#42 ELIZABETH BASHAM
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Hometown: Abingdon, Va.
Inside the numbers: Missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, but averaged just more than 10 minutes played per game in 25 contests as a sophomore in 2008-09.
Analyzing Basham’s game: Basham has been through two surgeries on her right shoulder since she last played at the end of the 2008-09 season. She had the first operation following that season and looked to be on track to play last year, but she suffered a setback early on and went under the knife a second time.
Dunkenberger’s take: “We have been very conservative as we have brought her back, but it looks like the surgery completely repaired her shoulder. The thing she brings to our team with a good, strong arm is her ability to stretch the defense from that forward spot. She’s one of the team’s best 3-point shooters and she keeps people from doubling down on that low block.”
#12 NIKKI DAVIS
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Inside the numbers: Led the team with 116 assists last season, while averaging 6.4 points per game … Erupted for 29 points, the seventh most in a single game by a Tech player, at Miami on Jan. 24, including a Hokie record of 14 made free throws in an ACC contest.
Analyzing Davis’ game: Davis begins her second season as the starting point guard, where she will not only distribute the ball, but also be counted on as one of the team’s main scoring options. A balky knee for the second half of last season hampered her, but she had minor surgery to clean it up and has rediscovered her quick first step.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Nikki has worked extremely hard. She and Brittany Gordon both have done a great job of leading during the offseason. She brings a very determined attitude that seems to be infectious with our team. We’ve got a lot of players who can score this year, and I think Nikki is certainly one of them.”
#23 BRITTANY GORDON
Class: Senior
Position: Center
Height: 6-4
Hometown: Howard County, Md.
Inside the numbers: The lone returning player to have started all 30 games last season … Averaged 6.4 points per contest, while shooting 49 percent from the field … Ranked third on the team in rebounding at 5.1 boards per game … Also blocked 20 shots.
Analyzing Gordon’s game: Thrown into the starting lineup early in her sophomore year – probably before she was ready for it – Gordon has matured into a solid post player while guarding some of the country’s best bigs on opposing ACC teams. She finally has some depth behind her on the roster this season.
Dunkenberger’s take: “The most notable difference between this season and last season is that we’ve got a lot of players now who can score in the paint, and Brittany leads the way. She has been a tremendous leader on and off the court.”
#33 SHANEL HARRISON
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Inside the numbers: Played in all 30 games a year ago, starting 10 of the final 11 … Finished fourth on the team in scoring at 7.3 points per game and led the team with 31 blocked shots … Is the leading returning rebounder (5.2 boards per game) after ranking second behind the departed Utahya Drye.
Analyzing Harrison’s game: Harrison made the biggest improvement of any Hokie last year and earned herself a starting role by the end of the season. Her effort became a lot more consistent and she routinely got the Cassell crowd pumped up with a key put-back, loose ball or blocked shot.
Dunkenberger’s take: “She improved so much and she did it by playing hard on both ends of the court. When she does that, she really picks up her offensive production – her defense really fuels her offense. What we’re working hard on is that Shanel starts this season the way she finished last season. When she plays hard, she’s fun to watch and she fuels everybody on our team.”
#32 TAYLOR AYERS
Class: Sophomore
Position: Center
Height: 6-2
Hometown: Augusta, Ga.
Inside the numbers: Played in 19 games, posting averages of 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per contest … Scored a season-high five points against No. 25 Georgia Tech and grabbed a season-high five rebounds against George Mason.
Analyzing Ayers’ game: Ayers saw little time off the bench as a freshman, but she has gotten herself into better shape and will look to play more minutes in her second campaign. She demonstrated a nose for the ball around the rim, as well as the ability to put it in the hoop while among traffic.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Taylor has come a long way. She has worked extremely hard on her conditioning and her fitness level has improved drastically. She has a natural ability to score in the paint. She has touch around the basket and she’s got great hands when she rebounds.”
#13 ALYSSA FENYN
Class: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Newark, N.Y.
Inside the numbers: Started 22 games and finished third on the team in scoring at 7.5 points per game behind departed seniors Utahya Drye and Lindsay Biggs … Ranked fourth on the team in rebounding (4.3 boards per game), assists (48) and steals (29) … Ranked among the top 10 freshmen in the ACC in both scoring and rebounding.
Analyzing Fenyn’s game: Fenyn started from day one and was one of the most versatile and athletic players on the team as a freshman. She shot just 1-of-15 from beyond the arc, but she made her living as a slasher. Because of that and the fouls she induces, she must improve upon her 56 percent free-throw shooting.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Alyssa has worked as hard as any player in the offseason. She’s logged major gym time seven days a week. The thing that she’s got to work on the most is being consistent from the outside. She’s used to being able to attack and score in the paint off the bounce, but she’s really worked on her outside game.”
#22 PORSCHIA HADLEY
Class: Sophomore
Position: Forward/Center
Height: 6-3
Hometown: Montezuma, Ga.
Inside the numbers: Played in 28 games as a freshman and led the team in field-goal accuracy at 49.5 percent … Averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, while swatting 15 shots … Scored a career-high 15 points at No. 10 Florida State.
