Seven talented high school seniors have each signed a National Letter of Intent to invest their women's basketball and academic careers at Youngstown State University. YSU women's basketball acting head coach John Nicolais announced the seven signees on Thursday.
The group includes Ohioans Danielle Cameron, Sophia Gregory, Erica King and Jayda Mosley, Sarah Baker and Hayden Barrier from Kentucky, and West Virginia native Ashlynn Van Tassell.
Baker, Barrier and Van Tassell are each members of the WV Thunder AAU program, just as current Penguins Dena Jarrells, Shay-Lee Kirby, Malia Magestro, Emily Saunders and Paige Shy were.
Baker is a 6-foot-2 post player from Florence, Ky., who attends Larry A. Ryle High School. She has been a part of three teams that have been district champions, two that have been regional champions, and a state title team. Individually, Baker has been recognized on the All-Northern Kentucky Division I team, and she's also earned honors at the district and region levels. Baker is one of the most sought-after women's basketball student-athletes in recent years who chose to become a Penguin, accepting YSU's offer over a large group of Division I schools.
"Sarah brings a blue-collar, workman-type approach to her game with a constant motor on the court," Nicolais said. "She can play inside and out. Sarah is a great person and a hard worker in the classroom. Sarah has also played on one of the top club teams in the country, and that competition will prepare her well for the college game."
Barrier is a 5-foot-7 guard from Mount Sterling, Ky., who is a senior at Montgomery County High School. She is a six-time Kentucky High School Athletic Association Academic All-State selection, and she was named to the Kentucky/Indiana Junior All-Start Team in 2023. She has already scored 1,957 points in her career to go along with nearly 550 rebounds and 400 assists. As a junior, she made 89 3-pointers and scored 606 points in 35 games.
"Hayden is a long-range shooter who is also capable of defending full court," Nicolais said. "Her ability to stretch the defense coupled with her athleticism will be an asset for us in the future. She also was club teammates with Sarah Baker and faced top competition that will translate to the college game."
Cameron is a 5-foot-9 guard from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, who helped lead Olmsted Falls High School to a runner-up finish at the Division I state tournament last year. She is a Special Mention All-Ohio honoree and a two-time first-team all-conference pick. Cameron set an Olmsted Falls record with 85 3-pointers in a season, and she owns the Ohio High School Athletic Association record for most 3-pointers at the Division I State Tournament with 12.
"Danielle gives us a constant knockdown shooter who plays extremely hard on the court," Nicolais said. "She is an incredibly hard worker and a fierce competitor who helped lead her team to the Ohio Division I state championship game last year. Her winning mentality will allow her to transition to the college game effectively."
Gregory is a 6-foot-2 versatile player from Alliance, Ohio, who plays for the Lady Warriors at West Branch High School. She was named to the Northeast Ohio Inland District Division II First Team, and she is also a First-Team Eastern Buckeye Conference pick. She was a member of the WKBN Starting 5 squad honoring the best players in the Youngstown area as a sophomore when she led West Branch to the Division II District Championship with 13 points, five assists and three steals per game.
"Sophia brings great size, versatility and incredible athleticism to this class having played multiple positions for her traditionally strong West Branch High School team," Nicolais said. "Her quiet demeanor is gone once she steps onto the court. A decorated multiple-sport athlete, fans in the Mahoning Valley already know her capabilities."
King is a 5-foot-7 guard from Akron, Ohio, who plays at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. The Irish have won three district titles and a regional championship in King's career. As a junior, she was named Special Mention All-Ohio at the Division II level, and she earned first-team all-district and All-Tri-County accolades. She was a second-team all-county and honorable mention all-district selection as a sophomore.
"Erica is a multidimensional guard who is effective on both sides of the floor," Nicolais said. "She has the ability to score in bunches and comes from a storied high school program and highly respected club team. She has a great team-first mentality and a great personality that will fit in well with our squad."
Jayda Mosley
Mosley is a 5-foot-8 guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, who has helped lead Purcell Marian to back-to-back state championships at the Division II level. She is the only program in program history to make 100 3-pointers in a season, and she set a program record with 11 3-pointers in a game. That total is the fourth-most in a game in state history. She made a pair of 3s and scored eight points in the state title game in 2023.
"Jayda is a dynamic guard who can shoot and see the floor really well," said Nicolais. "Jayda is a winner and has been an integral part of multiple state championships at Purcell Marian. Jayda also comes from a quality club program. We are looking forward to her bringing that winning mentality to Youngstown."
Van Tassell is a 6-foot-3 post player from Cameron, W. Va., who is in her senior season at Cameron High. She has earned first-team all-state recognition in each of her first three seasons, and she was the all-state captain her sophomore year. Van Tassell has already surpassed 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career, and she will try to lead Cameron to its third straight Class A state championship in 2024.
"Ashlynn provides a strong inside presence offensively with great hands and feet, she has a knack for scoring," Nicolais said. "We have been able to sign some talented West Virginia players in the past, and we believe Ashlynn will continue that tradition. Ashlynn is a great person with an infectious personality, and she's shown that she's a winner by leading her Cameron High School team to multiple state championships."
