Here’s our 12th in the 13-part series of Comings and Goings (Longwood, at last, on deck). The rest: W&M, ODU, Liberty, JMU, Virginia, George Mason, VCU, Richmond, Norfolk State, Virginia Tech and Radford
Goings:
Malia Tate-DeFreitas: We miss the two-time MEAC player of the year already. A knee injury prevented Hampton’s all-time leading Division I scorer from finishing her career the way she wanted, though who can argue with 2,214 points? Tate-Freitas graduated.
Georgianna Gilbeaux: the 5-5 guard who started every game last season, averaging 3.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg, graduated
Chanel Green: the 5-4 guard, who made 17 starts and averaged 4.7 ppg, graduated
Shanice Neita: 6-3 post who played just five games has transferred to Division II Johnson C. Smith
Niaya White: played in just 11 games; is no longer on the roster
Marjah Bankhead: played in just four games, is no longer on the roster
Comings
Allina Starr; 5-10 senior guard played a season at Auburn after originally committing to Georgetown (coaching change forced the switch); transferred to Minnesota for two seasons playing under former VCU coach Marlene Stollings
Mahaley Holit: 5-3 guard from Charlotte; as the 5PC Player of the Year and AP All-State as a senior after averaging 21.1 ppg, 5.5 apg, and 4.1 spg per game at Central Carrabus High; MVP of the Carrabus County All-Star Game
Ashley Walker: 5-7 guard from Marrero, Louisiana; averaged at least 22 ppg all four years at Academy of Our Lady; lettered in volleyball and track; recovering from knee surgery so will not play early
Shelby Hardy: 5-10 forward from Birmingham, Alabama’s Homewood High; injured foot will delay the start of her career.
Lauren Welch: 5-8 guard from Centennial High in Las Vegas
Nobody can doubt the value of Tate-Defreitas, a prolific scorer in her four years at Hampton. Losing her to a knee injury inseason would have been a devastating blow to most any team, but under the tutelage of David Six, the undermanned Pirates regrouped to win the MEAC title. Their sixth MEAC title in eight seasons. Any reason why the Pirates shouldn’t snag a seventh? The coaches don’t think so. The Pirates are preseason favorites to repeat.
Here’s what we like about these Pirates. A fitter Jephany Brown should have more of an inpact early this season. The 6-foot wing, a transfer from East Carolina, averaged 6.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg last season, her first as a Pirate. As serviceable as those stats are, we think she has the potential to be first-team all-conference or better. Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Maryland, Georgetown, Florida and Oklahoma State showed interest in her, and Six contends she can play any spot on the floor.
“She’s definitely our most talented player; we look for big things from her,” he said. The MEAC tournament MVP got stronger as the season continued, averaging just over 14 points for her final six games and scoring 18 in an NCAA tournament loss to Duke.
Monnazjea Finney-Smith has one more season at HU, which should be her best. The transfer from VCU made 68 triples last season but shot just 28 percent from the outside. Six is happy about the preseason all-conference first-teamer ‘s development offseason and likes her willingness to take a stronger leadership role. She’ll be helped on the perimeter this season by Starr, a 5-10 senior guard from Minneapolis who has bounced around BCS schools until she found a home at Hampton.
“She’s done well in both scrimmages,” he said. “We need a playmaker. She’s definitely going to be a player of surprise for us.”
Six would like to see junior guard DeJane’ James build on her MEAC tournament performance, and he touts K’Lynn Willis, preseason third-team all-conference, whose speed on the defensive end is her trademark. Post Mikayla Sayle also looks to finish her senior year on a high note; she made three starts last season.
Junior Ashley Bates will play an important roles last season. Bates is wearing a harness after a torn labrum, but Six likes the way she responded minus Tate-DeFreitas in the lineup last year. He will need improved guard play, as starter Kaylah Lupoe is not on the roster this season due to conflicts with her academic load. The architecture major is expected to return for the 2018-19 season.
Hampton’s plays a top-tier nonconference schedule. The Pirates start at North Carolina on Friday (tip at 3:30 p.m,), followed by CAA champion Elon and then Virginia. Quinnipiac is in the mix as are Oregon and Temple. The Pirates will host ODU on Jan. 15, and of course, the MEAC tournament is in Norfolk.
Photo courtesy of Hampton Athletics