Highest-Ranked Class in History to Join Orange
11/17/2016 1:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ranked the No. 2 signing class by Blue Star Report
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The highest-ranked signing class in the history of the Syracuse women's basketball program is set to join the team in 2017-18, head coach Quentin Hillsman announced on Thursday afternoon. Syracuse has hauled in the No. 2 class nationally according to Blue Star Report and the eighth-ranked class in the country as ranked by Dan Olson of espnW HoopGurlz.
"When we talk about getting talent, we want to get the best kids that fit our program," stated Hillsman. "I thought we did a very good job of doing that. When you talk about having a class that is ranked as high as No. 2, it's just about having great players that come into your program and fill voids that you are losing this year."
Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi
A 6-2 forward from Paris, France, Djaldi-Tabdi is a three-star recruit according to espnW HoopGurlz. She is rated the No. 20 forward in the Class of 2017 and given a scout grade 90, as well.
Djaldi-Tabdi most recently played for the French U18 national team at the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship in Sopron, Hungary, helping the squad to a first-place finish. In seven games played, she averaged 6.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest. Djaldi-Tabdi ranked 10th in rebounding in the annual event.
"A very skilled player," commented Hillsman. "She can play multiple positions for us in our frontcourt. She is an athletic and skilled player that can score from all the spots on the floor. When you have a player of her size that can do all the things that she can do, she allows you to play in different ways."
Amaya Finklea-Guity
A 6-4 center from Dorchester, Mass., Finklea-Guity is a five-star recruit as ranked by espnW HoopGurlz. Finklea-Guity is one of two five-star recruits to sign with the Orange, their most in an individual signing class since 2012. She is the 42nd-ranked player overall, fifth-ranked center in her class, and earned a scout grade of 96.
Finklea-Guity competes for the Noble & Greenough School, leading the squad to the 2016 New England Preparatory Schools Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class A title. She is also a member of the school's volleyball team. On the AAU circuit, Finklea-Guity plays for the New England Crusaders.
"Amaya is your prototypical post player," stated Hillsman. "She is very polished in the post, can score over both shoulders, as fast as anyone that I have seen in high school. She has no ceiling, her potential on to what she could be rivals any post player that we have ever had here."
Diaby Kariata
A 6-5 center from Voiron, France, Kariata is a three-star recruit according to espnW HoopGurlz. Kariata is ranked the No. 14 center in the Class of 2017 and given a scout grade of 90, as well.
Kariata played for Etoile de Voiron of the Nationale Féminine 2 (NF2), the second-highest amateur league in France, during the 2015-16 season. She also has represented the Ivory Coast in various international competitions.
"She is one of those athletic frontcourt players that can really get up and down the floor," added Hillsman. "She is another one of those versatile frontcourt players that we signed this year that will be able to come in and help us right away."
Nikki Oppenheimer
A 5-9 guard from Glenview, Ill., Oppenheimer is a three-star recruit as ranked by espnW Hoopgurlz. She is ranked the No. 23 guard in the Class of 2017 and earned a scout grade of 90.
Oppenheimer most recently played for the Puerto Rican U18 national team at the 2016 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Valdivia, Chile, helping the squad to a fourth-place showing. In five games played, she averaged 11.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per contest.
"She is a tremendous shooter, a knockdown shooter that can shoot the ball with really, really deep range," said Hillsman. "She is a tremendous guard that can put the ball on the floor. She can shoot the ball with tremendous range. She will be an immediate impact player for us in our program."
Digna Strautmane
A 6-2 forward from Rigas, Latvia, Strautmane is a five-star recruit according to espnW HoopGurlz. Strautmane is one of two five-star recruits to sign with the Orange, their most in an individual signing class since 2012. She is the 23rd-ranked player overall, sixth-ranked forward in her class, and given a scout grade of 97.
Strautmane competed for the Latvian U20 national team at the 2016 FIBA U20 European Championship in Matosinhos, Portugal, helping the squad to a seventh-place finish. In seven contests played, she averaged 16.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Strautmane ranked fifth in scoring in the annual event.
