TEMPE, Ariz. – A pair of local standout guards and two tremendous post players from Nebraska and California highlight the 2014 Sun Devil women’s basketball signing class as Sabrina Haines, Armani Hawkins, Kianna Ibis and Charnea Johnson-Chapman all signed letters of intent to study and play basketball at Arizona State University, Sun Devil head coach Charli Turner Thorne announced on Wednesday.
“We are so excited to welcome this class to our Sun Devil family,” Turner Thorne said. “They are not only four accomplished basketball players, but definitely the most athletic class we have ever signed.
“We are absolutely thrilled, first and foremost, because of who these young women are as people and the families they come from and also for their potential to impact our program. The fact that three of our them were part of state championship teams last season speaks to their readiness to contribute to championship basketball at ASU.”
A 5-10 guard, who plays locally for Phoenix Desert Vista, Haines is coming off a spectacular junior campaign in which she helped lead her squad to a 30-2 record and the first girls basketball title in school history. A participant in USA Basketball’s 16-under National team trials in May of 2013 and the 2014 USA Basketball Women’s U17 World Championship Team Trials (was a finalist for the team) this past April, Haines averaged 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.0 steals from her point guard position in 2014. Haines, who started her career at Mesa Mountain View where she was a teammate of fellow signee Armani Hawkins, scored nine points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists in last season’s 53-37 Division I championship game victory over Avondale Westview. Ranked No. 22 at her position by ESPN.com, Haines earned Honorable Mention Division I All-State recognition in 2014. Haines was also selected as the Arizona Preps Fall Showcase Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2013.
“By leading her team to the state championship and making it to the final cuts of USA Basketball, Sabrina has truly shown that she is one of the top guards in the country,” Turner Thorne said. “She is a ‘complete’ player, who can create for herself and others and also can be a dominant rebounder and defender. Sabrina truly fits the Sun Devil way in that she is committed to being the best she can be not only on the court, but in the classroom. It has been so impressive to see her dramatic improvement each and every season. That is truly the making of an elite player.”
“Sabrina Haines is a great kid, a hard worker and a tough competitor,” said Dana Hawkins, Haines’ club coach at Blue Star Arizona and father of Armani and current Sun Devil junior guard Arnecia Hawkins. “She’s a solid one-two guard and will be a nice addition to the ASU program. She can shoot the ball with range, finish at the basket and has a nice touch and vision when passing the ball. I’m really happy for Sabrina and I look forward to seeing her play at ASU next year.”
The younger sister of Arnecia, Armani, a 5-10 guard, will also be staying close to home as she prepares for her senior season at Mesa Mountain View, where she has helped her squad win 39 games in the last two seasons. Last season Hawkins was second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg), led her squad in rebounding (5.5 rpg) and was second in steals (1.9 spg) on her way to being named the Division I Section III Player of the Year in addition to earning Second-Team All-State honors. Hawkins is also a two-time First-Team All-City and First-Team All-Section honoree. Also ranked in the Top 25 at her position by ESPN.com, Hawkins averaged 14.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game as a sophomore.
“I have watched Armani play since she was eight years old and while she has been part of our program’s family for three years because of her sister Arnecia, we are beyond excited to finally have her signed on officially as a member of our team,” Turner Thorne said. “Under the tutelage of her dad, Dana, and Mesa Mountain View coach Henry Bribiescas, Armani has developed phenomenal offensive skills. Her length and athleticism combined with her killer jump shot make her almost impossible to shut down. We can’t wait to coach this very talented and passionate young lady.”
Added Bribiescas, “It has been an honor to coach a player such as Armani Hawkins. She brings leadership and a great work ethic to Mountain View. Her will to compete and desire to excel has earned her the honor (of signing with Arizona State University).”
Ibis will be coming to Tempe from Omaha, Nebraska, where last season the 6-1 forward was the driving force in her team’s run to its first Class A state title. Ibis was named first-team Super-State in 2014 following a campaign in which she averaged 19.4 points and accumulated a state record of 426 rebounds (averaged 15.4 per game) to go along with 163 blocks and 52 steals. With Ibis leading the way, Benson posted a 28-2 record last season, which included wins in its final 19 contests. Ranked No. 19 at her position by ESPN.com, Ibis is a two-time Metro Player of the Year, a three-time selection to the All-State Team (first team twice and second team once), and a three-time Super State honoree (first team twice and third team once).
“Kianna is an unbelievable talent,” Turner Thorne said. “She has incredible versatility as a 6-1, lefty forward. She is equally comfortable dominating the paint as she is shooting the three. She has had some great coaches, but probably none more impactful, than her mom Jenn, who taught her how to shoot. Kianna has only played regionally, which I believe makes her one of the best-kept secrets in the country. Her strength, skill, athleticism and basketball savvy have prepared her for another outstanding season at Benson High School. Off the court, Kianna is a soft-spoken, dedicated young lady, who excels in the classroom and consistently gives back to her community.”
“At Omaha Benson we preached belief, work ethic, attitude, community, and academics and Kianna embodies all of those qualities as the total student-athlete,” former Benson head coach Jon Perone said. “Focused, driven, and relentless, Kianna has put herself on the map as one of the best athletes in Nebraska. She is part of a special group that has taken Benson to the top. I am honored to have the privilege to coach and cross paths with Kianna Ibis. She will be in good hands at Arizona State University”
A 6-3 post from Moreno Valley, California, Johnson-Chapman averaged a double-double (10.4 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game) last season as she led Canyon Springs to an undefeated Inland Valley League championship and then to the school’s first state title. Johnson-Chapman put the final stamp on her school’s 25-6 season with 10 points and 17 rebounds, including eight points and eight rebounds in the second half of Canyon Springs’ win over Pleasant Grove in the Division I girls basketball championship game. Johnson-Chapman, who was instrumental in helping her team win the CIF Division IA Southern Section title as a sophomore, has accumulated several honors in her career including All Inland Valley League First-Team recognition and Press Enterprise All-Area Girls Basketball Third-Team honors in addition to being named Second-Team Cal-Hi Sports All-state Underclass.
“Charnea has been developed by one of the best high school coaches in the country, Gail Hale, and she knows only winning basketball,” Turner Thorne said. “Charnea, who only started playing organized basketball in the eighth grade, has worked tirelessly to becomes a dominant rebounder and scorer. She only knows ‘fast’ basketball so she will be a great fit with our program. We are so excited to help her continue to grow as a basketball player, student, and of course, as a young woman. We know with her strong character and work ethic, she will have tremendous success at ASU.”
Added Hale, “Charnea has been such a blessing to our program. She is a team player first and foremost. She has many intangibles that help us win. Two that come to mind instantly are her intuitive rebounding skills on both ends of the court and her defensive presence in the key. She also has great timing when blocking shots. If she doesn't block a shot, she alters it. I am so proud of all she has achieved to date in her career as a Cougar.”
Coming off their 14th postseason appearance in the last 15 years after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Sun Devils open the 2014-15 campaign on Friday when they host 2014 NCAA Tournament participant Middle Tennessee at 5 p.m. Friday’s game will be the first of a doubleheader also featuring the Sun Devil men’s basketball team which will take on Chicago State at 8 p.m. The doubleheader, part of ASU’s Salute to Service, is presented by USAA.