GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T women's basketball aims to reclaim the top spot in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) after a rare sub-.500 season under longtime head coach
Tarrell Robinson last season.
To achieve this, the Aggies unveiled a nine-member class this week, led by six Division I transfers and three high school recruits. Robinson said he and his staff targeted ball security, shooting, scoring, depth, and versatility at every position.
"I think without a doubt we addressed those areas along with the talented freshmen we signed in the fall," Robinson said.
The Aggies' six transfers are:
Jada Bates (6-3, forward, Powder Springs, Ga., McEachern HS, University of Arkansas);
Icyss Storm (6-1, F, Durham, NC, Grace Christian School, UNC Wilmington);
Drew Alexander (5-10, guard, Durham, NC, Greensboro Day School, Temple);
Maraja Pass (5-4, G, Shelby, NC, Shelby HS, Elon);
Rania Curry (5-9, G, Augusta, Ga., Butler HS, Mercer); and
Yves Cox (6-3, center, Savannah, Texas, Braswell HS, Arkansas State).
The prep standouts coming to Aggieland include:
Brook Evans (5-9, G, Greenville, NC, South Central HS);
Honor Hall (5-9, G, Richmond Heights, Ohio); and
Whitley Davis (5-11, G, Fairfield, Ohio, Winton Woods HS).
The newcomers join five returners: senior forwards
Paris Locke and
Darrionna Howard, sophomore guards
Jamyia Lindsey and
Crystal Hardy, and sophomore center
Anaya Karriem.
The Transfers
Bates – Bates competed for two years in one of the best conferences in the nation, the SEC. In two seasons at Arkansas, Bates played in 56 games, making 18 3-pointers and averaging 2.3 points per game. Robinson compared her possible impact to another SEC transfer to A&T, C'coriea Foy. Foy transferred from the University of Alabama in 2017 and scored 993 points at A&T in three seasons. She helped A&T reach the postseason twice, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 2018. At McEachern, she ranked fourth among small forwards in the Georgia High School Association girls power rankings. Bates broke the single-game scoring record at McEachern with 33 points. She played AAU for the Alabama Southern Stars.
"Jada is ready for the opportunity to be a major contributor to our success and show that all your basketball dreams can be reached at an HBCU," Robinson said.
Storm – Storm brings more versatility to the Aggies lineup. Robinson called her a matchup nightmare when the Aggies faced her at UNCW. He hopes she can cause the same problems for A&T opponents. She averaged 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds and shot 44 percent from the field for the Seahawks as a freshman last season. Storm scored 1,299 points in 97 games at Grace Christian School, averaging 13.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. She won three state championships and was twice all-state. Grace took NCISAA state titles in 2023 and 2024.
"I think playing hard is a talent," Robinson said. "She displays that talent and competes at a high level every possession."
Alexander — Alexander is a standout shooter who can improve the Aggies' perimeter game, which ranked eighth (.295) from three last season. She played 46 games over two seasons at Temple, making 37 threes in 31 games last year. She played her final high school season at Shabach Christian Academy (Md.), earning all-tournament honors at the Nike Tournament of Champions and the Mecca Showcase. Alexander led Shabach to a 19-11 record. As a Greensboro Day freshman, she made the Greensboro All-City Team and was a top-50 ASGR Basketball prospect.
"Her ability to score on all three levels, combined with her size, will make it hard for our opponents to stop her," said Robinson.
Pass — The Aggies led the CAA in turnovers per game (20.1) last season, and Pass could change that. Over three seasons at Elon, she ranked fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio and seventh in assists per game (3.4). She totaled 303 assists and 200 turnovers in 92 games. Pass played at one of the top high school girls basketball programs in the country at Winston-Salem Christian School. Before attending WSC, she won a North Carolina 2A state championship at Shelby High School. She was named MVP and earned District 10 Player of the Year.
"Her presence immediately makes us a dangerous team in transition because she puts pressure on the defense with her ability to score and create for others," Robinson said. "There is no fall off when she or Jamiya Lindsey sub out of the game."
Curry — Curry's size, skill, and athleticism make her an ideal combo guard. She brings a defensive presence integral to Robinson's teams. At Mercer, Curry played 30 games with nine starts, averaging 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 steals. At Butler High School, she made the all-defensive team and averaged 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
"She can defend at a high level, and she's capable of being the lead guard if needed," said Robinson. "She excels in transition, either with the ball in her hands or without. She will fit into our system on Day 1."
Cox – The center position is a coveted position at A&T that has produced the likes of Aprill McRae, Jazmin Harris,
Chaniya Clark, and Alexus Lessears. Therefore, adding another center alongside Karriem will bolster the Aggies' depth at a vital position. Cox gives the Aggies a big who can run the floor, sprint out of on-ball situations, and defend every position on the floor. Cox began at Cal State-Northridge, then moved to Arkansas State. She has 283 rebounds and 63 blocks in 59 career games. At Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), she was named second-team all-conference and defensive player of the year in 2023, averaging 8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds.
"She's long and rangy, which makes her an exceptional shot blocker," Robinson said. "Yves gives us depth and experience in one of the most important positions in our program."
High School Recruits
Evans — Evans is among the three big guards in this recruiting class. She averaged 14.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in her prep career and led South Central to an 18-6 record, including 10-0 in the Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference.
Hall — Hall, a four-time All-Ohio girls basketball selection, committed in the fall. As a junior, she averaged 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assists; as a senior, 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds as Richmond Heights went 20-6 and 11-1 in conference.
Davis — Davis adds even more versatility to this class. She scored over 1,000 points at Winton Woods High School, was a McDonald's All-American nominee, and led her team to a district championship. She earned all-district and All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference honors multiple times.
