NORFOLK, Va. -- In her first season at the helm of Old Dominion women's basketball, head coach Nikki McCray-Penson signed five commits from the Class of 2018 to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
Joining the Monarchs in 2018-19 will be Mariah Adams (Little Rock, Ark.), Aziah Hudson (Baldwin, N.Y.), Amaya Register (Conyers, Ga.), Ajah Wayne (Birmingham, Ala.) and Amari Young (North Augusta, S.C.).
“We are excited to add these new additions to our Monarch family,” said McCray. “They are awesome people and come from great families. They are winners on and off the floor and will be able to impact our team immediately.”
Mariah Adams, a 6-0 combo guard, was a First Team All-State selection for Estem High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, last year. Adams averaged 14 points, five rebounds and four assists and guided the team to 21 wins and a state runner-up finish.
“I am so excited about Mariah and what she will bring to our team," said McCray. "She is a great person and great teammate. She gives us much needed athleticism, size, length and versatility that allows her to impact the game on both sides.”
Aziah Hudson, ranked the No. 83 overall recruit in the nation by ESPN, averaged over 20 points per game for Baldwin High School in New York last season. The 4-star guard led Baldwin to a state championship and is the school's all-time leading scorer with over 1,300 points entering her senior season. Hudson is the first ESPN top-100 recruit for Old Dominion since ESPN began publishing top-100 rankings in 2008.
“We are excited about Aziah and her future as a Monarch," said McCray. "She is a top-100 player and a 4-star guard that is relentless on both ends. She will bring that NYC swag and toughness.”
Amaya Register, a 5-5 point guard, averaged 10 points, five assists and two steals for Wesleyan High School in Georgia last season, playing a key role in Wesleyan's state championship. The 3-star guard also led her AAU Team, Team Elite, to back-to-back national championships on the top EYBL circuit.
“We are thrilled to have a great person and leader on and off the floor in Amaya," said McCray. "She has a great basketball IQ and understands how to run a team and most importantly how to make teammates better.”
Ajah Wayne, a 5-9 wing, averaged 15 points, six assists and two steals for Homewood High School in Birmingham, Alabama, last season. The Region 6A Player of the Year, Wayne helped Homewood to a state title, earning MVP honors in the title game. Wayne was also named MVP of the Alabama All-Star Game.
“We are very fortunate to have Ajah," said McCray. "She is great young lady with an awesome heart. She is an elite player that can impact the games is so many ways. She is relentless and is a winner.”
Amari Young, a 5-11 forward, has twice been named the South Carolina Player of the Year, including last season, when she averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocks for North Augusta High School. In addition, the 3-star recruit also led North Augusta to an undefeated season and state championship.
“Amari is a sweet person with a wonderful personality," said McCray. "She is a high-motor versatile player with size and tremendous wing span that affects the game in a variety of ways.”
For more information on the class, head to Signing Day Central.
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