Analyzing Hadley’s game: Hadley plays a very poised game and rarely seems to miss a shot or take a bad one. However, there were times last year where she would almost disappear and one forgot that she was on the floor. Becoming more aggressive will be instrumental to her development.
Dunkenberger’s take: “She’s really worked to finish as she is attacking the basket. You saw her shoot a lot of little fade-away shots and avoid some contact last year, but she’s worked in the weight room. She’s really worked on becoming a more physical player and being able not to just face up, but also to attack the basket.”
#2 ABBY REDICK
Class: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Roanoke, Va.
Inside the numbers: Played in all 30 games, averaging 2.5 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game … Must improve upon her shooting percentages, which included 34 percent from the field, 17 percent from the 3-point line and 52 percent from the free-throw line.
Analyzing Redick’s game: Redick’s contributions to the Hokies are not necessarily seen in the numbers. She is more of a “glue” player who does a little bit of everything and holds the team together. Vocally and physically, she more closely resembled an upperclassmen than a freshman.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Abby is a very smart player. We’ve been able to work a lot on her perimeter game. I think she’ll be able to play the 3 and the 4 for us this year and face the basket a lot more. Her outside shot looks good. She’s worked extremely hard in the offseason. She brings a lot of intangibles to the court.”
#3 AERIAL WILSON
Class: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Cocoa, Fla.
Inside the numbers: Averaged 2.5 points in 10.2 minutes per game as freshman, while playing in 25 contests … Had a career-high nine points against NC Central, and later scored eight against No. 25 Georgia Tech.
Analyzing Wilson’s game: Wilson was an elite scorer in high school, but her adjustment to college was made tougher because she was playing out of position as the backup point guard. With this year’s addition of freshman Kyani White, Wilson should be able to slide back to the two-guard spot to which she is more accustomed.
Dunkenberger’s take: “You could almost watch her grow up over the course of last season. By the end of the season, she was very confident in her ball handling and a lot more confident with her shot. I see her scoring a lot more consistently this year. It’s just a level of confidence that she’s gotten through a year of going through the rigors of the ACC.”
#20 NIA EVANS
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Decatur, Ga.
Inside the numbers: A McDonald’s All-America nominee who rated as the No. 97 prospect nationally following her junior season ... Averaged 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per game as a senior at Redan High School, where she led her team to a 58-1 combined record her junior and senior seasons.
Analyzing Evans’ game: Evans should compete for playing time from the start because she can contribute on both ends of the court. Because she rarely suffered a defeat in high school, she also possesses a winning attitude that will hopefully rub off on the rest of the Hokies.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Nia is so fast, athletic and strong. She’s physical and aggressive, and she can finish in the paint. She brings a championship mindset to our team. She’s going to be a good one.”
#43 LATORRI HINES-ALLEN
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Montclair, N.J.
Inside the numbers: Rated as the No. 88 recruit in the nation following her junior season ... Averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game during the 2008-09 season at Montclair High School, where she led the team to a 23-6 record and the North Jersey Section 1 state championship.
Analyzing Hines-Allen’s game: Hines-Allen missed her senior season after suffering an ACL injury in the summer of 2009 while playing for her AAU team. She is on schedule to be 100 percent full go for the start of the season and will provide depth in the frontcourt.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Latorri is just a great athlete in the paint. She overpowers people and she is a great rebounder. She’s a next-level athlete with athleticism that you can’t teach.”
#21 BRITTNI MONTGOMERY
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Hometown: Ft. Pierce, Fla.
Inside the numbers: A McDonald’s All-America nominee who rated No. 31 among power forwards nationally as a junior ... Averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds per game last season at Ft. Pierce Central High School ... A three-time Palm Beach All-Area selection.
Analyzing Montgomery’s game: Montgomery is a long, lean shot blocker and rebounder who has the potential to be a difference maker in the paint, especially on the defensive end.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Coming in, I thought Brittni might have the most to learn among the freshmen, but she has really impressed me in practice. She’s a quick learner.”
#31 MONET TELLIER
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 5-11
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Inside the numbers: Rated as the No. 54 prospect nationally as a junior ... Named the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association 2010 state player of the year ... Averaged 17.6 points, 10 rebounds and 4.4 steals per game last season at East Mecklenburg High School, which she led to a 28-3 record.
Analyzing Tellier’s game: Dunkenberger raves about Tellier’s energy level and how hard she plays. That, when combined with her talent and build, will make her an instant contributor.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Monet is a very physical, very aggressive guard. I think her energy is what separates her from a lot of people. She’s a very explosive player.”
#11 KYANI WHITE
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Manassas, Va.
Inside the numbers: A McDonald’s All-America nominee who averaged 18.4 points, 8.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 6.4 steals in her career at Stonewall Jackson High School ... Connected on a total of 239 3-point shots in her career … The Washington Post 2010 All-Area Player of the Year.
Analyzing White’s game: White will see minutes immediately as a backup point guard not only because of her offensive prowess, but also because one of her biggest strengths is her ability to get after it on the defensive end of the court.
Dunkenberger’s take: “Kyani will be one of the best ball handlers to ever put on a Virginia Tech uniform. She is a true point guard who can pass and who has outside range. She’s a playmaker.”
