The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Inks Top 20 Recruiting Class
11/19/2015 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's basketball team picked up three commitments on the first day of the NCAA early signing period as Shelby Gibson (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland HS), Breanna Glover (Glasgow, Ky. /Glasgow HS) and Kaitlyn Rogers (Birmingham, Ala./ Wenonah HS) signed National Letters of Intent to join the women's basketball program in 2016-17. Ole Miss' class ranks as high as 16th nationally according to Blue Star Report and is the No. 2 class in the SEC.
"As a staff we are working hard every day to move our program forward and I cannot be happier about this class because we not only got talented basketball players but we got players that are very motivated to win championships and do it right here at Ole Miss," said head coach Matt Insell. "These three understand how special Ole Miss is and they are highly motivated to help our program return to the top of the SEC. I believe they will do special things throughout their careers at Ole Miss."
"As we started recruiting the 2016 class it was important for us to add size and athleticism and that is exactly what we was able to do with Bree, Kate and Shelby. All three bring with them different qualities that give them the ability to be immediate impact players in our program. Signing a top-20 recruiting class speaks to the quality of player that each of these ladies are and I am excited about having the opportunity to coach them the next four years."
Gibson comes to Ole Miss from Murfreesboro, Tennessee where she played her prep ball at Oakland High School. The 6-2 post player ranks ninth in her position group and has a top-60 ranking according to Prospects Nation. Gibson is a three-year starter for the Oakland Patriots and last season led her team to the state championship where they fell to rival Blackman in double overtime. Last season, Gibson averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds, while shooting 60.6 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the free throw line. The Tennessee native chose Ole Miss over Xavier, MTSU, Virginia Tech and UT-Chattanooga. She also had offers from Michigan State and West Virginia.
"Shelby is a person who fits in perfectly to what we are trying to accomplish at Ole Miss," said Insell. "We needed a low block presence in this recruiting class and I feel we got one of the best in the country in Shelby Gibson. She is extremely athletic and one of the most dynamic post players in the country. She possesses the versatility we love in our post players at Ole Miss. Shelby gives our program something we have not had here in a long time and that is the ability to be a force in the paint playing with her back to the basket and the ability to step out and knock down shots out on the floor. Her size and athleticism makes her very impactful rebounding the ball on both ends of the floor."
Glover comes to Oxford from Glasgow, Kentucky, where she plays her high school basketball at Glasgow High School. The 5-10 wing player is ranked 86th in her class and is the No. 14 ranked wing player in the class of 2016 according to ESPN HoopGurlz and checks in with a No. 30 ranking from Prospects Nation. Glover led her high school team to the 2014 state championship and Region Four titles in 2012 and 2014. As a junior, Glover averaged 19.2 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game. Last season, Glover became the all-time leading girls basketball player at Glasgow high school with over 1,800 career points. Prior to committing to Ole Miss, Glover considered Indiana, Kansas and Western Kentucky.
"Bree is an outstanding talent and one of the most explosive perimeter players in the class of 2016," said Insell. "She has the ability to take over a game offensively and defensively with her strength and athleticism. Her size on the perimeter allows her to play multiple positions and makes her very impactful rebounding the ball offensively and defensively. Bree's size and athleticism makes her a difference maker in many areas on the court."
Rounding out the class is Kaitlyn Rodgers from Birmingham, Alabama and Wenonah High School. Rodgers, a 6-2 forward, has a top-50 ranking and is the No. 9 forward in the class of 2016 according to Prospects Nation. Rodgers is the reigning Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A Player of the Year and the AL.com Birmingham Region Player of the Year. She averaged 7.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a game for the Class 5A two-time state champion Dragons. The forward was an ASWA Super Five and a first-team selection. In the state tournament semifinals and championship, Rodgers scored 23 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, blocked 14 shots and added nine steals, which earned her last season's Class 5A state tournament MVP marking her third straight selection to the All-Tournament team. Rodgers was also considering Alabama and Auburn.
"Kate in my mind is the best power forward in the class of 2016 and is a proven winner by what she has done in high school in winning two Alabama state championships in two seasons," said Insell. "She is a force at the forward spot with the ability to play with her back to the basket or out on the floor facing up and scoring the basketball. Her ability to score the basketball in many different ways inside and outside gives her a chance to be really special at the next level. Kate's strength and athleticism make her a game changer rebounding the ball and in my mind the best rebounding forward in her class."
2016 Ole Miss Women's Basketball Signing Class
Shelby Gibson - 6-3- Forward/Center - Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Oakland HS)
Breanna Glover - 5-10 - Guard - Glasgow, Ky. (Glasgow HS)
Kaitlyn Rodgers - 6-2- Forward/Center - Birmingham, Ala. (Weonah HS)
2016 Ole Miss Class Rankings
Blue Star Report - 16th Nationally, 2nd SEC
Prospects Nation - 20th Nationally, 2nd SEC
For all Ole Miss women's basketball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell
