Mincey, Lady Eagles add two for 2012-2013 season
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles have added two players for the 2012-2013 season, C-N head coach Mike Mincey announced on Friday. Bearden High School guard Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) and transfer Shyra Brown (Cleveland, Tenn.) from Austin Peay State University have joined C-N's signing class, bring the class size to five.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles have added two players for the 2012-2013 season, C-N head coach Mike Mincey announced on Friday.
Bearden High School guard Jai Jai McLaughlin (Knoxville, Tenn.) and transfer Shyra Brown (Cleveland, Tenn.) from Austin Peay State University have joined C-N's signing class, bring the class size to five. They join Sevier County's Carly Pippin, William Blount's Tatum Burstrom, and Grundy County's Haley Coffelt to round out Mincey's first recruiting class.
"The addition of these five players will improve our speed and quickness as well as our ability to shoot the three and attack the rim," Mincey said of his first recruiting class since taking over the C-N program last May. "All five players can shoot with range, and will excel in an up-tempo system."
Carson-Newman returns eight players from last year's 17-11 squad which went 10-8 in South Atlantic Conference play, advancing to the SAC Tournament semifinals before losing to eventual tournament champion Wingate.
Jai Jai McLaughlin – Guard – 5-5 - Knoxville, Tenn. – Bearden High School
McLaughlin comes to CN from Bearden High out of Knoxville. A 5-5 guard, McLaughlin swept District 4-AAA honors by being selected District Player of the Year and the District Tournament's Most Valuable Player. She was also voted to the Region 2-AAA All-Tournament Team after leading her team to the region semis.
During her senior season, McLaughlin also landed on the First Team Tennessee State Writers' Association AAA All-State Team, First Team Knoxville News-Sentinel Prep Xtra, and First Team All-KIL. She averaged 14.5 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, playing for coach Justin Underwood.
Head Coach Mike Mincey on McLaughlin: "We are fortunate to sign a player like Jai Jai during the late signing period. She is extremely athletic and excels in an up-tempo system. She's a very effective scorer in the open court and distributes the ball well. Defensively she's solid and led her team in rebounding from the point guard spot. She has all the tools to be a successful point guard in our system and within our conference. We look forward to her arrival in August where she will compete for the starting point guard spot."
Shyra Brown – Guard/Forward – 5-9 – Cleveland, Tenn. – Cleveland H.S./Austin Peay State
Brown is a 5-9 guard/forward who transfers to C-N from Austin Peay State University. At Cleveland High School under coach Rachel Moore, Brown averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and three steals per game as a junior. She was named District 5AAA's "Most Outstanding Player" and was named to the district's all-tournament team. She also received Region 3AAA All-Tournament recognition and was selected to the Chattanooga Times Free Press "Best of the Preps" first team
Brown played volleyball at CHS and was named to the District 5AAA All-Tournament team as a senior after recording 12 kills and three blocks in the tournament final, and also competed in track and field, finishing 12th in the 100-meter dash (12.59) at the Tennessee State Track and Field Championships as a senior.
She played two seasons at APSU, appearing in 17 games as a freshman after returning from injury. During her sophomore campaign, Brown played in 11 contests, starting three.
Head Coach Mike Mincey on Brown: We are extremely excited to add Shyra to this class. She has the size, strength and athleticism to be really dynamic in our league. Shyra will be a versatile player able to play both the "3" and "4" positions. I really like the fact she can defend posts as well as defend smaller guards on the perimeter. Offensively, Shyra has the athleticism and skill set to score around the rim against bigger players and her ability to score from the perimeter will be extremely valuable. Having two years of D1 ball under her belt, Shyra should bring experience and maturity to our team.
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