RUSTON – Louisiana Tech added three high school prep stars, including two local products, and one junior college transfer to its program Wednesday as the Lady Techsters landed the class on the first day of the national signing period.
 
Head coach Brooke Stoehr signed forward Anna Larr Roberson (Ruston, La./Cedar Creek HS), forward Mahoganie Williams (Monroe, La./Ouachita HS), forward Amariah Stanard (Lithonia, Ga./Tucker HS) and guard Amber Hawkison (Little Rock, Ark./Trinity Valley CC/North Little Rock HS) to national letters of intent.
 
"We are excited to welcome this 2019 signing class to our Lady Techster family," said Stoehr. "This class adds both length and athleticism to our roster. The ability to score the ball and play with tempo is something we really wanted with this class and feel we were able to accomplish that during this early signing period.
 
"These young women will be great additions to our community and program and will represent Lady Techster basketball well. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Tech family."
 
Roberson is a 6-foot-2-inch forward who has lettered the last four years at Cedar Creek High School in Ruston. She averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds as a junior. Roberson is a 3-time first team all-district honoree and earned all-state honors as a junior.
 
"Anna Larr will provide length, size, and athleticism for the team," said Stoehr. "She moves well and plays with great energy. Anna Larr has the ability to score with her back to the basket or facing up on the perimeter.
 
"She is a competitor who has won championships on the softball field and learned from terrific coaches in Gene VanDenLangernberg on the court and Julie Riser on the field. We believe her best basketball is ahead of her, and we are thrilled to watch her grow as a Lady Techster."
 
Roberson also lettered in softball at Cedar Creek, earning the Shreveport Times Best of the Prep Award and the Paul Martin Multisport Athlete of the Year Award as presented by the News-Star. She was also a two-time first team all-state academic honoree the past two years.
 
"Louisiana Tech has always held a special place in my heart, especially being from Ruston," said Roberson. "I would say that the friendly environment drew me in the most, and coming from a small school like Cedar Creek, I wanted my college to reflect that family-friendly environment, as well.
 
"Not only do I feel safe and comfortable here, but I know I can trust Louisiana Tech to excel me in my academics and give me the education I need for all of my future endeavors in life. I know this school will not only prepare me for my future relationships, but for my future careers, also and I cannot wait to see what opportunities Louisiana Tech offers me. I chose Louisiana Tech because it is like a home to me, and I am so honored to be able to represent my school for the next few years as a Lady Techster."
           
Williams is a 6-foot-1-inch forward from Ouachita High School in Monroe. She has lettered four years for former Louisiana Tech star and current Lions head coach Amber Obaze Ford where she helped lead the program to the state playoffs her first three seasons. As a junior she averaged 12 points and 15 rebounds before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
 
"Mahoganie has very good size and athleticism," said Stoehr. "She has the ability to guard multiple positions on the floor and can impact our team on the boards. Mahoganie can play facing the basket and provides some versatility on the offensive end of the floor.
 
"She comes from a good high school program and knows how to compete having played for former Lady Techster, Amber Obaze-Ford. We are excited to have Mahoganie join the Lady Techster program."
 
Williams was named the District Freshman of the Year in 2016 as she earned all-state honorable mention honors. Her sophomore years, she averaged a double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds while earning first team all-district and all-state honors.
 
"I chose Louisiana Tech because they have been loyal to me throughout the recruiting process. They have a great program and fan base," said Williams. "I love the coaches and players. I think it will be a great place to call home."
 
Stanard is a 6-foot-1-inch forward from Tucker High School in Georgia. She has lettered for the past four years for the program where she helped lead them to three straight regional appearances, including back-to-back regional championships, and the 2016 Georgia Class 6A state title game. She averaged 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks as a junior.
 
"Amariah is a versatile athlete who can play in transition as well as score in and around the paint and shoot the 3," said Stoehr. "She has continued to expand her game and will be someone we can use in a variety of ways within our system.
 
"Amariah has a desire to be successful on and off the court, and we look forward to watching her growth and development as a Lady Techster."
 
Stanard was named all-county as a sophomore and junior and named to the Dekalb County all-star team the past two seasons. She accepted an invitational to the 2017 Team USA U16 Trials and made it to the third round of the 64 hopefuls. Stanard was named to ESPN Hoop Gurlz National Top 100 for Class of 2019 and to the 2016 Deep South Class of 2019 Supreme Team Honorable Mention.
 
"I received approximately 30 DI offers and out of all the offers I chose LA Tech because it was the best overall fit for me," said Stanard. "It definitely was not solely a basketball decision. The reasons that made LA Tech No. 1 for me were academic reputation, the fact I can major in chemical engineering, how well I got along with the players and coaches on my visit, the basketball program and its great tradition, and the fact it competes in Conference USA."
 
The lone guard in the signing class is 5-foot-7-inch Amber Hawkison. The Little Rock, Arkansas, native is in her first season at Trinity Valley Community College and will have three years of eligibility remaining when she comes to campus next fall.
 
