Nov. 18, 2014 RUSTON - The Louisiana Tech women's basketball program wrapped up its fall signing class with the addition of forward Dawn Gipson (Jacksonville, Fla./Ribault HS) and center Kennedy Rushin (Atlanta, Ga./Mays HS).
The duo joins Kierra Anthony (New Iberia, La./New Iberia HS), Reauna Cleaver (Elizabethtown, Kent./Elizabethtown HS) and Jasmine Leblanc (Breaux Bridge, La./Breaux Bridge HS) in compiling this year's class.
Gipson is a 6-foot-2-inch forward/guard that has lettered the past two years for coach Shelia Pennick at Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Playing on a team loaded with Division I talent, Gipson helped lead the team to a pair of 3A state titles the past two years while averaging 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
"She is a young lady with a lot of potential," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "She has a great basketball body and athleticism. Her strength is her mid-range shot. She can play guard or post with her size. We expect her to defend and rebound and be an offensive threat."
Despite modest offensive numbers, Gipson earned honorable mention all-Gateway Conference honors as a junior. She plays AAU basketball for Kimberly Davis and Essence.
"The whole coaching staff and team seemed like a family to me," Gipson. "All I really need is a family because I'm going nine hours away from home to go to college. When I went on my official visit, they made me feel like I was at home."
Rushin verbally committed to LA Tech early in the summer and signed her paperwork to make it official this week. The 6-foot-6-inch center possesses tremendous size and strength and Summitt said that he expects her to work hard and eventually develop into an inside presence for the Lady Techsters.
"Kennedy's size will be a big factor for us," Summitt said. "We expect her to alter shots around rim, rebound and finish around the basket. She knows that she must improve her skills and that will be a process. It will take time. Mickie DeMoss is very excited about getting a chance to work with Kennedy."
Rushin has lettered during her high school career for coach Chantay Frost at Mays High School in Atlanta, Georgia. She helped lead the program to a third place finish in regionals and the state playoffs as a junior. She plays AAU basketball for Bruce Price and Peak Performance.
Kennedy Rushin
Atlanta, Ga. (Mays HS)
6-5, Center
High School: Lettered for four years at Mays High School for coach Chantay Frost ... Led the program to the state playoffs as a junior ... Finished third in the region ... Lettered four years on the volleyball team ... Member of Math and Science Academy at Mays High School ... Plays AAU basketball Bruce Price and Peak Performance ... Personal: Daughter of Cindy Williams ... Born Dec. 31, 1996.
Dawn Gipson
Jacksonville, Fla. (Ribault HS)
6-2, Guard/Forward
High School: Lettered the past two years for coach Shelia Pennick at Ribault High School ... Lettered as a freshman at Edward H. White High School ... Helped lead Ribault to a pair of District 4-3A titles and the Florida state title in 2013 and 2014 ... Averaged 4.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game the last two years ... Named honorable mention all-Gateway Conference as a junior ... Lettered on the bowling team as a junior ... Plays AAU for Kimberly Davis and Essence ... Personal: Daughter of Saundra and Dwight Gipson ... Has five sisters, Denee, Daysha, Dantee, Destiny, and Lauren, and one brother, De'Andre ... Born Nov. 1, 1996 in Jacksonville, Fla.
