UVa-Wise Bringing Stonewall Jackson Duo to Women’s Basketball Program

February 4, 2008

Mashonna Hughes, Stonewall Jackson head coach Nsonji White and Amber Carter

Manassas , Va. – Two future pieces of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise women’s basketball program signed recently in Stonewall Jackson High School’s Mashonna Hughes and Amber Carter.  The Dynamic Duo from Manassas will provide a solid post and a lightning quick point guard to the Lady Cavs roster.

UVa-Wise will welcome the 6’1” Hughes and 5’0” Carter to the campus.  The duo is two-thirds of the three seniors of Virginia’s second-ranked AAA Stonewall Jackson High’s undefeated 19-0 squad who plays in the extremely rugged Northern Virginia Cedar Run District. 

The SJHS team is also rated 10 th in the Washington Post Metro Girl’s Basketball poll, which includes teams from Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.  The 2006-07 VHSL AAA Northwest Tournament Champions and AAA state quarterfinalists are averaging 82 points and defeating opponents by an average of 30 points and forcing more than 32 turnovers per contest this season. 

The young Lady Cavs (4-20) will add the two exciting players to the 2008-09 recruiting class of head coach Rachel Clay-Keohane and assistant coach Doug Carter. 

“With Mashonna and Amber, our program has added two outstanding student-athletes from a fantastic high school basketball program,” explains the UVa-Wise head coach.  “The two are a big part of head coach Nsonji White’s all out, full court attacking defensive style of play and will bring that effort to our program.”

“Both Mashonna and Amber are disciplined, athletic and both are great young ladies.  They will be natural fit here at UVA-Wise,” exclaimed Clay-Keohane.

Mashonna is long and athletic who will bring an immediate shot blocking presence to the UVa-Wise program.  The future Lady Cav center’s father Darryl played collegiate basketball for Eastern Kentucky University.

A strong and intelligent point guard, Amber has lightning quick hands and the ability to change a game with her speed, smart play or penetration.  Carter earned all-district second team honors as well as Most Improved Player for Stonewall Jackson High.  The guard also carries over a 3.4 grade point average.