DETROIT -- The Detroit women's basketball team added size and skill for the future as head coach Autumn Rademacher announced the signings of four top prep players to a National Letter of Intent in
DaVonna Bradford (Cleveland, OH/ Lake Ridge),
Eman Hubbard (Farmington Hills, MI/Harrison),
Rosanna Reynolds (Canton, MI/Divine Child) and
Destiny LaVita-Stephens (Grand Blanc, MI/Goodrich). All four will enroll at Detroit as freshmen in the fall of 2012.
Read Bradford's ESPN/HoopGurlz Scout
Bradford, a 5-11 forward from Lake Ridge, was one of the top players in the state of Ohio, receiving a three-star ranking and 87 grade from ESPN and HoopGurlz. She was also ranked among the top 60 forwards in Ohio as she averaged 10.2 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists per game as a junior. Named a team captain as a junior and senior, she also played club for All-Ohio, earning MVP honors. Prior to transferring to Lake Ridge, she played for Regina High School, helping the team to a No. 2 ranking during her sophomore year.
“DaVonna is a player that I am very excited about adding to our program,” said Rademacher. “Her first words were 'I hate to lose' and I knew right then and there that she was my kind of player. She is very strong in transition and she finishes around the basket. She is a slasher, who can get to the rim, and is an animal on defense and the boards. She is an excellent student who has played with high caliber teammates her entire life and I expect DaVonna to come in and make her presence known right away.”
Read What A Local Reporter Says About Hubbard's Game
A three-year letterwinner at Harrison, Hubbard comes to Detroit as a 6-1 post player. She is coming off a junior campaign that saw her earn All-Oakland Activities Association (OAA) honors after averaging a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds per game, to go along with 3.5 blocks per game. She also helped the Hawks to two-straight district finalist appearances. Off the court, Hubbard is a member of the National Honor Society as well as a member of Link Crew – a leadership program.
“We are very excited to be adding someone of Eman's ability and character to our program,” said Rademacher. “I saw Eman for the first time this summer at an AAU game and she was a dominating force inside who had a nice touch around the basket and could hit the elbow jumper. She was a tremendous shot blocker, cleaned up on the boards, and could run with the guards. I instantly fell in love with her game and wanted her to come play for us and she made us extremely happy when she said yes.”
Article & Video Interview With Reynolds In Her Hometown Paper
A two-time All-State honoree, the 5-9 Reynolds is coming off a state championship as she led Divine Child to a Class B title as a junior. She starred in the state tournament and was named Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four after netting 28 points in the semifinals – including two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in double overtime for the 54-52 win over Goodrich – and a game-high 21 in the title game over Three Rivers. She is nearing the 1,000-point mark in her prep career after tallying 15.0 ppg., as a junior and 18.0 ppg., as a sophomore. She was a first team All-State performer by the
Detroit News and
Detroit Free Press as well as by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) as well as first team All-Metro West in 2011. As a sophomore, she was tabbed fourth team All-State by the
Free Press and enters her senior year as a three-time All-Catholic and All-Area player.
“I put the full court press on Rosanna last spring after watching her single handily win the state championship for Divine Child,” Rademacher said. “Her performance under pressure was phenomenal and her winning percentage as a player is tremendous. I knew at that moment that I would be honored to coach Rosanna for four years. She can score, pass, has a nose for the ball on defense, and she has ice in her veins down the stretch. She is fearless and not afraid to take that last shot which is what really made her stand out. It was a great day when she came to campus with UDM cookies that signified she wanted to be a Detroit Titan and we are very fortunate to have her on our roster.”
Read Mick McCabe's Top 100 Prospects In 2010
A 5-6 guard, LaVita-Stephens earned three letters on the hardwood at Grand Blanc before transferring to Goodrich for her senior year. She is a two-star prospect and a 78 grade according to ESPN and HoopGurlz. She averaged 15.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as a junior and was named to the Kensington Lakes Athletic Association (KLAA) West Division All-Conference team. She helped Grand Blanc to a 2010 district championship as well as a Co-KLAA West Division title and a conference championship. She was one of the top 100 players in the state of Michigan by Mick McCabe of the
Detroit Free Press in 2010, and was also selected one of the top 10 players by the
Flint Journal and top 20 by
Lady Baller. She played AAU with the All-Michigan Basketball Club, winning an AAU state championship and GBA national title in 2009 and an AYBT national championship in 2008.
“Destiny is a point guard who comes from a very successful AAU team in the state of Michigan. She is a strong, excellent playmaker who has a very high basketball IQ, and she consistently makes perimeter shots. She also has tremendous chemistry with current Titan
Shareta Brown due to the fact they played on the same high school team and AAU team. They play extremely well together and I am looking forward to the reunion between the two here at the University of Detroit Mercy,” added Rademacher.
