2007-08 Media Guide
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Cox adds Florida junior college guard duo for
Clayton State women’s basketball in 2008-09
Metelus, Stevens bring athleticism, defensive intensity to the Laker fold this season

MORROW, Ga. – June 6, 2008 – Head coach Dennis Cox’s 2008-09 recruiting class is starting to take shape for the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team with the recent addition of wings Jorane Metelus and Lesheria Stevens from the Florida Community College Athletic Association.

Metelus is a 5-foot-8 wing who comes to Clayton State from Seminole Community College in Sanford, Fla., while Stevens is a 5-8 combo guard who comes to Clayton State from Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. They both join previously signed Georgia All-State forward Tanisha Woodard from Rome (Ga.) High School as the Laker newcomers at this point.

Clayton State is coming off a 20-11 mark this season, winning their third Peach Belt Conference regular season championship in the last four seasons and advancing to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

"We are very pleased with the addition of these two fine athletes," said Cox, who is 99-30 entering his fifth season at Clayton State. "They are both good defenders and can score in a lot of ways. As well as being proven players on great teams playing at a high level of junior college basketball in Florida, they are both good students, each having graduated with strong GPA’s and an associate’s degree from their respective institutions."

"Defensive specialist" is the best way to describe Metelus, who is from Miami. Over the last two season, she has been ranked nationally in steals at the junior college level – 12th as a freshman and 16th this past season.

Metelus is a two-time All-Mid-Florida Conference selection for head coach Maureen Smith at Seminole. She averaged nine points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists as a freshman, while averaging 12 points, three steals, three rebounds and two assists as a sophomore this past season. In Mid-Florida Conference play, however, Metelus stepped it up, averaging 17 points and four steals a game, while shooting 55 percent from the field.

She helped pace Seminole this past season to a 28-4 mark and the semifinals of the NJCAA Region VIII Tournament. In fact, Seminole was ranked as high as eighth in the nation this past season in the NJCAA.

"Jorane is an extremely athletic wing player with long arms that will fit perfectly in our system, particularly in our press attack and transition game."

A combo guard from Chattahoochee, Fla., Stevens enjoyed two strong seasons playing under head coach David Lane at Chipola.

She helped pace the Lady Indians to the NJCAA Region championship and a fifth-place finish at the 2007 NJCAA National Tournament as a freshman, averaging 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while shooting 54 percent from the field. This past season, Stevens averaged 11 points six rebounds, three assists and three steals, garnering All-Panhandle Conference honors in the process.

"Lesheria is a very crafty guard with quick hands that will add a strong defensive presence to the 2008-09 Lakers, as well as an added scoring threat on the perimeter," Cox said.