NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion University women's basketball team and head coach Karen Barefoot announced the addition of Keyana Brown (Williamsburg, Va.), Auteaonna Gilmore (Ft. Washington, Md.) and Maia Lee (Falls Church, Va.), on Wednesday, who signed national letters of intent to play for the Lady Monarchs next fall.
“This highly recruited incoming class is composed of highly skilled versatile players,” said Barefoot. “They are winners who come from highly successful programs and will make major impacts for our program in the future."
Keyana Brown
Keyana Brown is a 5-foot-11 guard, who will play her senior season for her father, first year head coach, Chris Brown at Lafayette High School. Keyana transferred from Williamsburg Christian Academy, where she led the team in scoring and rebounding since being a starter since eighth-grade. Brown passed the 2,000-point career mark during her junior season. The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association named Brown to the All-State First-Team for Division III. Last year, Williamsburg Christian Academy finished 31-8 and Brown passed the 2,000-point career mark during her junior season. As a sophomore in the 2011-2012 season, she was named the Division III Player of the Year. Brown has been named to the Daily Press All-Stars for three straight seasons. Also, Brown played for the Elite Boo Williams 16U AAU team in the summer.
“Keyana has a scorer's mentality. She has the ability to score in various ways,” exclaimed Barefoot. “She can stretch the defense with her deep-range three-point shooting ability, she makes good basketball plays and is a strong rebounder.”
Auteaonna Gilmore
Auteaonna (‘Onna’) Gilmore is an ESPN three-star recruit, who is a 5-foot-8 point guard from Fort Washington, Md. Auteaonna made the 2013 Washington Post All-Metro Team. In the offseason, Gilmore transferred to Capital Christian Academy, where she will play her senior season. Ironically, Gilmore will be reunited at Old Dominion with Jennie Simms (an ESPN Top 100 player), where the two played together in 2010-12 for nationally ranked No. 2 Riverdale Baptist High School. Simms transferred to ODU from West Virginia University and will be eligible to play next season, exactly when Gilmore will put on a Lady Monarch’s uniform for the first time. Gilmore is a member of the Fairfax Stars AAU team.
Coach Barefoot talked about her incoming point guard, “Onna is a point guard who has tremendous court awareness. She is a good three-point shooter, and has the ability to attack the basket and make big plays. She will fit our system with her hard-nosed defensive abilities and toughness.”
Maia Lee
Maia Lee is a 6-foot-3 forward, who is currently rated the 22nd best high school girl’s basketball player in the country at her position by ESPN, as well as rated a three-star recruit by ESPN. Lee is a senior at McLean High School in Northern Virginia and was selected to the Liberty District All-Tournament Team. Lee is a member of Team Takeover 16U.
Barefoot remarked, “Maia is an exceptional athlete. She is a great defender who is long, aggressive and is an outstanding rebounder. She runs the floor and can score in transition. Maia really fits our up-tempo system.”
Barefoot explained, “I am thrilled to have Keyana, Onna and Maia to join our ODU Lady Monarch basketball family. They have high character, they are good students, and they strive for excellence both on and off the court.”
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