TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University head women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced the signing of five student-athletes – Sydney Goodson, Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan – whose outstanding ability, talent and potential for immediate impact have the signing class ranked among the top 10 in the country by espnW HoopGurlz.
“With five seniors who all are big contributors (Peace Amukamara, Elisha Davis, Arnecia Hawkins, Katie Hempen and Eliza Normen), we set out to sign five players who could come in next season and impact our program right away,” 19th-year ASU coach Turner Thorne said. “This class has already been ranked as ninth-best in the country by ESPN.com and given the careers of these young women up to this point, I believe it is well-deserved.
“The common thread for all five of these amazing women is the importance of family and we feel so incredibly blessed they are now part of our Sun Devil family. They have already proven to be giving Sun Devil teammates. On behalf of our coaching staff, we simply cannot wait to coach this incredible group.”
Goodson, a 5-8 guard, will be joining the Sun Devils from Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, where she has already led her team to a pair of TAPPS Class 5A state title game appearances. After a runner-up finish in 2013, the Lady Warriors came away with the title in 2015 as Goodson averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals on her way to earning First-Team All-State honors and being named the District’s Offensive Player of the Year. Goodson, who was named to the State All-Tournament Team, scored a team-high 16 points in the state championship game to help Liberty claim its first state title since 2011. Goodson’s spectacular junior campaign came after a knee injury forced her to sit out her sophomore year. As a freshman, Goodson’s head-turning ability on the court helped propel Liberty to a state runner-up finish. She would earn First-Team All-State recognition for a season in which she averaged 12.0 points, 2.7 assists and 3.3 steals. Equally talented in the classroom, Goodson will be applying to ASU’s Barrett Honors College. Goodson is coached by Ken Burroughs at Liberty Christian and Chris Johnson at Cy Fair Premier.
“Sydney is a smart, tough scoring guard who has the intellect and leadership skills to lead a team right away,” Turner Thorne said. “While her skill set and athleticism are impressive, Sydney’s intangibles are what make her an exceptional player. Everything Sydney does, she does to the best of her ability and with a smile on her face. We will be cheering her on this year as she goes for back-to-back state championships.”
Added Burroughs, “Sydney is one of the hardest working, most dedicated athletes I’ve ever coached. She has spent countless hours working before school, after practice and outside school to become the player she is today. She overcame an ACL injury her sophomore year to become an even greater player her junior year. Her leadership on this team is outstanding. She is a ‘special’ player that has a bright future at ASU.”
Richardson will be coming to ASU from Brea Olinda High School in Brea, California. The 5-9 guard averaged 17.4 points as a junior while earning numerous awards, including MaxPreps 2014-15 California All-State Division 3 Second-Team recognition, Southern Section All-Open Division Team and Orange County Register All-County First-Team honors. Behind the play of Richardson, Brea Olinda advanced to the California Division III high school state championship game last season (Richardson scored a game-high 19 points in the title game) and concluded the season with a 26-5 record. In 2014, Richardson was named Century League co-MVP in addition to First Team All-League, All-CIF and All County for a season in which she scored 20 or more points nine times in helping the Ladycats win the league title and reach the CIF-SS Division 1AA semifinals. Richardson is the daughter of Sun Devil Hall of Famer Mike Richardson (1979-82), who was a starter on the famed 1985 Chicago Bears defense that helped lead the team to an 18-1 record and a victory in Super Bowl XX. Richardson is coached by Jeff Sink at Brea Olinda and Russ Davis at Cal Swish.
“Reili is an explosive scorer and a great creator, who also has the ability to be a lock-down defender,” Turner Thorne said. “Reili has incredible drive, determination and passion to be her best every practice and every game. Her environment has been very supportive in that she plays for one of the all-time most successful high school coaches, Jeff Sink, at powerhouse Brea Olinda High School and she is the daughter of ASU Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion, Mike Richardson. Reili has the IQ and skill set to play all three guard positions and we plan to take full advantage of her tremendous versatility.”
Sink and Davis both echoed Turner Thorne’s sentiments about Richardson.
“Reili Richardson is the purest shooter I have ever coached,” Sink said. “Her ability to score from anywhere on the court makes her a tremendous asset and weapon for any team. She reminds me of a female version of Stephen Curry - her idol. She will have a great collegiate career.”
Added Davis, “Reili is a late bloomer who proved this summer that she is one of top guards in the nation. ASU was brilliant in getting on her early and knowing that she would be a impact player in the Pac-12.”
A 6-1 post, who has incredible versatility, Ruden has averaged 20 or more points each of the last three seasons for John Marshall High School (Rochester, Minnesota). Ruden is coming off a junior campaign in which she earned AP First-Team All-State and Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State recognition after averaging 23 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game in leading John Marshall to a 27-2 record and a state runner-up finish. Ruden was the first player from Rochester to make the AP all-state first team since twin sisters Coco and Kelly Miller in 1997. Ruden, who has been a varsity starter since the eighth grade (averaged 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds), posted 23 points per game as a sophomore in 2014 and was named Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention. She scored 27 in JM's quarterfinal win and then exploded for 32 points and 14 rebounds in a season-ending 73-67 loss in the semifinals. Ruden, who has been nominated for McDonald’s All-American honors, is a candidate for ASU’s Barrett Honors College. Ruden is coached by Phil Schroeder at John Marshall and by Nick Storm at the Minnesota Fury.
