MEMPHIS, TN (University of Memphis) - Sharee "KK" Harvey signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Memphis women's basketball team it was announced by Tiger Head Coach Melissa McFerrin, Wednesday. Harvey, a 6-2 post from Mesquite, Texas, and North Mesquite High School will be the program's lone early signing period signee as the Tigers have three players sitting out this season following NCAA transfer rules and a pre-season injury. The addition of Harvey means Memphis will have four new faces to make up the signing class.
"Post players are always highly sought and those in the 2010 class were no exception," McFerrin said. "We feel that we landed one of the most skilled and versatile bigs in the class with the signing of KK Harvey. Her footwork, passing ability, and great hands will allow her to play both facing and back to the basket. She will be extremely effective in our offensive system. We are even more excited about KK's scholarship. She is near the top of her class academically and has high goals on and off the court."
Harvey is the 60th-best small forward in the 2010 class according to the Collegiate Girls Basketball report. She averaged 9.8 points, 6.6 points and 1.2 assists per game last year at North Mesquite High School for head coach Paul Gardner. She was an academic all-district honoree every season from 2006-2009 and was first team all-district in both her sophomore and junior seasons. She was named the Defensive Player of the Year at North Mesquite last season and was named to the Grand Prairie All-Tournament Team. Harvey also played club basketball with the Texas Thunder under head coach Cliff Thurmond.
A left-handed power forward, Harvey recently tore her ACL and will miss this season with her rehabilitation of the injury. The daughter of Ruby Kelley, she selected Memphis over North Carolina State and Tulane.
The addition of Harvey means that the 2010-11 signing class for the Tigers will include four-year college transfers Mary Jackson (Memphis, Tenn./Oakhaven HS/Univ. of Louisville) and Jasmine Lee (Bessemer, Ala./Jess Lanier HS/Univ. of Georgia) and point guard Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, who tore her ACL in pre-season workouts and who will begin her college eligibility next season for the Tigers. The addition of Harvey to that trio of players has helped the Tigers follow up last year's recruiting success with a class that is already ranked No. 47 in the country and second in Conference USA by the Allstar Girls Report.
"Everyone would agree that recruiting is the lifeline of any elite level program," McFerrin said. "We are proud to bring our second consecutive nationally-ranked recruiting class to the University of Memphis. KK, along with Top 100 players Mary Jackson and Jasmine Lee, will help us continue or climb to the top of Conference USA and beyond. Tiger fans are sure to enjoy this class' combination of athleticism, power and skill."
Memphis could look to sign one signee during the spring basketball signing period. The Tigers have two seniors on the current roster, guards Tehani Goldsmith and LaToya Bullard, but Bullard would be eligible to apply for a medical redshirt following season-ending back surgery last year.
The Tigers will open their 2009-2010 regular season Friday against Indiana at FedExForum at 5 p.m. That game will be the front end of a double-header with the Tiger men's basketball team.
2010-2011 Newcomers, University of MemphisSharee "KK" Harvey, 6-2, F, Mesquite, Texas/North Mesquite HS
Mary Jackson, 5-10, G, TR, Memphis, Tenn./Oakhaven HS/University of Louisville
Jasmine Lee, 6-2, P, TR, Bessemer, Ala./Jess Lanier HS/University of Georgia
Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, 5-5, PG, RS-Fr., Springfield, Mass./New Leadership Charter
