April 21, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The JU women's basketball team announced the signing of forward Jasmine Coleman of Walters State Community College and guard Valerie Jones of Charles Henderson High School, to National Letters of Intent as the Dolphins added two more names to their 2008 recruiting class.

The duo will join guards Jessica George of Celebration High School and Ashanti Williams of Suncoast Community High School, who joined the program during the early signing period.

Coleman, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, helped the Senators to a combined 53-15 record, two state titles and a pair of national tournament appearances. In her prep career, she was a four-year starter for Georgetown High School where she earned region "Player of the Year" and all-state honors after averaging 20 points and eight rebounds as a senior.

"Jasmine will bring us immediate experience and knowledge," said JU head coach Jill Dunn. "She comes from one of the top junior college programs and has proven she knows how to win on that level. Jasmine is versatile because she knows how to step out and shoot the three or go one-on-one off the dribble when bigger defenders are guarding her. She also knows how to post up and score when she has smaller defenders on her."

Jones, a 5-foot-9 senior, was named Dothan Eagle Super 12, all-state honorable mention and was selected to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game after averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals and 1.5 blocks as a senior. As a junior, she was named team MVP after averaging 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. As a sophomore, she averaged 10 points, five rebounds, 2.5 steals and two assists. In AAU play, she is a member of the GA Blazers.

"Valerie brings us good size and strength at the wing position," Dunn said. "She knows how to score in a variety of ways but also does a good job of seeing the floor and rebounding. She is eager to learn and has a willingness to become a better player at the next level."