Spartan Women’s Basketball Announces 2019 Recruiting Class
11/15/2018 3:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Michigan State signs five for the 2019-2020 season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the signing of five National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, including Julia Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan/Grosse Pointe North), Cydni Dodd (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central), Moira Joiner (Saginaw, Michigan/Heritage), Taiyier Parks (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Alyza Winston (Muskegon, Michigan/ Muskegon). The class was ranked No. 6 by ESPNW Hoop Gurlz as of November 15.
Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season. She also holds program records of 19.1 points per game average, as well as, single-game scoring record of 35 points. In April, Ayrault was named to the 2018 Detroit Free Press Dream Team. She was named AP All-State Honorable-Mention for Class A in 2017.
She is the daughter of Kimberley and Andrew Ayrault, who both played basketball at Wayne State.
"I think that Julia is the hybrid of the group. She reminds me of Annalise Pickrel in some ways. She is a kid who can play 1-4. She has a really smooth stroke and plays with a lot of poise. She is extremely versatile, and in our system we have great success with kids like her who can play multiple positions," Merchant added.
Dodd is a 6-5 center who plays for head coach Stacy Mitchell at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and AAU basketball for Danny Riego and the Indiana Gym Rats EYBL. She is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 84 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Dodd averaged 11.0 points, 6.6. rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 70 percent shooting from the field. Dodd was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Underclass Large School All-State team. Last season, Warren Central captured the state championship, as Dodd earned All-East and All-Metro honors. In October, she was named to the IndyStar Preseason Super Team.
She is the daughter of Britney and Michael Dodd.
"We are really excited about the power and size that Cydni brings to the court. She has a tremendous basketball IQ for someone who plays the center position. She has great hands and feet, and is an excellent communicator on the court. Her unique skill set will make an immediate impact in our program," Merchant said.
Joiner is a 5-10 guard who plays for head coach Vonnie Delong at Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Jeff Taylor and the Michigan Storm. She is ranked No. 13 in her position and No. 57 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Joiner is a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree. In 2018, she led Heritage to the Class A state championship, averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Joiner was also named the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year. The three-time captain earned the Army National Guard Team award last season. She has captured first-team All-League honors for three straight seasons. The highly decorated Joiner has earned first-team All-Saginaw Valley since her freshman season.
"Mo is a winner. She does the little things that don't always show up on a stat sheet, but make a major impact on the game. She is a phenomenal leader with strong communication skills. She could consistently be a triple-double here at MSU because of her work ethic and her championship mentality," said Merchant.
Parks is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Matt Stricker at North Royalton High School in North Royalton, Ohio and played AAU basketball for Andre Gault and the SMAC. She is ranked No. 11 in her position and No. 93 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, she averaged 19.0 points to go along with 16.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. She earned first-team All-Conference honors as both a freshman and a junior. She also captured Northeast Lake All-District honors twice. She missed her sophomore year due to an ACL injury.
She is the daughter of Teresita Jones-Thomas and Michael Thomas and Omari Parks. Her mother played basketball at Youngstown State. She has one brother, Omari Spellman, who plays basketball for the Atlanta Hawks, while her other brother, Arashma Parks, plays at Temple.
"We love Taiyier's mobility as a post player. She can really get up and down the floor, but she also brings power and strength. Her versatility will transcend well in our system. Her ability to face the basket as well as power post will make her difficult to defend," added Merchant.
Winston is a 5-7 guard who plays for head coach Rodney Walker at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, which is the same high school that produced current Spartan Mardrekia Cook. Winston also played AAU basketball for Monique Brown and Michigan Crossover EYBL. Winston is ranked No. 18 in her position and No. 70 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she led the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. As a junior, she averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game. During her three years of high school she averaged 18.7 ppg. Winston has garnered both All-Conference and All-District honors throughout her high school career, adding All-State honors last year.
She is the daughter of Stacy and Ric Winston.
"Alyza is someone we have recruited since the seventh grade. End-to-end, she is one of the fastest kids that I will coach," Merchant said. "As she has developed her basketball skill set, her quickness makes her unstoppable. Alyza makes everyone better with her IQ and vision of the game."
The 2018-19 Spartan squad resumes action on Sunday, Nov. 18, hosting Wright State at 1 p.m.
