Nov. 14, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball staff has added two signees to its 2008-09 signing class, head coach Mike Morris announced on Friday. Samford announced the signing of Kylie Black and Jazmine Martin to national letters of intent.

"We are very excited to have Kylie Black and Jazmine Martin join our basketball family," Morris said. "They both come from Alabama high schools, which we are excited about as well."

Black is a 6-3 post player from Speake High School in Danville, Ala. Black was ranked fifth on the Birmingham News Super 12 Seniors list. Black averaged 25 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks per game in high school. She is in the top two academically in her class at Speake High School.

"Kylie Black will be an ideal `P' in our system," Morris said. "She has the skill to score from the perimeter and the strength and size to score around in the post. She is an outstanding young lady who comes from a very good high school program."

Martin is a 5-7 guard from Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. Martin is currently averaging 19 points per game as a senior. As a junior, she averaged 17 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. She was named to the All-Area team as a junior.

"Jazmine comes from Hoover High School, which is one of the best 6-A programs in the state," Morris said. "She is a tremendous player. She is very strong, very athletic and has the skill to really fit into our offense very well. Another of her strengths is that she is an outstanding defensive player."

Black and Martin join Hannah Dawson, who signed with Samford on Wednesday, in this year's signing class.

"As a whole, we like that all three players come from very successful high school programs," Morris said. "Hannah comes from Shelbyville Central which is one of the best programs in the southeast. Kylie Black comes from Speake High School, which has a lot of tradition, and Jazmine Martin is from Hoover High School which is a very good basketball program.

"We feel like with this recruiting class we have met the needs we had," Morris said. "We lost some good players from last year, but we feel like these young ladies fit everything we are trying to do and really have the opportunity to help make us competitive in the Southern Conference."

Samford will open the regular season Friday night at Jacksonville State. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off from JSU's Pete Mathews Coliseum.