/AAU:
All-MAPL First Team … NJSIAA First Team All-State … MAPL All-Academic Team … averaged 10.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game as a junior … competed for her home country of Nigeria in the 2015 U-16 Afrobasket Championship … the team won the silver medal and qualified for the U-17 World Championship … lettered as a junior in track & field … ran the 400m and threw the discus … plays AAU hoops for New Jersey Demons.
Personal:
Full name is Onome Mary Akinbode-James … born on March 9, 2000 in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria … daughter of Tina E. Oghuvwu … has one sister, Ovoke C. Momoh (28) … member of National Society of High School Scholars.
McCallie on Akinbode-James:
“Onome is extremely physical, very athletic and one of the most determined players I have seen on the court, relative to how hard she plays and how aggressive she is willing to be. She can score in the paint, she can score short corners, she can score high post. She is working on her three ball, which she can hit as well. She is also a very versatile player. Literally, she will play the one, two, three or four for us at Duke. I call her a 'point-four.' But I think it is her mindset, how tough she is mentally, that is going to be one of the biggest contributing factors to her success her and to how she helps the team.”
Uchenna Nwoke
6-6 * Center * Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie H.S.)
Ranking:
#64 (Prospect Nation), No. 190 (Blue Star Report), No. 137 (Collegiate Girls Report), No. 152 (Blue Star Report)
High school/AAU:
A two-time First Team All-District selection as a sophomore and junior at South Grand Prairie H.S. … Honorable Mention All-District honors as a freshman … a four-year letterwinner in basketball … early on as a senior, is averaging 8.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists … averaged 6.1 points as a junior … Academic All-District honoree.
Personal:
Full name is Uchenna Ngozi Nwoke … born March 24, 2000 in Denver, Colo. … daughter of Kenn and Nneka Nwoke … has one brother, Chinez (23), and two sisters, Ijeoma (24) and Mmachi (19).
McCallie on Nwoke:
“Uchenna is somebody who is going to work extremely hard and will have a job to own the paint, get blocks and really use her body as a presence defensively, rebounding wise and of course scoring on the blocks. She is excited to learn, is really excited for the next level and also the conditioning it takes at the next level. We are really pleased to have her because all of our post players have been more inside-out players where Uchenna is happy to be a true five with her back to the basket.”
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