RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Lady Techster basketball program following the first day of the early signing period.

LA Tech added guard Amaya Brannon (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior HS), forward Rhi Ockwell (Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia/Box Hill Senior Secondary College), guard Autumn Smith (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS), forward Mesi Triplett (Las Vegas, Nevada/West Oaks Academy), and forward Mackenzie Wurm (Allen, Texas/Allen High School).

"We are thrilled to welcome this group of young women to the Louisiana Tech family," said Stoehr. "Each of them brings a unique skill set and personality to the program. In these unprecedented times, we had to adjust and adapt to connect with these young women and their families with the NCAA recruiting dead period in place.

"I want to give my staff and our players a great deal of credit for being creative and finding ways to connect genuinely with this group without being able to have the in person communication or on-campus visits."

Brannon is a 5-foot-11-inch guard out of Plano (Texas) Senior High School. She lettered the past four years for the Wildcats, playing for coach Kelly Stallings.

"Amaya brings length and athleticism to the perimeter," said Stoehr. "She has a high motor and has a knack for making the little plays to make her team better. Amaya can rebound the ball, finish in transition, defend a number of positions and shoot the basketball. Her versatility will allow her to play from multiple spots on the floor."

Brannon led the Wildcats to the District 9-6A title in 2020 as well as the area championship, the bi-district championship and the regional finals. She averaged 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists as a junior.

"I chose Louisiana Tech because the coaches made me feel like I was going to have a real family when I got to Ruston," said Brannon. "To me, the family aspect is a big thing. I know I will be comfortable over the next four years. It's also not too far from home so my family and friends can come watch me play."

She is a two-time all-district honoree and also earned academic all-district honors. She also plays AAU for coach Taylor Johnston and the Lady Pro Skills.

"Amaya is a very versatile and skilled player with high basketball IQ and a tremendous work ethic," said Plano Senior HS Coach Kelly Stallings. "She is a great teammate and her energy makes an impact each time she steps on the floor. Amaya's work ethic has led to success both on the court and in the classroom. We are proud of Amaya and are very excited to see her succeed at the next level with the Lady Techsters."

Ockwell is a 6-foot-1-inch forward out of Victoria, Australia. She started at Box Hill Senior Secondary College for four years for coach Trevor Burnette.

"Rhi brings a physicality to the game every time she steps on the court," said Stoehr. "She is always around the ball and finds a way to score against bigger opponents around the rim. Rhi is crafty with the basketball and can score in a variety of ways. She has a high motor and loves to compete. Rhi will bring a great energy to the Lady Techster program."

Ockwell, who is the first Australian to ever sign with the Lady Techsters, averaged 16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and led Box Hill to the 2017 Intermediate Champions Cup State runner-up finish and the Intermediate Australian School Championship gold medal.
 
"I chose to sign with Louisiana Tech as I felt it was very family-oriented environment," said Ockwell. "I formed a great connection with all the coaches, making it feel like a home away from home. I feel as though Louisiana Tech's values and the way they train will develop me as a person and player, and prepare me for the oncoming future."

She led the program to the 2019 Champions Cup State Championships and the Senior Australian School Championship gold medal. She played representative basketball for the Knox Raiders, who were the runners up at the Victorian Championship Final in 2019. She also plays Australian Rules Football.

"I think she is a very hard-nosed player," said Burnette. "She loves to rebound the basketball. She can stretch the defense; shoot the three and play inside. I think she is going to be super successful because she is very coachable and a true team player. She has the ability to play with other great players. She will do what her team needs her to do. She is a super teammate."

Smith is a 5-foot-7 guard out of Martin High School in Texas. She has lettered the past four years for Coach Brooke Brittain and the Warriros, leading the program to a 35-5 record as a junior.

"Autumn plays with an intensity on both ends of the court," said Stoehr. "She does a great job of creating for her teammates and scoring when she is needed. Her ability to guard the basketball and create offense with her defense is a welcomed addition. She can impact the game in multiple ways other than just her ability to score the ball. We are excited to welcome her to the Lady Techster family."

