DAYTON, Ohio – University of Dayton women’s basketball coach Jim Jabir has announced the signing of two nationally-regarded recruits from the Dayton area to National Letters of Intent to play for the Flyers.
The newest official members of the UD women’s basketball program are 6-foot-3 forward Ally Malott of Madison High School in neighboring Middletown, Ohio, and 5-foot-8 guard Andrea Hoover of Spring Valley Academy in Bellbrook, Ohio.
“I think our 2011 class is an excellent one,” said UD Head Coach Jim Jabir. “Both players are skilled and tough. And they will be key in continuing to develop the success of the Flyer women’s basketball program. We have a chance to be a very special team with these recruits.”
Malott, the second-rated senior in Ohio who is 40th nationally in the latest ESPNU Hoop Gurlz 100 recruiting rankings, was named to the 2010 USA Women’s U-18 National Team this summer and helped the squad to a gold medal in the FIBA Americas Championship. She is also ranked No. 8 overall in the country on the Dan Olson Collegiate Basketball Report.
The two-time D-III All-Ohio First Team selection (2009 and 2010) and D-III Southwest District Player of the Year averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game her junior season in helping lead Madison to a 27-1 record and to the D-III state finals.
Heading into her senior season she has scored 1,191 points and grabbed 840 rebounds and helped Madison to a 68-8 record.
In addition to her success on the court, Malott ranks in the Top 20 of her class and is a member of National Honor Society.
“Ally is a great player with all the skills to play at the next level,” said Jabir. “She could have gone to any school in the country and we are so proud that she chose the University of Dayton.”
Hoover is a shooting guard who led the Ohio Lady Attack to an AAU 15-U national fourth place finish in 2009.
She averaged 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.5 steals, 4.0 assists and 2.4 blocked shots and led Spring Valley Academy to a 19-2 record during the 2008-09 season. An excellent outside shooter, she converted 20-of-49 shots (40.8 percent) from three-point range.
Hoover, named to ESPNU’s Class of 2011 Super 60 Players, averaged 21.5 points in the National Association of Christian Athletes Division II National Championship.
She carries a 4.0 GPA and is ranked first in her class.
“While everyone knew about Ally, Andrea kind of flew under the radar,” said Jabir. “She had a tremendous summer and has developed into a tremendous player.”
Dayton travels to Minneapolis to play in the Minnesota Subway Classic this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-21. The Flyers open the tournament Saturday against South Dakota at 4:30 p.m. ET. They will play either Milwaukee or Minnesota on Sunday.