"Digna is a stretch-four who can really step out and shoot the ball with range," concluded Hillsman. "She can get to the basket. The thing about Digna is that she played in some big games, playing internationally. The adjustment from playing there and coming over to college is going to be seamless for her. She has a chance to come and play major minutes right away."
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
"When we talk about getting talent, we want to get the best kids that fit our program," stated Hillsman. "I thought we did a very good job of doing that. When you talk about having a class that is ranked as high as No. 2, it's just about having great players that come into your program and fill voids that you are losing this year."
Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi
A 6-2 forward from Paris, France, Djaldi-Tabdi is a three-star recruit according to espnW HoopGurlz. She is rated the No. 20 forward in the Class of 2017 and given a scout grade 90, as well.
Djaldi-Tabdi most recently played for the French U18 national team at the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship in Sopron, Hungary, helping the squad to a first-place finish. In seven games played, she averaged 6.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest. Djaldi-Tabdi ranked 10th in rebounding in the annual event.
"A very skilled player," commented Hillsman. "She can play multiple positions for us in our frontcourt. She is an athletic and skilled player that can score from all the spots on the floor. When you have a player of her size that can do all the things that she can do, she allows you to play in different ways."
Amaya Finklea-Guity
A 6-4 center from Dorchester, Mass., Finklea-Guity is a five-star recruit as ranked by espnW HoopGurlz. Finklea-Guity is one of two five-star recruits to sign with the Orange, their most in an individual signing class since 2012. She is the 42nd-ranked player overall, fifth-ranked center in her class, and earned a scout grade of 96.
Finklea-Guity competes for the Noble & Greenough School, leading the squad to the 2016 New England Preparatory Schools Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class A title. She is also a member of the school's volleyball team. On the AAU circuit, Finklea-Guity plays for the New England Crusaders.
"Amaya is your prototypical post player," stated Hillsman. "She is very polished in the post, can score over both shoulders, as fast as anyone that I have seen in high school. She has no ceiling, her potential on to what she could be rivals any post player that we have ever had here."
Diaby Kariata
A 6-5 center from Voiron, France, Kariata is a three-star recruit according to espnW HoopGurlz. Kariata is ranked the No. 14 center in the Class of 2017 and given a scout grade of 90, as well.
Kariata played for Etoile de Voiron of the Nationale Féminine 2 (NF2), the second-highest amateur league in France, during the 2015-16 season. She also has represented the Ivory Coast in various international competitions.
"She is one of those athletic frontcourt players that can really get up and down the floor," added Hillsman. "She is another one of those versatile frontcourt players that we signed this year that will be able to come in and help us right away."
Nikki Oppenheimer
A 5-9 guard from Glenview, Ill., Oppenheimer is a three-star recruit as ranked by espnW Hoopgurlz. She is ranked the No. 23 guard in the Class of 2017 and earned a scout grade of 90.
Oppenheimer most recently played for the Puerto Rican U18 national team at the 2016 FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Valdivia, Chile, helping the squad to a fourth-place showing. In five games played, she averaged 11.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per contest.
"She is a tremendous shooter, a knockdown shooter that can shoot the ball with really, really deep range," said Hillsman. "She is a tremendous guard that can put the ball on the floor. She can shoot the ball with tremendous range. She will be an immediate impact player for us in our program."
Digna Strautmane
A 6-2 forward from Rigas, Latvia, Strautmane is a five-star recruit according to espnW HoopGurlz. Strautmane is one of two five-star recruits to sign with the Orange, their most in an individual signing class since 2012. She is the 23rd-ranked player overall, sixth-ranked forward in her class, and given a scout grade of 97.
Strautmane competed for the Latvian U20 national team at the 2016 FIBA U20 European Championship in Matosinhos, Portugal, helping the squad to a seventh-place finish. In seven contests played, she averaged 16.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Strautmane ranked fifth in scoring in the annual event.
"Digna is a stretch-four who can really step out and shoot the ball with range," concluded Hillsman. "She can get to the basket. The thing about Digna is that she played in some big games, playing internationally. The adjustment from playing there and coming over to college is going to be seamless for her. She has a chance to come and play major minutes right away."
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
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