WBB: Hillsman Signs Two Recruits for 2014-15

"We have a kid that can run the floor and has the ability to dunk the ball."

That's how women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman described Amber Witherspoon.  On Tuesday, the team announced the signings of Witherspoon and Danielle Minott to the 2014-15 class.

Witherspoon is a 6-4 forward from Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, Ill.  Minott, a 5-8 guard, plays for Country Day School in Miami, Fla.  Both players are three-star players with a grade of 90.

"Overall, we're at a point where our team is so young that we're kind of filling holes," Hillsman said through a press release. "I think that we did an excellent job of getting players that will fill the voids after this year's senior class leaves."

The Orange will lose four seniors: guards Rachel Coffey, La'Shay Taft, Phylesha Bullard and center Shakeya Leary.

Amber Witherspoon

"Amber Witherspoon is the best natural athlete in this 2014 class," Hillsman said. "Her athleticism is off the charts. She can really get up and down the floor and she's a great rebounder and shot blocker. I believe that she has a chance to come in and be an immediate impact player for us on both sides of the ball."

ESPN described her like this:

"Long, agile finesse-5 performer brings shot blocking presence to the key: wingspan alters shots; mobile in uptempo game; emerging offensive game waiting to be started."

Danielle Minott

Minott ranks No. 18 among guards, according to ESPN's Hoopgurlz.  She averaged 19 points and eight rebounds last season as a junior.  Her team reached the Class 3A State Championship game.

"Rated as the number one sleeper in the 2014 class, Danielle is a player that really came alive, starting last year and at the state championship," Hillsman said. "Danielle is an unbelievable player with the ball in her hands. She is really good off the bounce and shoots a natural jump shot. She is a player that has the ability, on our offense, to play three to four positions, depending on what we're running because she is very strong, physical and athletic."

Women's basketball website Fullcourt.com described Minott like this:

Minott is a player with a fairly sizable offensive skill package, just lacking a high level of consistency game to game. She has three-point range and can attack the basket going left or right, throwing in a nice spin move on occasion. Minott has a jumper but often attacks with more difficult (less likely to be successful) floaters.