Women's Basketball Signs Two to National Letter-of-Intent
11/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2005
PITTSBURGH - Pitt women's basketball head coach Agnus Berenato has announced the signing of two student-athletes to a National Letter-of-Intent for the 2006-07 season. Guard Ashleigh Braxton and center Selena Nwude will join the Panthers next fall as incoming freshmen.
Braxton, a native of Woodbridge, Va., helped Forest Park High School to a Virginia Group AAA championship as a sophomore in 2004, back-to-back regional titles in 2004 and 2005, and three straight Cardinal District championships. The 5-10 shooting guard earned second-team all-state as a junior by the Associated Press. Braxton is also a two-time all-district and all-region honoree and was named Potomac News and Manassas Journal-Messenger All-Area the past two seasons.
"Ashleigh has great size to play the wing position," Berenato said. "She is able to play both positions in the backcourt as well as the three-position. Her range, court vision and solid passing make her a skilled athlete. I'm excited to bring Ashleigh to Pittsburgh because I know she's going to help us right away."
A starter at Forest Park since her freshman year, Braxton averaged 10.5 points per game as a sophomore for the Bruins' state championship team and 11.7 last season as a junior when Forest Park again advanced to the state finals. Her shooting range was evident with a total of 93 three-point field goals over the past two seasons.
Nwude (Riverdale, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt HS), (pronounced WOO-day), is ranked No. 14 overall and second among centers by Scout.com. The Allstar Girls Report ranks her as the nation's No. 9 center and No. 40 prospect overall. Nwude has a long wingspan at 6-5 and helped Eleanor Roosevelt High School to the 2005 Maryland state championship.
"Selena, like Ashleigh, is very skilled," Berenato said. "She's got tremendous size which will make her a force with her back to the basket. She's going to be able to alter shots defensively and be a presence for us. With [6-3 sophomore] Marcedes Walker, having Selena gives us some flexibility in our lineup."
Nwude is a two-time all-county honoree and was named All-Metropolitan [Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.] and The Gazette All-Prince George County as a junior in 2005. In addition, she earned a nomination for DC Metropolitan Area Player of the Year in 2005-06. As a junior last season, Nwude averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks per game. Both Braxton and Nwude were invited to participate in the prestigious adidas Top 10 Camp this past summer.
"Ashleigh and Selena are tremendous signings for this program," Berenato said. "We set our sights high this year, looking for high-profile student-athletes and accomplished that goal. They will play right away and that was very important to our coaching staff. Their decisions to attend Pitt is a compliment not only to our staff but to the university and the community. Both Ashleigh and Selena are outstanding students that will represent the University of Pittsburgh well."