University of Memphis Athletics
Women’s Basketball Signs Three Players In The Early Signing Period
Nov 09, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Camille Buckhanon, Chioma Nnamani and Jamirah Shutes will join the Tigers next season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team and head coach Melissa McFerrin have the announced the signing of Camille Buckhanon, Chioma Nnamani, and Jamirah Shutes.
"Signing Day is always an exciting one for our program," said McFerrin. "Today is no different as we welcome three key additions to the roster. Chioma, Camille, and Jamirah comprise one of our most talented incoming classes to date. These three young ladies help us take another step forward both on and off the court as we continue to rise to the upper-echelon of the AAC."
Camille Buckhanon
6-2 | Center
Talladega HS
Buckhanon, a native of Talladega, Ala., brings additional size to the Tigers squad. Standing at six-foot-two, Buckhanon finished her junior season averaging 26 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks, three steals, and three assists per contest and has scored a career-high 38 points and 20 rebounds. She is the No. 30 ranked center in this signing class per the Dan Olsen Girls Basketball report.
At Talladega High School, she has scored over 1,000 points in her high school career and is the all-time leader in rebounds and blocks. Buckhanon has been named All-State, All-County and All-Region and led her team to the 2015 5A-10 Area Championship.
In addition to her leadership on the court, Buckhanon was her class president as a junior and enjoys community service projects. She is ranked in the top 30 in her class and is a member of SGA, JROTC and the tennis and track and field teams.
Coach McFerrin on Buckhanon:
"We identified Camille as a priority early on in the recruiting process. She possesses a rare combination of size at position, great hands, and agility that makes her a highly impactful player. Her best basketball days are ahead of her and we are eager to be part of her development."
Chioma Nnamani
5-10 | Guard
Greenforest HS
Nnamani, a 5-10 guard originally from Nigeria, joins the Tigers from Greenforest High School in Decatur, Ga. A letterwinner in basketball and track, Nnamani enters into her senior season as a preseason All-State selection. For the previous two years, she earned All-Region honors.
During her junior campaign, Nnamani averaged a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds as well as five assists and five steals. She was a 50 percent shooter from the field and over 80 percent from the line. Nnamani has career-highs of 31 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
In 2015-16, Nnamani led her team to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. That season, her team was crowned regional champs.
Coach McFerrin on Nnamani:
"Signing Week continues to be an exciting time for our program with the arrival of Chioma's NLI today. Our success at Memphis is driven by high-level effort. Chioma's game embodies relentless effort which allows her to be impactful in every facet of the game. We are excited about her defensive intensity and above average rebounding ability, especially as a guard."
Jamirah Shutes
5-9 | Guard
Haywood HS
A native of Brownsville, Tenn., Shutes is a three-year starter for Haywood High School where she has multiple accolades to her name. The No. 52 ranked point guard per the Dan Olsen Girls Basketball report has been named Newcomer of the Year, All-District, District MVP, All-Region, Region MVP, and All-State at Haywood HS.
As a junior, Shutes averaged 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game and was named to the All-West Tennessee Girls Basketball First-Team.
Shutes, a 5-9 guard, has led her Haywood HS squad to the Class AA sectionals each of her three years of high school including a state quarterfinal appearance in 2016. In her career to date, Shutes has scored over 1,500 points.
Coach McFerrin on Shutes:
"Jamirah's knack for scoring the ball and her physical stature and style set her apart and is the reason she was so highly recruited. Her work ethic and hunger to be a special player give her a chance to be an all-time Tiger great. She joins Ashia Jones, Taylor Barnes, and Manaya Jones as homegrown talent that will put Memphis on the national stage."
The Tigers begin the 2017 regular season this Friday evening as they host Tennessee State at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tipoff against the TSU Tigers is slated for 7 p.m. For more information on the women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on Twitter at @MemphisWBB and like us on Facebook at /MemphisWBB.
"Signing Day is always an exciting one for our program," said McFerrin. "Today is no different as we welcome three key additions to the roster. Chioma, Camille, and Jamirah comprise one of our most talented incoming classes to date. These three young ladies help us take another step forward both on and off the court as we continue to rise to the upper-echelon of the AAC."
Camille Buckhanon
6-2 | Center
Talladega HS
Buckhanon, a native of Talladega, Ala., brings additional size to the Tigers squad. Standing at six-foot-two, Buckhanon finished her junior season averaging 26 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks, three steals, and three assists per contest and has scored a career-high 38 points and 20 rebounds. She is the No. 30 ranked center in this signing class per the Dan Olsen Girls Basketball report.
At Talladega High School, she has scored over 1,000 points in her high school career and is the all-time leader in rebounds and blocks. Buckhanon has been named All-State, All-County and All-Region and led her team to the 2015 5A-10 Area Championship.
In addition to her leadership on the court, Buckhanon was her class president as a junior and enjoys community service projects. She is ranked in the top 30 in her class and is a member of SGA, JROTC and the tennis and track and field teams.
Coach McFerrin on Buckhanon:
"We identified Camille as a priority early on in the recruiting process. She possesses a rare combination of size at position, great hands, and agility that makes her a highly impactful player. Her best basketball days are ahead of her and we are eager to be part of her development."
Chioma Nnamani
5-10 | Guard
Greenforest HS
Nnamani, a 5-10 guard originally from Nigeria, joins the Tigers from Greenforest High School in Decatur, Ga. A letterwinner in basketball and track, Nnamani enters into her senior season as a preseason All-State selection. For the previous two years, she earned All-Region honors.
During her junior campaign, Nnamani averaged a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds as well as five assists and five steals. She was a 50 percent shooter from the field and over 80 percent from the line. Nnamani has career-highs of 31 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
In 2015-16, Nnamani led her team to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. That season, her team was crowned regional champs.
Coach McFerrin on Nnamani:
"Signing Week continues to be an exciting time for our program with the arrival of Chioma's NLI today. Our success at Memphis is driven by high-level effort. Chioma's game embodies relentless effort which allows her to be impactful in every facet of the game. We are excited about her defensive intensity and above average rebounding ability, especially as a guard."
Jamirah Shutes
5-9 | Guard
Haywood HS
A native of Brownsville, Tenn., Shutes is a three-year starter for Haywood High School where she has multiple accolades to her name. The No. 52 ranked point guard per the Dan Olsen Girls Basketball report has been named Newcomer of the Year, All-District, District MVP, All-Region, Region MVP, and All-State at Haywood HS.
As a junior, Shutes averaged 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game and was named to the All-West Tennessee Girls Basketball First-Team.
Shutes, a 5-9 guard, has led her Haywood HS squad to the Class AA sectionals each of her three years of high school including a state quarterfinal appearance in 2016. In her career to date, Shutes has scored over 1,500 points.
Coach McFerrin on Shutes:
"Jamirah's knack for scoring the ball and her physical stature and style set her apart and is the reason she was so highly recruited. Her work ethic and hunger to be a special player give her a chance to be an all-time Tiger great. She joins Ashia Jones, Taylor Barnes, and Manaya Jones as homegrown talent that will put Memphis on the national stage."
The Tigers begin the 2017 regular season this Friday evening as they host Tennessee State at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tipoff against the TSU Tigers is slated for 7 p.m. For more information on the women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on Twitter at @MemphisWBB and like us on Facebook at /MemphisWBB.
Players Mentioned
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