Ayrault is a 6-2 guard who plays for head coach Gary Bennett at Grosse Pointe North High School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Rob Ruhstorfer and the Michigan Mystics. Ayrault is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 75 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game and led Grosse Pointe North to the Class A Final Four. Ayrault set program records of scoring 497 points scored in a season. She also holds program records of 19.1 points per game average, as well as, single-game scoring record of 35 points. In April, Ayrault was named to the 2018 Detroit Free Press Dream Team. She was named AP All-State Honorable-Mention for Class A in 2017.
She is the daughter of Kimberley and Andrew Ayrault, who both played basketball at Wayne State.
"I think that Julia is the hybrid of the group. She reminds me of Annalise Pickrel in some ways. She is a kid who can play 1-4. She has a really smooth stroke and plays with a lot of poise. She is extremely versatile, and in our system we have great success with kids like her who can play multiple positions," Merchant added.
Dodd is a 6-5 center who plays for head coach Stacy Mitchell at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and AAU basketball for Danny Riego and the Indiana Gym Rats EYBL. She is currently ranked No. 14 in her position and No. 84 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, Dodd averaged 11.0 points, 6.6. rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 70 percent shooting from the field. Dodd was named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Underclass Large School All-State team. Last season, Warren Central captured the state championship, as Dodd earned All-East and All-Metro honors. In October, she was named to the IndyStar Preseason Super Team.
She is the daughter of Britney and Michael Dodd.
"We are really excited about the power and size that Cydni brings to the court. She has a tremendous basketball IQ for someone who plays the center position. She has great hands and feet, and is an excellent communicator on the court. Her unique skill set will make an immediate impact in our program," Merchant said.
Joiner is a 5-10 guard who plays for head coach Vonnie Delong at Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan and played AAU basketball for Jeff Taylor and the Michigan Storm. She is ranked No. 13 in her position and No. 57 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Joiner is a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree. In 2018, she led Heritage to the Class A state championship, averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Joiner was also named the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year. The three-time captain earned the Army National Guard Team award last season. She has captured first-team All-League honors for three straight seasons. The highly decorated Joiner has earned first-team All-Saginaw Valley since her freshman season.
"Mo is a winner. She does the little things that don't always show up on a stat sheet, but make a major impact on the game. She is a phenomenal leader with strong communication skills. She could consistently be a triple-double here at MSU because of her work ethic and her championship mentality," said Merchant.
Parks is a 6-2 forward who plays for head coach Matt Stricker at North Royalton High School in North Royalton, Ohio and played AAU basketball for Andre Gault and the SMAC. She is ranked No. 11 in her position and No. 93 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. As a junior, she averaged 19.0 points to go along with 16.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. She earned first-team All-Conference honors as both a freshman and a junior. She also captured Northeast Lake All-District honors twice. She missed her sophomore year due to an ACL injury.
She is the daughter of Teresita Jones-Thomas and Michael Thomas and Omari Parks. Her mother played basketball at Youngstown State. She has one brother, Omari Spellman, who plays basketball for the Atlanta Hawks, while her other brother, Arashma Parks, plays at Temple.
"We love Taiyier's mobility as a post player. She can really get up and down the floor, but she also brings power and strength. Her versatility will transcend well in our system. Her ability to face the basket as well as power post will make her difficult to defend," added Merchant.
Winston is a 5-7 guard who plays for head coach Rodney Walker at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, which is the same high school that produced current Spartan Mardrekia Cook. Winston also played AAU basketball for Monique Brown and Michigan Crossover EYBL. Winston is ranked No. 18 in her position and No. 70 overall by ESPN HoopGurlz. Last season, she led the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. As a junior, she averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game. During her three years of high school she averaged 18.7 ppg. Winston has garnered both All-Conference and All-District honors throughout her high school career, adding All-State honors last year.
She is the daughter of Stacy and Ric Winston.
"Alyza is someone we have recruited since the seventh grade. End-to-end, she is one of the fastest kids that I will coach," Merchant said. "As she has developed her basketball skill set, her quickness makes her unstoppable. Alyza makes everyone better with her IQ and vision of the game."
The 2018-19 Spartan squad resumes action on Sunday, Nov. 18, hosting Wright State at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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