MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's basketball coach Rick Insell announced the signing of sisters Jasmine and Jawanda Duffey to national letters-of-intent on Wednesday, the first spring signings for the Blue Raiders.
The Duffeys hail from Jonesboro, Ga., and Jonesboro High School.
Jasmine, a 6-foot, 7-inch center, will transfer to Middle Tennessee after spending one season at Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville, Fla., where she played for former midstate standout and University of Alabama guard Brittney Ezell.
Jasmine joined OWC after Christmas after originally signing with Georgia Tech. She averaged 1.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12 games for the Lady Raiders at OWC.
As senior at Jonesboro High School in 2005-06, Jasmine averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks, earning Honorable Mention Class 4A All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Jawanda was named Honorable Mention All-Clayton/Henry County by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2006-07 after averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds for JHS. The Cardinals ended the year 20-7 overall, starting four sophomores and Jawanda for most of the year.
"We're excited about both young ladies," Insell said. "They come from a great family and they've got a chance to make a major impact on our program.
"Jasmine is an incredible shot blocker and rebounder," Insell said. "She can get up and down the floor and she can spot up and shoot the basketball. She didn't play a whole lot this year, but we'll get her in here this summer and she'll be ready.
"She isn't as quick as Krystle Horton, but she is going to make an impact next season. She'll get in here in May and we'll get her with (strength coach) Matt Riley. She needs to get a little stronger."
The Duffey sisters will join two November signees for the 2007-08 season - Murfreesboro, Tenn., native and Riverdale High School product Anne Marie Lanning, as well as Ashland, Ky., native and Rose Hill Christian School product Emily Queen.
"We're excited about what we've got coming back and what we've got coming in," Insell said. "It's a great class. We felt like we had to go get a five who could make an impact. We got two of them. And I'll tell you, Jasmine is a legitimate 6-7. She's not 6-5 or 6-6; she's 6-7."
Middle Tennessee won a school-record 30 games in 2006-07, winning its fourth straight Sun Belt Tournament title and its first Sun Belt regular season championship. The Blue Raiders made their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and won a first-round game for the third time in four seasons.
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