St. John's University Athletics
Tartamella Announces NLI Signings For 12th Ranked Recruiting Class
11/14/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2013
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's women's basketball head coach Joe Tartamella announced on Thursday that the Red Storm has received four National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the early signing period. Tamesha "Sox" Alexander, Imani Littleton, Crystal Simmons and Tonoia Wade will join St. John's for the 2014-15 season after signing NLI's.
In his second season at the helm of the Red Storm, Tartamella has inked the 12th best college recruiting class according to BlueStar Basketball.
"We are very excited about our incoming class," Tartamella stated. "I am proud of our staff's efforts in the recruitment of these four young ladies who we feel will be a major part of our program's future."
Tamesha "Sox" Alexander | Point Guard| Philadelphia, Pa. | The Shipley School
A four-star 5'6 point guard with strong ball handling and precise passing skills, Alexander is regarded as one of the top point guards in her class and is ranked No. 24 at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz. The Philadelphia, Pa. native has spent her high school career leading The Shipley School to three Friends League Championships and one Independent School State Championship.
"Sox is an old school, savvy point guard that will bring depth to the point guard position. She is an exceptional change of speed guard that our fans will love to watch," Tartamella commented. "Sox has been part of winning programs throughout her career and she is a winning player. We are very excited to add her to our program."
 Tamesha "Sox" Alexander  | |
In her first three seasons at The Shipley School, Alexander has led the squad to a 63-22 overall record and started in every game but one. A true floor general, she has already passed the 1,000 point mark with 1,107 points in just three seasons and heads into her senior campaign just 183 points shy of setting the school's all-time scoring record for both boys and girls teams.
Alexander was recognized as an "exciting young player to watch," by ESPN's Lisa Bodine. Bodine also noted "Alexander handles the ball and makes thread-the-needle passes moving at full speed."
Alexander is an all-around threat on the hardwood and has recorded 284 rebounds, 456 assists and 334 steals to go along with her scoring accolades. Her total-package play has earned her three selections to the All-Main Line First Team and three nods to the All-Friends School League First Team.
The versatile guard has played both her high school and AAU careers under head coach Sean Costello and led the Philadelphia Belles to several honors, including two-time Boo Williams Invitational Championships in 2009 and 2010 and three Mid-Atlantic Region Championships.
Imani Littleton | 6-3 | Forward | La Mesa, Calif. | The Bishop School
Also a four-star recruit, Littleton is an athletic forward who is ranked No. 22 at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz and 61st overall by ProspectsNation.com. A high-impact player, Littleton can run the floor and contribute on both ends due to her speed and agility.
The La Mesa, Calif. native has played in 89 games for The Bishop School, one of the most premiere independent schools on the West Coast, known for both academics and athletics. She enters her senior season just 418 points shy of breaking the 2,000 point plateau after knocking in a stellar 720 points in her junior campaign.
"Imani is one of the most athletic players we have ever recruited," added Tartamella. "At 6-3 she has perimeter skills that allow her to be a force all over the floor. Her ability to block shots, press and rebound adds depth to our defensive attack."
A dominant post presence, Littleton has averaged 17.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game throughout her high school career.
ESPN's Mark Lewis said Littleton "has grown and added length to her impressive frame. She has a lean build but has tremendous agility and speed." He went on to comment "long term possibilities are almost limitless."
Crystal Simmons | 5-10 | Guard | Madrid, Spain | Life Center Academy (Burlington, N.J.)
A combo guard with a versatile skill set and contagious personality off the court, Simmons is originally from Madrid, Spain, where her father, mother and sister still reside. Simmons, who has U.S. citizenship through her father, Douglas, has only lived in the U.S. for two years but has quickly developed into one of the top guards in her class in the state of New Jersey. She is ranked 24th at her position by ESPN HoopGurlz and a three-star recruit.
 Crystal Simmons | |
"Crystal is a high energy and tough nosed guard from Madrid, Spain," said Tartamella. "At 5-10, she brings height to our guard position and her ability to make plays in transition makes her a perfect fit for our program. Crystal loves to defend and we feel she can be a defensive stopper."
A former teammate of current Red Storm sophomore forward Sandra Udobi, Simmons is known for her quickness and aggressive play, as well as her ability to get to the basket and apply on-ball defensive pressure.
In 62 games spanning two years at the Life Center Academy, Simmons has shown a consistent ability to stuff a box score, averaging 9.7 points, 4.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 0.9 blocks. As a junior, Simmons posted season-highs of 14 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 11 steals and four blocks.
Tonoia Wade | 6-1 | Forward | New Brighton, Minn. | Kennedy HS
A 6-1 forward out of Minnesota, Wade is a four-star recruit and ranked No. 22 in her position by ESPN HoopGurlz and No. 99 nationally by her ProspectsNation.com. Wade has spent her high school days playing for Bloomington Kennedy High which is regarded as one of the top programs both athletically and academically in Minnesota.
 Tonoia Wade | |
A versatile athlete, Wade is capable of playing both guard and forward. Her size and strength give her the ability to be a strong presence in the paint, but Wade can help stretch defenses as she can knock down shots from behind the arc.
"Tonoia is a perfect fit for our style of play with her versatility inside and outside," Tartamella commented. "She will bring a strong defensive presence with her ability to guard multiple positions and can stretch defenses with her ability to shoot the ball from 3 point range."
In 22 games during her junior campaign at Kennedy, Wade averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks per game.
