Introducing the newest faces of Ladyjacks basketball at SFA

Most in the Stephen F. Austin world are familiar with the names Cameron Mack, Stefon Fisher and other newcomers to the men's basketball program. Fewer, so far, know what to expect from Mark Kellogg's Ladyjacks program.

Today, we change that. Perhaps the most storied sports program in Nacogdoches, the Ladyjacks lost a number of excellent players after last season - but so did the rest of the league. The four newcomers for SFA in 2017-18 will be looking to make a splash immediately - and chances are, with a young team, they can.

2016-17 was one of the more successful seasons in recent years for the program, even if it ultimately felt like a missed opportunity to reclaim the throne of the Southland Conference. The Ladyjacks fell just short of being crowned Southland Conference Tournament champions, dropping the title game to Central Arkansas (who, to their credit, seemed clearly the cream of the crop by the end of the season). SFA reeled off 14 straight wins at one point early on last year - one of the longest winning streaks last season of any Division I women’s program - but seemed to fade a bit down the stretch.

With seniors Stevi Parker and Taylor Jackson leading the charge, the freshman ladies and a host of young players will aim to accomplish a feat not seen since 2006: an NCAA Tournament berth for SFA. They will have to overthrow the Sugar Bears of Central Arkansas, the back-to-back tournament champs, to make it happen. Abilene Christian, another league power, finally has secured postseason eligibility in their transition from DII. Everyone is missing key pieces from their 2016-17 teams, though - if ever there was a time to make moves, this might be it.

Without further ado, here are the newcomers for Stephen F. Austin's Ladyjacks program in the 2017-18 season:

Marissa Banfield – 5’ 6” – PG – Westbury Christian HS (Friendswood, TX) -

I’ll start off by saying this: Banfield can play the game. SFA has seen some pretty good shooters walk down the William R. Johnson Coliseum tunnel, and Banfield has the potential to be the one of the best among them. This pickup by SFA is fantastic, as she was consistently at the top of the high school girl’s ranks in three-pointers made by point guards in Texas (ranking 21st, fourth, first, and then second in her senior season). She didn’t just throw up shots either; Banfield sank over 45% of her three-point attempts over the last two seasons at WCHS. After her junior season and formal commitment to SFA, which we covered at the time, it was hard to see how she could get much better.

But she did. Banfield has grown as a true point guard over her four high school seasons, increasing her assists per game each year, while also peaking at 17.4 points per contest as a senior. She was also a thief on the court, securing an average of at least three steals per game every year. She is a large part of WCHS’s undefeated district record last year, along with a couple of her teammates that are headed to DI programs this season as well.

Most female high school players don’t get the chance to play with six-foot-tall+ players in the post. Banfield had multiple players of such height to target, with the tallest being the dominant six-foot-four center, Emer Nichols, who signed with Texas A&M. Power forward Mia Perkins, a six-foot-two Angelina College signee, also made things easier for Banfield at point, with both players averaging double-doubles.

Playing with a prolific front-court was a big reason why Banfield was able to dish out so many assists in her final two seasons. She was thirteenth in the state in assists in 2015-16 and fourth in 2016-17. Playing with size at SFA, namely Stevi Parker, Riley Harvey and a couple names mentioned later in this article, should be a familiar task for Banfield.

Replacing Taylor Ross and sharp-shooting Brentney Branch in the backcourt may not be easy, but this addition is certainly a step in that direction. Banfield has already received high praise from the coaching staff and will be a capable contributor at both the point and wing.

Bri Burns – 5’ 11” – SG – William Chrisman HS (Independence, MO) -

Described by Coach Kellogg as a “fantastic and well-rounded” player, Brioenne “Bri” Burns will bring to Nacogdoches an impressive ability to shoot from the outside, drive the lane with tenacity, and the overall aptitude of a player that can help this team in many ways on both ends of the floor. Both Burns and Banfield will look to help SFA bolster it’s three-point field goal percentage, as the Ladyjacks finished ninth in the conference in that category in 2016-17.

The nickname that has been seen alongside her name, “Sniper,” is quite telling of her shooting abilities. It can't be emphasized enough that Burns is far more than just a shooter, though. With size and a high motor, she's a basketball player in every sense. Bri said SFA “felt like (she) was at home,” and Coach Kellogg and company picked up a potential mid-major steal in the process.

Bri is not the only player from the “Show Me” state that SFA was able to bring on in the 2017-18 recruiting class. One of the players that Bri played against, and also paired up with on the AAU circuit, is coming to SFA as well…

Aaliyah Johnson - 6’ 2” – C – Lee’s Summit North HS (Lee’s Summit, MO) -

She's current Ladyjack Imani Johnson’s little sister, but Aaliyah will look to prove she’s a lot more than that come November and beyond. A key anchor for Lee’s Summit North and their success over the last four years, Aaliyah helped the team to their first undefeated record in conference against staunch competition (LSM was ranked fifth in the state). She also scored over 1,000 points in high school ball, a feat that not many can claim.

Bringing with her to Nacogdoches a list of accolades, including 1st Team Girls All-Metro, Aaliyah will look to bring size and prowess to an SFA team that finished seventh in the conference in rebounds per game. Aaliyah has shown she can do just that, as well as scoring the rock inside heartily, even against the double-teams that she often had to face.

Tricia Lillygren, head coach of the LSM Mustangs, had nothing but praise for Aaliyah when she signed with SFA, and we can see why. Aaliyah led the team in free-throw shooting last year, while also averaging thirteen points per game and five-and-a-half rebound against constant double-teams.

With the potential for Bri Burns, Aaliyah, and Imani Johnson to all be on the floor at the same time, those could be some interesting, and tall, minutes. It would also pair the sisters on the same team for the first time in a few years.

Alyssa Mayfield – G/F – 5’ 10”  – John Tyler HS (Tyler, TX) -

One of the earlier commits, Mayfield brings from Tyler another fantastic overall player with a long list of accolades that include: Academic All-State, All-Region, All-State, District 11-6 A Offensive Player of the Year, All-East Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year, and MVP of the 14th Annual Azalea Orthopedics All-Star Game (finishing with 28 points). On top of these athletic achievements, not including other sports she participated in while in high school, Mayfield was also the salutatorian of her graduating class.

Mayfield has grown a bit more as a scorer over the past two years, as her stat line jumped from an already impressive 15 points per game and nine rebounds as a junior, to averaging just shy of 20 points and seven rebounds as a senior in the 2016-17 season.

Even with the loss of long-time head coach Mike Smith at John Tyler High School, whom Alyssa played for through her Junior year and into the playoffs, her senior year proved that she is a great individual talent. Moving up to 6A ball and with a new coach, Alyssa still led the team to a solid record of 21-13 for the season and improved her scoring ability.

Transitioning into the Ladyjacks program, Mayfield could be compared in some ways to a smaller Stevi Parker. She can get out on the open floor on fast breaks, while also having the ability to work her way inside for tough rebounds.

Though there have been a couple of changes in the Ladyjacks coaching staff since season-end, and there will undeniably be some growing pains with such a young roster, look for the team to continue to compete at a high level within the conference in the 2017-18 season.

Overall, the newcomers to the Ladyjack program will look to make immediate differences across the board, and they're capable of it, with players that can help at every position on the floor.

Whether from Texas or Missouri, each of these four Ladyjacks will look to make a name for themselves in Nacogdoches - starting right now.