Smith averaged 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.5 assists per game as a junior, helping the program win the district and bi-district championships while reaching the regional quarterfinals. She shot 49 percent from the field and hit more than 50 three-pointers.

"I chose Louisiana Tech because I was automatically pulled in by the awesome coaching staff and players," said Smith. "They welcomed me with good energy. I connected with them quickly on a personal level, and we shared similar core values. I love how Tech has a historically strong background in women's basketball, including three national championships. With plans to one day pursue a career in the medical field, Tech allows me to compete at a high level athletically, while also working towards a degree in biological science."

She was named a Class 6A Texas Girls Coaches Associaton all-state selection and first team all-district and academic all-district. She was named to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram all-area team last season. She also lettered for the track and field team, winning the district title in the 400-meters.

"Autumn is an amazing leader and a kind-hearted young lady," said Brittain. "She is driven, respected and loved. We have about 3600 students at Martin, and Autumn was voted Homecoming Queen this year. Regardless of how well she does or how much support she gets, she is as down to earth and lovable as it gets. She is a super special young woman, and I'm blessed to get to coach her."

Triplett is a 6-foot-3-inch forward from West Oaks Academy in Florida. She has lettered the last three years for her father, Todd Triplett.

"Mesi brings size and athleticism to this signing class," said Stoehr. "She has the ability to score in the paint and disrupt on the defensive end of the floor. Mesi is aggressive and will bring a scoring and rebounding mentality to the team. I look forward to watching her grow and develop in a Lady Techster uniform."

Triplett was named a team captain this year and was selected as a preseason first team all-Sunshine Independent Athletic Association recently.

"I chose Louisiana Tech because I felt from the beginning that this is home," said Triplett. "I love the coaching staff and the players. I have taken a virtual visit and loved the campus."

She averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per game during her junior season and led the team in blocked shots. She plays AAU ball for coach Shayla Smith and the FBC Nightmares.

"Mesi embodies the best in player versatility," said Todd Triplett. "She is a defensive threat, a creative ball-handler, and an offensive playmaker. Mesi has physical strength and finesse to conquer the boards and encourage teammates. Her commitment to building her talent blended with her positive attitude make her unbeatable on the court and off."

Wurm is a 6-foot-3-inch forward from Allen (Texas) High School. She lettered for coach Teresa Durham the past two years after starting her prep career at Mansfield High School as a freshman.

"Mackenzie has really nice touch around the paint and can shoot the 3," said Stoehr. "She has the ability to alter shots on the defensive end and rebound the basketball. Her length will allow us to do some things defensively. Mackenzie's ability to communicate on the floor will be an asset on both ends.  We are excited to welcome Mackenzie to the Lady Techster family."  

Wurm helped lead Allen to the district title and the regional championships as well as the school's first ever trip to the Texas State High School Tournament as a sophomore.

"I have decided to sign to Louisiana Tech because the environment of the team and overall campus is amazing," said Wurm. "Every player I have talked to made their experience seem outstanding, and I want to be a part of that amazing college experience while playing the sport I love. The coaches and players show an amazing team chemistry on and off the court, which is exactly what I was looking for. I am super excited to further my basketball game at LA Tech."

She is a three-time all-district honoree and was named the team MVP at Mansfield as a freshman. She also received academic all-district accolades. She plays AAU basketball for Cary Noble and the Texas Elite.

"Mackenzie is a person of integrity and has a strong work ethic," said Durham. "She has gained the respect of her teammates and coaches because she consistently works on improving her game.  She has great court awareness, communicates great with teammates, and is able to lead by example in all things."

Stoehr said she is happy with the well-roundedness of this year's signing class.

"I believe we've added quality competitors at each position and more importantly, quality students and people," said Stoehr. "I could not be more excited to add this newest group of Lady Techsters, and I cannot wait to watch them grow in the years to come."