Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s basketball team signed four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent this week, Bulldog head coach Barbara Nelson announces. The four signees are high school seniors Kelli Bonner, Ayshia McNeil and Brooklyn Boston and junior college transfer Abril Stroman.

Kelli Bonner, 5-3, Guard, Yadkinville, N.C. (Starmount HS)

Bonner averaged 21.2 points per game as a junior. She has scored 963 points in two years at SHS. Bonner was selected to the 2009-10 All-Northwest team. In addition, she has been named All-District, All-Mountain Valley Athletic Conference, All-MVAC tournament team and Mary Garber All-Tournament team two years each. The SASI athlete of the year at Starmount High School for 2009-10, Bonner has also lettered in tennis, track and field and volleyball. Kelli is the daughter of Jan and Mark Bonner.

Coach Nelson on Bonner:

“I am excited about adding a pure point guard to our team for next season. Kelli is a very skilled point guard who can hit the step-back three and run the team. Her basketball IQ is high and she is a natural leader on the court. Kelli has a tremendous work ethic in the classroom, in the gym and in the weight room. She has excelled under the tutelage of Trish Grant and Kyle Hutchens. She reminds me of the Energizer Bunny© who never stops. Her energy is contagious and limitless!”

Ayshia McNeil, 5-7, Guard, Pleasant Grove, N.C. (Southeast Guilford HS)

McNeil averaged 16.3 points, 2.4 steals and 4.5 rebounds per game as a junior. She was selected All-Conference two times. As a junior, she was a second-team All-District choice. McNeil is listed as the number 511 recruit in the nation by The All-Star Girls Report, a national girls’ basketball recruiting service. Ayshia is the daughter of Avalon McNeil.

Coach Nelson on McNeil:

“Ayshia is a dynamic athlete who can shoot the three and explode off the bounce to finish at the rim. She is very skilled and has had great preparation for the next level with coaches William Whitaker, Shawyn Newton and Delaney Rudd. She is skilled at both guard positions and physical enough to see some minutes at small forward. Ayshia is a fierce competitor who will add defensive toughness to our team next season.”

Brooklyn Boston, 6-1, Post, Lenoir, N.C. (South Caldwell HS)

Boston averaged eight points and nine rebounds per game as a junior. She was selected to the 2009-10 All-County team. Boston has lettered in basketball four years; she was voted the Best Defensive Player twice. South Caldwell’s student body president, Boston is on track to graduate with honors. She was voted Most Likely to Change the World at SCHS. Brooklyn is the daughter of Alecha and Eric Boston.

Coach Nelson on Boston:

“Brooklyn adds length and athleticism to this recruiting class. She runs like a gazelle, can finish at the rim and this summer began to stretch her game outside the paint. Brooklyn is a great help defender and rebounder. She raises the level of other players with her intelligence and work ethic as learned under coaches Ike Williams and Jeff Parham. She is young for her class, so I believe the ceiling is very high for Brooklyn’s development. Brooklyn is student body president of her school and a captain on her team. She will be majoring in Pre Med.”

Abril Stroman, 6-2, Post, Marston, N.C. (Richmond Senior HS/Louisburg College)

Stroman averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game as a high school senior. She was voted team MVP and first team All-Conference her junior and senior seasons at Richmond Senior High School. Abril is the daughter of Nicole Stroman.

Coach Nelson on Stroman:

“Abril is the missing piece to our Wingate puzzle. Her physical presence inside, along with her offensive skill, gives us additional post scoring we need. She is a shot blocker and rebounding machine who can change the game on both ends. Abril will bring collegiate experience to our squad as she has played for the legendary NJCAA coach Mike Holloman at Louisburg College. She also played for coach David Laton at Richmond Senior.”

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private comprehensive university with more than 2,300 students on two campuses in Wingate and Matthews, North Carolina. The university offers 32 undergraduate majors, 36 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.

Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 36 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 45 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.