Mountaineers Sign Trio on NSD
November 13, 2019 11:06 AM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University women's basketball coach Mike Carey announced the addition of three Mountaineers for the 2020-21 season, as JeAnna Cunningham (Brentwood, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), Giana "Gigi" Hernandez-Boulden (Hamilton, N.J./Trenton Catholic Academy) and Taziah Jenks (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy) have signed National Letters of Intent.
"Gigi, JeAnna, and Taziah will be great additions to our program," Carey said. "We addressed the needs that we wanted to fill with this class. We are excited about not only signing these great players but also adding three incredible families to our program."
A 6-foot-4 post out of Brentwood, New York, Cunningham plays for St. Francis Prep and iExcel. Rates as a four-star prospect from Prospects Nation and ranks at No. 13 in her position via ESPN. She was named a 2019 GCHSAA Brooklyn/Queens All-Star by The Tablet after averaging 12.6 points and 14.2 rebounds per game in her junior season. Cunningham also was named GCHSAA "AA" All All-League and a 2017-18 Tablet All-Star. She is the daughter of Joanne Campbell-Cunningham and Josh Cunningham.
"As soon as I stepped on campus I got that gut feeling. WVU felt like home."- JeAnna Cunningham
"JeAnna is an athletic, long forward that will be really successful in our fast break. She runs the floor well and is an elite rebounder, great shot blocker and can shoot the jump shot. JeAnna will impact the game on both ends of the floor. We are thrilled she is coming to West Virginia."- WVU coach Mike Carey
"We are definitely going to miss JeAnna here. She's grown tremendously over the last few years. I know that she's just tapping into her potential and hasn't scratched the surface yet. West Virginia is a perfect fit with both playing and coaching style. I am expecting her to have a very successful career there." – Coach Kerri White, St. Francis Prep Academy
"JeAnna Cunningham is a talented player who has the ability to post up and showcase a variety of moves and she can also step out on the perimeter and knock down shots. This young lady understands the value of hard work and has never cheated the process of putting in the time to improve herself. She is clearly one of the top post players in New York City this year and will help her team to championships for the 2020 high school season." – Coach Walter Welsh, iExcel Travel Team
A 5-foot-11 guard, Hernandez-Boulden was named to The Trentonian's All-Area First Team after helping Trenton Catholic to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public B state final. She added 15 points as the Mikes claimed their first NJSIAA Non-Public B South title in eight seasons. Hernandez-Boulden averaged 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a junior to help Trenton Catholic to a 25-4 record in 2018-19. Additionally, she was selected to the Puerto Rico national team for the 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Women's Basketball Championships in Argentina. Hernandez-Boulden's aunt is former Pitt standout Debbie Lewis, who holds the Panthers' all-time record for career assists (638) and was honored as an ACC Legend in 2015. Rated a four-star prospect by Prospects Nation, she is the daughter of Dewayne and Neida Lewis and Troy Boulden and also plays for Books and Basketball.
"I chose WVU because it's a great fit for me all around, and I love the family atmosphere." – Giana Hernandez-Boulden
"Gigi is a scoring guard that can score the basketball at different levels. She can knock down the 3-point shot and is really good coming off a ball screen. She has an incredible work ethic. She plays the game with great IQ that will be a perfect fit for our style of play. We are ecstatic about her future with West Virginia." – WVU coach Mike Carey
"Gigi is an amazing young woman who we have had the honor of coaching over the last three years. Her dedication to her sport is evident in how hard she works both on and off the court. She is a true leader and will be an asset to the West Virginia." – Coach Bob Fusik, Trenton Catholic Academy
"GiGi is a coach's dream. She's great kid on and off the court, great work ethic, loves the game and wants to get better every day. I'm looking forward to seeing her growth at the next level." – Coach Antoine Saab, Books and Basketball
Taziah Jenks is a 6-foot-1 guard out of Louisville, Kentucky, who joins the Mountaineers after completing her career Mercy Academy and the West Virginia Thunder. Rated a four-star prospect by Prospects Nation, she also rates as the No. 17 forward in the class of 2020 and an Elite 100 prospect. Jenks averaged a team-best 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a junior in 2018-19 and has led the Jaguars to back-to-back Sixth Region championships. She earned Lexington-Herald Second-Team All-State honors in 2019 after garnering third-team accolades in 2018. Jenks is the daughter of Latasha Grundy and Oliver Jenks.
