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To prepare for the upcoming 2020-21 season, I am highlighting each player on the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team roster. I have previously previewed Emily Engstler, Kiara Lewis, Tiana Mangakahia, Amaya Finklea-Guity and Digna Strautmane, as well as the remaining returners.
The No. 4 ranked class in the nation, according to espnW HoopGurlz, includes seven players: Kamilla Cardoso, Priscilla Williams, Faith Blackstone, Khamya McNeal, Kiara Fisher, Maud Huijbens, and Ava Irvin.
No. 14 Kamilla Cardoso
Position: Center
Height: 6’7”
Hometown: Montes Claros, Brazil
High School: Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
Bio: Cardoso, a five-star recruit, is ranked No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in her position by espnW. She is the highest-ranked player in program history to sign with Syracuse. Cardoso was a member of the McDonalds All-American Team and the Jordan Brand Classic All-American Team in 2020. In her senior season, Cardoso averaged 17.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest while leading her team to a No. 2 national ranking.
How’d she get here?: Connecticut, Ohio State, Mississippi State, and South Carolina offered before she chose ‘Cuse.
No. 2 Priscilla Williams
Position: Guard
Height: 6’2”
Hometown: Branson, Missouri
High School: Branson
Bio: Williams is ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 3 in her position by espnW. She is the fourth-highest ranked recruit in Syracuse WBB history. Williams was a member of the 2020 McDonalds All-American Team and the Jordan Brand Classic All-American Team. She was also named to USA Today First Team Missouri in 2019 and was a two-time MBCA Class 5 All-State. Last season, the five-star recruit averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds per game.
How’d she get here?: Florida State, Louisville, Mississippi State, and SMU offered before she chose ‘Cuse.
No. 12 Faith Blackstone
Position: Guard
Height: 6’0”
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
High School: Hillside
Bio: The four-star recruit ranks 84th nationally and 22nd in her position by espnW. Last season, Blackstone averaged 26.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game.
How’d she get here?: East Carolina, Rutgers, Houston, and Seton Hall offered before she chose ‘Cuse.
#11 Khamya McNeal
Position: Guard
Height: 5’8”
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
High School: Rufus King
Bio: The three-star recruit is ranked 29th at her position by espnW. McNeal was named to the WBCA Division I All-State and AP Fourth Team All-State lists in 2020.
How’d she get here?: Bradley, North Dakota, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, Milwaukee, Illinois, Kansas State, and Tennessee State offered before she chose ‘Cuse.
No. 15 Kiara Fisher
Position: Guard
Height: 5’7”
Hometown: Elmira, New York
High School: Elmira
Bio: The three-star recruit, ranked 48th in her position by espnW, was the first commit of the 2020 class. In her career, Fisher was honored with the NYSSWA First Team Class AA All-State (2020), BCANY Class AA Player of the Year (2020), NYSSWA Third Team Class AA All-State (2018), and NYSSWA Sixth Team Class AA All-State (2017). She underwent two major surgeries in 2019 (shoulder & ACL) that kept her off the court for an extended period of time.
How’d she get here?: Mississippi State and DePaul offered before she chose ‘Cuse.
No. 13 Maud Huijbens
Position: Forward
Height: 6’5”
Hometown: Hilversum, Netherlands
Bio: The three-star recruit ranks 12th in her position by espnW. Huijbens averaged 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds with the Netherlands U18 National Team in 2019.
No. 0 Ava Irvin
Position: Guard
Height: 5’8”
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
High School: Greater Atlanta Christian School
Bio: Irvin averaged 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 steals at GAC last season.