Kansas State University Athletics
K-State WBB Signs Four to NLIs for 2018-19 Season
Nov 08, 2017 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State head women's basketball coach Jeff Mittie announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the Fall National Signing period on Friday. The four new additions to the K-State roster for the 2018-19 season are: guards Christianna Carr and Savannah Simmons, forward Laura Macke and center Ayoka Lee.
The four freshmen newcomers for next season have resulted in Mittie's incoming class for the 2018-19 season earning a ranking of 19th in the nation by Prospects Nation and 21st by PASS.
Carr, a 6'0" product of Manhattan, Kansas, joins K-State as the number 20 overall player and the number three wing in the nation by Prospects Nation and number 22 overall and the number eight guard in the nation according to ESPNW HoopGurlz. Carr will be the seventh player in program history from Manhattan and the first since Susie Norton in the 1975-76 season.
In her junior season at Manhattan High in 2016-17, Carr helped the program to its first-ever state title while averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, while dishing out 57 assists and pocketing 44 steals. During the Class 6A State Tournament, Carr averaged 17.7 points while adding a season-high 27 points in the quarterfinals and in the state title game, Carr registered a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
For her efforts in the 2016-17 season, Carr was named to the 2017 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) Class 6A All-State team, the 2017 Wichita Eagle All-State team, 2017 Topeka Capital-Journal All-State team, the 2017 Manhattan Mercury All-Flint Hills Player of the Year, 2017 Centennial League Newcomer of the Year and 2017 All-Centennial League First Team.
"Christianna is an excellent scorer at all three levels," said Mittie about the local product. "She is a deep three-point threat with a quick release."
Lee, a 6'5" native of Byron, Minnesota, joins K-State as the number 146 player overall and the number 27 post in the nation by Prospects Nation. She is rated as the number 38 post in the nation by ESPNW HoopGurlz. According to Five State Hoops, Lee is rated as the number four player in the 2018 class in the Midwest. Lee is the 13th player in program history from the state of Minnesota and will join fellow Minnesotan, Rachel Ranke, on the K-State roster.
Entering her senior season, Lee owns the school record for career points with over 1,700 points to her credit, points in a season and points in a single game. She also owns the school records for single game, single season and career totals for rebounds and blocks.
In the 2016-17 season, Lee was a dominate post player as she averaged 24.9 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks. She registered a career-high 50 points on 24-of-30 shooting against Cannon Falls and another game of 49 points later in the season.
For her efforts in her junior season, Lee was named to the 2017 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association (MGBCA) Class 3A All-State team, 2017 Rochester Post-Bulletin All-Rochester Area Team and her third straight All-Hiawatha Valley League selection.
In her sophomore season in 2015-16, Lee averaged 24.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks while she was selected to the 2016 MGBCA Class 3A All-State Team.
Lee is also a two-year letter winner in volleyball and track and field for the Bears.
"Ayoka has great touch around the basket with good range to 15 feet," stated Mittie about the incoming post. "She has good size and strength."
Macke, a 6'1" forward from Baileyville, Kansas, and Nemaha Central High, ranks as the number 53 wing in the nation by ESPNW HoopGurlz. Macke was named to the 2017 KBCA Class 3A All-State team, the 2017 Topeka Capital-Journal All-Class 3A team after averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4 steals and helping the Thunder to a fourth place Class 3A state finish with a record of 20-5.
In her sophomore season, Macke averaged 11 points, four rebounds and two assists per game while helping the Thunder to the 2016 Class 3A sub-state title game.
"Laura is versatile wing that has the ability to score off the bounce and play multiple positions," Mittie said about the emerging local product.
Simmons, a 5'10" product of Bel Air, Maryland, joins K-State as the number 140 overall player and the number 29 point guard in the nation by Prospects Nation. She rated as the number 64 guard in the nation by ESPNW HoopGurlz. Simmons is the first player in program history from the state of Maryland.
Simmons, a three-year letter winner for The John Carroll School, garnered her third straight All-Harford County First Team honor at the end of her junior season in 2016-17.
Simmons also earned her second straight All-IAAM Conference First Team citation and her second 695 Hoops All-Metro honor. Simmons averaged 13.5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds a season ago.
In her sophomore season in 2015-16, Simmons registered averages for 14.7 points, 7.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds while earning all-county and all-conference honors.
"Savannah is a big guard that can play all the guard spots for us," said Mittie about the product of the Chesapeake State. "She has good vision and is a solid floor leader."
K-State will open its 50th season of action with a three-game home stand, as the Wildcats host Stephen F. Austin on Friday in Bramlage Coliseum at 5:30 p.m., in a women's and men's basketball doubleheader. Tickets are available through the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or at www.kstatesports.com/tickets.
