The Youngstown State women's basketball program is excited to have Amya McLeod and Bella Samz officially become Penguins. The guards each signed a National Letter of Intent this week to continue their academic and athletic careers at YSU and will join the program for the 2023-24 season.

McLeod is a 5-foot-6 guard from Rome, N.Y., who attends Rome Free Academy, while Samz is a 5-foot-9 guard from Oconomowoc, Wis., who attends Arrowhead High School.

McLeod averaged 24.2 points, six assists, five rebounds and 3.2 steals per game for RFA. She has set single-game school records with 40 points, 13 assists and five 3-pointers, and she ranks third in school history with 1,235 points heading into her senior year. She also ranks in the top five at RFA in career 3-pointers, assists and steals. McLeod is a three-year team captain who has been named the Colonial Division Player of the Year in the Tri-Valley League and to the New York State Sports Writers Association all-state Class AA sixth team.

"Amya is an athletic guard who can really defend and attack the rim and finish with contact," said YSU head coach John Barnes. "She is a fearless leader that has unlimited hustle and a do-what-it-takes attitude to get the job done. She has an infectious positive attitude that will help lift the whole program's spirits when she steps on campus. We feel very fortunate to have Amya joining our program and feel she will impact us in a positive way on and off the court."

Samz has led Arrowhead to back-to-back regional championships and a Classic 8 Conference title as the Warhawks' point guard. As a junior, she was named to the Honorable Mention Division 1 All-State Team by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. She has also had a noteworthy AAU career, leading the Wisconsin Lakers to a 39-3 record.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Bella to our YSU family," Barnes said. "We have been very fortunate to sign some outstanding players from Wisconsin and we feel like Bella can continue that tradition. She is outstanding in the classroom and tough as nails on the court. She played for one of the best club teams in the country, and that elite competition will prepare her well for the college level."

Youngstown State is coming off a 2021-22 season in which it won a share of the Horizon League regular-season title. The Penguins were picked as the preseason favorites in the conference's preseason poll.