Coppin State women’s basketball announces recruiting class

BALTIMORE --- Following a memorable season which featured a run to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship game, Coppin State women’s basketball coach Derek Brown will look to rekindle the magic with the 2014-2015 recruiting class.

Coppin State’s recruiting class of Oluwaseun Adeniji, Candice Beverly, and D’ajahnae Smith come from winning backgrounds in high school and have the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact.

“I think they will be able to play right away,” Brown said. “We are looking for some size, we have some size in Oluwaseun, we have a shooter in D’ajahnae and we have a wing player in Candice Beverly.”

Adeniji is a 6 foot, 3 inch center from Staten Island, NY. She anchored the defense while helping Curtis High to a first place finish in the Staten Island A league and a 13-5 overall record. She averaged 5.7 rebounds per game for the Warriors and upped it to 6.5 per game, during their playoff run.

Beverly is a wiry six-foot athletic wing from Fredericksburg, Va. She led Riverbend to 15 wins while leading the team in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.4 rebounds per game). Beverly wasn’t just a prolific scorer but served as a defensive stopper as well, leading the Bears in steals and blocks with 1.5 per game for both categories. During her senior campaign, she was named first team all-area in Fredericksburg according to FLSvarsity.com.

“She’s a long wing player with a good outside shot and who can slash to the basket,” Brown said.

Brown admitted that strength will be her next oncoming challenge at the college level, but with her size and shooting ability, she can be a special player that will put points on the board right away.

Smith is a quick and versatile forward from Miami, Florida. She has the quickness to play a guard position, but at 5-8, also has the length and athleticism to be a forward. Averaging an impressive double-double stat line (12 points per game, 11 rebounds) in her last two seasons at American High, Smith has proven she can do it all. As a senior, she led her team in rebounding, and was named third team all-Dade according to MiamiDade.com.  She also helped lead the Patriots to two consecutive appearances in the title game.

“D’ajahnae Smith I think is a little diamond in the rough,” Brown said. “She’s going to be a terrific player in the years to come. I’ve likened her already to (two-time MEAC Player of the Year) Sherry Tucker.”

Beverly, Adeniji, and Smith will join seven key returnees from last year’s team that won 17 games and helped the Eagles advance to the MEAC title game. The Eagles will begin the season in November. The complete 2014-15 schedule will be released later this week.