University of Pittsburgh Athletics
McConnell-Serio Announces the Class of 2016
11/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH - Pitt head women's basketball coach Suzie McConnell-Serio has signed Alayna Gribble and Jasmine Whitney to National Letters of Intent for the Class of 2016.
"We are so excited to welcome Alayna and Jasmine to our Pitt family," McConnell-Serio said. "We expect them to make an immediate impact on our program."
A local product out of Norwin High School, Gribble is a 6-foot shooting guard who is ranked the 33rd best position player in the country and the 118th overall by ProspectNation.com.
Gribble was the 2015 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette AAAA Player of the Year and led her team to the WPIAL title.
She was also the 2015 Greenburg Tribune Review Player of the Year, the Daily News Athlete of the Year and was named to the USJN Nike U17 National Championship All-Star Team.
Gribble averaged 18.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, two assists and two steals as a junior.
"Alayna has such a high basketball IQ, plays with so much confidence and is a dynamic scorer," McConnell-Serio said. "She can flat out shoot the ball, get to the rim and has a great mid-range jumper. Alayna is a proven winner and an outstanding leader on the court."
A native of Centreville, Va., Whitney is a 5-foot-9 point guard. She was rated the 25th best position player in her class by ESPN and is a 4-star recruit according to ProspectNation.com.
Whitney led Paul VI High School to a final national ranking of No. 7 in 2015 and has helped the Panthers play to an overall record of 90-11 in her three years on the team.
She guided her team to the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Independent Schools State Championship and the WCAC title in 2014 and 2015.
As a junior, Whitney averaged 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
"Jasmine is a true point guard with great vision and a pass first mentality. With her playmaking ability, she makes her teammates better but can also create her own scoring opportunities. Jasmine comes from a great high school program and knows how to win."
Gribble and Whitney will join a Pitt team in 2016 that boasts zero seniors this season.
Pitt opens the 2015-16 campaign this Friday morning at 11 a.m. vs. Wagner at the Petersen Events Center.