“Jamie is a big-time scoring forward, who has the size and strength of a post, but shoots it like a top-notch shooting guard,” Turner Thorne said. “With her high, quick release and her great feel for the game, we have yet to see any defender be able to shut her down. For such a young player, Jamie has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to the game she loves.“
Having had the opportunity to coach Ruden, Schroeder and Storm were both in agreement that the Sun Devils are getting a special player.
“What sets Jamie apart is her commitment to maximize her basketball skills,” said Schroeder. “She has benefited greatly from her focus, discipline and hard work to be the best that she can be. She is the best pure shooter I have ever coached and her ability to rebound and pass make her an extra special player. I look forward to coaching her final year of high school basketball and then watching her play for Coach Turner Thorne and the Arizona State Sun Devils.”
Added Storm, “Jamie is a first-class kid on and off the court, and in the classroom. She had a phenomenal summer for the Minnesota Fury playing against the best competition in the country and proving that she belongs in the McDonald’s All-American conversation. While Jamie’s mid-range game has always been a thing of beauty, she has recently proven she can be just as successful on the block or beyond the three-point line. Without a doubt, she is one of, if not the best pure scorer in the class of 2016.”
Also coming to ASU from the North Star State is Russell, a 5-8 guard out of Osseo High School in Osseo, Minnesota. Like Ruden, Russell also earned 2015 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State honors after a spectacular junior campaign in which she averaged 23.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.8 steals. Russell, who scored 20 or more points 15 times and 30 or more points four times, was also tabbed AP Third-Team All-State in 2015. During the 2015 season Russell also went over 1,000 points for her high school career. Russell was an important contributor in Osseo’s 2014 season in which the Orioles advanced to the Section 5 semifinals. Russell was named to the All Northwest Suburban Conference Team after recording per-game averages of 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.7 assists. Russell also earned All-Conference honorable mention honors as a freshman while playing for Kennedy High School in Bloomington, Minnesota. Russell is coach by John Rieser at Osseo and by Tracy Martin at the Minnesota Stars.
“Kiara may remind many of our long-time fans of a ‘left-handed’ Briann January. Yes, she is that athletic and skilled,” Turner Thorne said. “Kiara plays exceptionally fast with the ball and can create for herself and others. She also has a lateral game that will allow her to significantly impact games with her defense. What is most impressive about this young lady is her ‘competitive spirit.’ Like her Sun Devil classmates, she is a fighter who is always going to give her best.”
Added Martin, “Kiara is an extremely coachable player who is a delight to have on my team. She is an all-around great person who brings great character. She is funny, kind, has an exceptional amount of energy, and gets it done on the court. Kiara is an elite athlete who has an outstanding skill set in every aspect of the game, and always shows up ready to compete at the highest level. As a coach it was special to coach an athlete with her leadership skills and work ethic. Kiara will be an asset to the ASU Women’s basketball program and I look forward to her continued development and success under the ASU coaching staff.”
A 5-9 guard, Ryan enters the 2015-16 season as the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Wyoming, where she has enjoyed a prolific career at Sheridan High School (Sheridan, Wyoming). Named to the All-State team in each of her first three seasons, Ryan has twice been invited to the U17 Olympic trials for women’s basketball and has also competed in the Chicago Nike National Invitation Tournament. As a junior, Ryan averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals in helping lead Sheridan to a third-place finish at the Wyoming State High School Girls Basketball Class 4A Championship. Ryan was third in Class 4A in scoring and fifth in rebounding despite playing through an ankle injury towards the end of the season. Ryan’s play was also instrumental in Sheridan’s third-place finish in the 2014 state tournament as she averaged 18 points in the three tourney games. She led the way in the third-place game with 19 points, seven rebounds and five steals. In addition to her exceptional talent on the hardwood, Ryan has also been a standout performer in volleyball and soccer as she has earned All-State recognition in both sports. Ryan is coached by Jessica Pickett at Sheridan and by Tyler Cline at Colorado Premier.
“Robbi is a three-sport athlete who has never played basketball year-round, something that seems inconceivable when you watch her ability to score, rebound and defend,” Turner Thorne said. “Her overall game combined with her strength and athleticism truly shows she is a player who is ready to excel at the highest level. After being named the Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior, we are looking forward to what Robbi can accomplish her senior year. It will be fun for all of us to see her continued growth as she transitions into a ‘full-time’ basketball player.”
Added Cline, “Robbi is the kind of player that comes around once in your coaching career. She does everything you ask her to do and more. She can play any spot on the floor. The best thing about Robbi is she is a better person than she is a basketball player. I am incredibly proud of her and I can’t wait to see her do great things at Arizona State.”
The 2015-16 Sun Devils return nine players including four starters from last year’s team that went 29-6 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils, who are ranked No. 15 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls, open their 2015-16 campaign on Sunday (3:30 p.m. MT) when they host No. 18/17 Kentucky in the program’s special #KeepTheBeat for Heart Health Awareness Game. The game can be seen live on Pac-12 Networks.