DURHAM, N.C. — Fourth-year head coach
Trisha Stafford-Odom has announced Nia Ford and Ciara Taylor have signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play basketball and study at North Carolina Central University, starting in the 2021-22 season.
Ford and Taylor will be a couple key additions to a deep roster assembled by Stafford-Odom and her staff. They will compliment 14 underclass Eagles on the current roster, including nine letter winners that were part of NCCU's most successful season in the programs NCAA Division I era in 2019-20.
NC Central Women's Basketball Recruits (alphabetical)…
Nia Ford is a 5-11 guard from Clinton, Maryland. She is the No. 2 ranked recruit for the class of 2021 in the state of Maryland by Prep Girls Hoops. Ford was a Second Team All-County and a Maryland Area Honorable Mention selection at Frederick Douglass High School and was part of a NACA Divisional Championship team at New Hope Academy. Ford, who plans to major in hospitality and tourism at NCCU, has been nominated to multiple all-tournament teams or named a top performer on the AAU circuit.
"I am overly excited to announce the signing of Nia Ford," said Stafford-Odom. "She is a prized talent and a most respectful young lady. Nia instantly solidifies our ability to pressure the ball and speed up our offense. She is one of the best I've seen to anticipate and react before the offense has time to make a play. Nia is long and quick, with unmatchable offensive skills. She is a top notch talent and pride of the DMV Mecca of girls' basketball, and her poise, confidence, and calm approach to the game keeps us in contention for years to come."
Ciara Taylor is a 5-6 guard from Memphis, Tennessee. She is the 2019 and 2020 SCIAA 15A Player of the Year and District MVP at Dyer County High School after totaling 1,178 points, 383 assists, 314 steals and 241 rebounds. Taylor's prep accolades also include TSWA All-State, Commercial Appeal All-Metro, Commercial Appeal Player of the Week, NCHBC National Co-Offensive Player of the Year, NCHBC Regional Offensive Player of the Year and Naismith Youth All-American. Her accomplishments have helped Taylor be part of a winning tradition, including three AAU DI State Championships (and MVPs) and two AAU DI National runner-up finishes.
"Ciara is a lights out shooter, the epitome of a scorer who can take and make big shots in any and every situation thrown at her," said Stafford-Odom. "She has a wealth of experience competing on high-level platforms, is a proven winner on multiple stages. I am overjoyed with Ciara's commitment to step into Eagles' territory. Ciara is a high-morale, high-standard young lady who works hard to achieve goals."