Kansas State 2018-19 Signees
Name, Height, Position, Hometown, School
Christianna Carr, 6'0", Guard, Manhattan, Kansas, Manhattan HS
Ayoka Lee, 6'5", Center, Byron, Minnesota, Byron HS
Laura Macke, 6'1", Forward, Baileyville, Kansas, Nemaha Central HS
Savannah Simmons, 5'10", Guard, Bel Air, Maryland, The John Carroll School
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The four freshmen newcomers for next season have resulted in Mittie's incoming class for the 2018-19 season earning a ranking of 19th in the nation by Prospects Nation and 21st by PASS.
Carr, a 6'0" product of Manhattan, Kansas, joins K-State as the number 20 overall player and the number three wing in the nation by Prospects Nation and number 22 overall and the number eight guard in the nation according to ESPNW HoopGurlz. Carr will be the seventh player in program history from Manhattan and the first since Susie Norton in the 1975-76 season.
In her junior season at Manhattan High in 2016-17, Carr helped the program to its first-ever state title while averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, while dishing out 57 assists and pocketing 44 steals. During the Class 6A State Tournament, Carr averaged 17.7 points while adding a season-high 27 points in the quarterfinals and in the state title game, Carr registered a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
For her efforts in the 2016-17 season, Carr was named to the 2017 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) Class 6A All-State team, the 2017 Wichita Eagle All-State team, 2017 Topeka Capital-Journal All-State team, the 2017 Manhattan Mercury All-Flint Hills Player of the Year, 2017 Centennial League Newcomer of the Year and 2017 All-Centennial League First Team.
"Christianna is an excellent scorer at all three levels," said Mittie about the local product. "She is a deep three-point threat with a quick release."
Lee, a 6'5" native of Byron, Minnesota, joins K-State as the number 146 player overall and the number 27 post in the nation by Prospects Nation. She is rated as the number 38 post in the nation by ESPNW HoopGurlz. According to Five State Hoops, Lee is rated as the number four player in the 2018 class in the Midwest. Lee is the 13th player in program history from the state of Minnesota and will join fellow Minnesotan, Rachel Ranke, on the K-State roster.
Entering her senior season, Lee owns the school record for career points with over 1,700 points to her credit, points in a season and points in a single game. She also owns the school records for single game, single season and career totals for rebounds and blocks.
In the 2016-17 season, Lee was a dominate post player as she averaged 24.9 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks. She registered a career-high 50 points on 24-of-30 shooting against Cannon Falls and another game of 49 points later in the season.
For her efforts in her junior season, Lee was named to the 2017 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association (MGBCA) Class 3A All-State team, 2017 Rochester Post-Bulletin All-Rochester Area Team and her third straight All-Hiawatha Valley League selection.
In her sophomore season in 2015-16, Lee averaged 24.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks while she was selected to the 2016 MGBCA Class 3A All-State Team.
Lee is also a two-year letter winner in volleyball and track and field for the Bears.
"Ayoka has great touch around the basket with good range to 15 feet," stated Mittie about the incoming post. "She has good size and strength."
Macke, a 6'1" forward from Baileyville, Kansas, and Nemaha Central High, ranks as the number 53 wing in the nation by ESPNW HoopGurlz. Macke was named to the 2017 KBCA Class 3A All-State team, the 2017 Topeka Capital-Journal All-Class 3A team after averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4 steals and helping the Thunder to a fourth place Class 3A state finish with a record of 20-5.
In her sophomore season, Macke averaged 11 points, four rebounds and two assists per game while helping the Thunder to the 2016 Class 3A sub-state title game.
"Laura is versatile wing that has the ability to score off the bounce and play multiple positions," Mittie said about the emerging local product.
Simmons, a 5'10" product of Bel Air, Maryland, joins K-State as the number 140 overall player and the number 29 point guard in the nation by Prospects Nation. She rated as the number 64 guard in the nation by ESPNW HoopGurlz. Simmons is the first player in program history from the state of Maryland.
Simmons, a three-year letter winner for The John Carroll School, garnered her third straight All-Harford County First Team honor at the end of her junior season in 2016-17.
Simmons also earned her second straight All-IAAM Conference First Team citation and her second 695 Hoops All-Metro honor. Simmons averaged 13.5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds a season ago.
In her sophomore season in 2015-16, Simmons registered averages for 14.7 points, 7.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds while earning all-county and all-conference honors.
"Savannah is a big guard that can play all the guard spots for us," said Mittie about the product of the Chesapeake State. "She has good vision and is a solid floor leader."
K-State will open its 50th season of action with a three-game home stand, as the Wildcats host Stephen F. Austin on Friday in Bramlage Coliseum at 5:30 p.m., in a women's and men's basketball doubleheader. Tickets are available through the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or at www.kstatesports.com/tickets.
Kansas State 2018-19 Signees
Name, Height, Position, Hometown, School
Christianna Carr, 6'0", Guard, Manhattan, Kansas, Manhattan HS
Ayoka Lee, 6'5", Center, Byron, Minnesota, Byron HS
Laura Macke, 6'1", Forward, Baileyville, Kansas, Nemaha Central HS
Savannah Simmons, 5'10", Guard, Bel Air, Maryland, The John Carroll School
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Players Mentioned
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