"I chose WVU because I love the environment. It will challenge me to grow as a person and improve my game." – Taziah Jenks
"Taziah is an explosive, athletic guard that can create for herself and her teammates. She can really score and rebound the basketball and has incredible length. We are eager to help her reach her full potential as a player. We are excited about what she can accomplish at West Virginia." – WVU coach Mike Carey
"TT is one heck of a young lady and basketball player. I am so proud of her and all her accomplishments over the last three years. It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to coach her and push her to be the best player she can be. She is a really hard worker and has the determination to be the best. T will be a great addition the the WVU Family and I know she will make the fans proud, but I am sure glad I get to keep her for one more season." - Coach Keith Baisch, Mercy Academy
"TT is a player that has huge upside and is one of the most versatile players in the 2020 class. She is a kid that turned her potential into production and Coach Carey will push her to a new level." - Coach Scott Johnson, West Virginia Thunder
"Gigi, JeAnna, and Taziah will be great additions to our program," Carey said. "We addressed the needs that we wanted to fill with this class. We are excited about not only signing these great players but also adding three incredible families to our program."
A 6-foot-4 post out of Brentwood, New York, Cunningham plays for St. Francis Prep and iExcel. Rates as a four-star prospect from Prospects Nation and ranks at No. 13 in her position via ESPN. She was named a 2019 GCHSAA Brooklyn/Queens All-Star by The Tablet after averaging 12.6 points and 14.2 rebounds per game in her junior season. Cunningham also was named GCHSAA "AA" All All-League and a 2017-18 Tablet All-Star. She is the daughter of Joanne Campbell-Cunningham and Josh Cunningham.
"As soon as I stepped on campus I got that gut feeling. WVU felt like home."- JeAnna Cunningham
"JeAnna is an athletic, long forward that will be really successful in our fast break. She runs the floor well and is an elite rebounder, great shot blocker and can shoot the jump shot. JeAnna will impact the game on both ends of the floor. We are thrilled she is coming to West Virginia."- WVU coach Mike Carey
"We are definitely going to miss JeAnna here. She's grown tremendously over the last few years. I know that she's just tapping into her potential and hasn't scratched the surface yet. West Virginia is a perfect fit with both playing and coaching style. I am expecting her to have a very successful career there." – Coach Kerri White, St. Francis Prep Academy
"JeAnna Cunningham is a talented player who has the ability to post up and showcase a variety of moves and she can also step out on the perimeter and knock down shots. This young lady understands the value of hard work and has never cheated the process of putting in the time to improve herself. She is clearly one of the top post players in New York City this year and will help her team to championships for the 2020 high school season." – Coach Walter Welsh, iExcel Travel Team
"I chose WVU because it's a great fit for me all around, and I love the family atmosphere." – Giana Hernandez-Boulden
"Gigi is a scoring guard that can score the basketball at different levels. She can knock down the 3-point shot and is really good coming off a ball screen. She has an incredible work ethic. She plays the game with great IQ that will be a perfect fit for our style of play. We are ecstatic about her future with West Virginia." – WVU coach Mike Carey
"Gigi is an amazing young woman who we have had the honor of coaching over the last three years. Her dedication to her sport is evident in how hard she works both on and off the court. She is a true leader and will be an asset to the West Virginia." – Coach Bob Fusik, Trenton Catholic Academy
"GiGi is a coach's dream. She's great kid on and off the court, great work ethic, loves the game and wants to get better every day. I'm looking forward to seeing her growth at the next level." – Coach Antoine Saab, Books and Basketball
Taziah Jenks is a 6-foot-1 guard out of Louisville, Kentucky, who joins the Mountaineers after completing her career Mercy Academy and the West Virginia Thunder. Rated a four-star prospect by Prospects Nation, she also rates as the No. 17 forward in the class of 2020 and an Elite 100 prospect. Jenks averaged a team-best 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a junior in 2018-19 and has led the Jaguars to back-to-back Sixth Region championships. She earned Lexington-Herald Second-Team All-State honors in 2019 after garnering third-team accolades in 2018. Jenks is the daughter of Latasha Grundy and Oliver Jenks.
"I chose WVU because I love the environment. It will challenge me to grow as a person and improve my game." – Taziah Jenks
"Taziah is an explosive, athletic guard that can create for herself and her teammates. She can really score and rebound the basketball and has incredible length. We are eager to help her reach her full potential as a player. We are excited about what she can accomplish at West Virginia." – WVU coach Mike Carey
"TT is one heck of a young lady and basketball player. I am so proud of her and all her accomplishments over the last three years. It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to coach her and push her to be the best player she can be. She is a really hard worker and has the determination to be the best. T will be a great addition the the WVU Family and I know she will make the fans proud, but I am sure glad I get to keep her for one more season." - Coach Keith Baisch, Mercy Academy
"TT is a player that has huge upside and is one of the most versatile players in the 2020 class. She is a kid that turned her potential into production and Coach Carey will push her to a new level." - Coach Scott Johnson, West Virginia Thunder
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