"Amber has the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor," said Stoehr. "She can create turnovers with her defensive pressure and instincts. Amber gives us a scoring threat on the perimeter with her ability to shoot the 3 or create off the dribble.
 
"She has played in two very successful programs at North Little Rock and Trinity Valley and has learned from two tremendous coaches in Daryl Fimple and Gerald Ewing. She knows what it takes to win a championship, and we look forward to her being a part of the Tech family."
 
Hawkison starred at North Little Rock High School for four years, leading the program to a pair of state titles during her time. She averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals her final year while earning all-conference and all-state accolades. She also played in the Arkansas all-star game and earned MVP honors in one of the three all-star games which she competed.
 
"I chose Louisiana Tech because I think it's the right place for me to continue my basketball career and further my education," said Hawkison. "The coaching staff is very straight forward. I can see myself living in such a great community for the next three years."
 
For all the latest on Lady Techster Basketball, fans can follow through social media avenues, including Twitter (@LATechWBB), Instragram (@LATechWBB) and Facebook.com/LATechWBB.
 
 
 
Amber Hawkison
5-7, Guard
Little Rock, Ark. (Trinity Valley CC/North Little Rock HS)
 
Junior College: Is in her freshman year at Trinity Valley Community College … Will have three years of eligibility remaining at Louisiana Tech … High School: Played four years for coach Daryl Fimple at North Little Rock High School … Averaged 15.5 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds per game … Led the program to a pair of state championships … Named all-conference and all-state during her career … Played in the Arkansas All-Star game … Named to the all-state tournament team … Personal: Daughter of Tomasa and Adrian (stepfather) Waters and the late Leon Hawkison … Has two brothers, Tyree and Tyrone … Has four sisters, Leon'Dra, Karsyn, Parker and Karter … Born Jan. 6, 2000 in Little Rock, Ark.
 
 
Anna Larr Roberson
6-2, Forward
Ruston, La. (Cedar Creek HS)
 
High School: Lettered four years for Coach Gene VanDenLangenberg at Cedar Creek High School … Averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior … 3-time first team all-district … Honorable mention all-state as a sophomore … All-State as a junior … 1^st team all-Northeast Small School as a sophomore and junior … 3-time team MVP … Lettered for five years for the softball team … Earned Shreveport Times Best of the Prep Award … Earned the Paul Martin Award Multisport Athlete of the Year Award presented by the News-Star as a junior …Named 1^st team all-academic all-state as a sophomore and junior …  Personal: Full name is Anna Larr Roberson … Daughter of Robby and Karen Roberson … Has two brothers, Ryan and Ryder … Born Sept. 8, 2000, in West Monroe.
 
 
Amariah Stanard
6-1, Forward
Lithonia, Georgia (Tucker HS)
 
High School: Lettered four years for coach James Oliver at Tucker High School in Georgia … Averaged 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game as a junior … Helped lead the Tigers to three straight regional appearances, including back-to-back regional championships … Led Tucker to the Georgia Class 6A state championship game (runner-up) in 2016 … Named all-county as a sophomore and junior … Named to the Dekalb County All-Star team as a sophomore and junior … Named the MVP of the 2017 Tucker Classic Tournament … Accepted to the 2017 Team USA U16 Trials and made it to the third round of 64 hopefuls … Named to Basketball Wall Street's National Freshman Prospects 2015 … Named to ESPN Hoop Gurlz National Top 100 for Class of 2019 … Named to 2016 Deep South Class of 2019 Supreme Team Honorable Mention … Played AAU basketball for the Georgia Pistols East 2019 … Led the program to the D-1 AAU national title in 2016 and the Adidas national championship runner-up that same year … Lettered on the Tucker HS varsity volleyball team for two years … Member of the Tucker High School Dean's List, Honor Roll, and Principals Academic List … Personal: Full name is Amariah Christine Stanard … Daughter of Robert and Tayari Stanard … Has four brothers, Robert, David, John and Brandon … Has two sisters, Imani and Mayah … Born July 24, 2001, in Atlanta.
 
 
Mahoganie Williams
6-1, Forward
Monroe, La. (Ouachita HS)
 
High School: Lettered four years for coach Amber Obaze Ford at Ouachita High School … Missed most of her junior year after an ACL injury … Helped lead the program to the district title as a sophomore and the state playoffs her first three years … Named the district Freshman of the Year in 2016 … Named first team all-state as a sophomore and honorable mention all-state as a freshman … 2-time all-district … Averaged 12 point and 15 rebounds during her injury shortened junior season … Averaged 10 points and 12 rebounds as a sophomore … Personal: Full name is Mahoganie Vansha Williams … Daughter of Tenisia Williams and LaCurtis Dunn … Has one sister, Za'Nya … Her cousin Lacederious Dunn played college basketball at Baylor … Born Feb. 12, 2001 in Monroe.