TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University head women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced that Sydnei Caldwell and Eboni Walker have signed national letters of intent with the Sun Devil women's basketball program.
"Sydnei and Eboni have both distinguished themselves as outstanding, high-character student-athletes who are passionate about achieving excellence in all phases of their lives," Turner Thorne said. "Both of them come from incredibly loving and supportive families and we are thrilled they are now part of our own Sun Devil family."
A 5-9 guard, Caldwell will be coming to ASU from the state of New Jersey. Ranked No. 27 at her position by ESPN.com, Caldwell averaged 15.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds last season at Gill St. Bernard's High School where she led her squad to the South Jersey, Non-Public B semifinals. For her outstanding play in 2018, Caldwell earned First-Team All-Conference, Third-Team All-State (non-public), Honorable Mention All-Area (Courier News) and Honorable Mention All-NJ recognition. Caldwell, who plays AAU basketball for the New Jersey Sparks, averaged 19.6 points per game as a sophomore. As a sophomore in 2016, Caldwell scored a career-high 36 points in a win over No. 8 Franklin in the semifinals of the Somerset County Tournament. As a freshman in 2016, Caldwell was named First-Team All-Conference, Second-Team All-Area (Courier News) and Honorable Mention All-NJ honors.
"When I got to coach Sydnei as an eighth grader at our camp I knew she was very special," Turner Thorne said. "Sydnei is a strong, dynamic combo guard who can really score the basketball. She is going to fit beautifully with our up-tempo team and our aggressive defensive system. Sydnei already is a strong leader with incredible maturity. I am so excited to be her coach for the next four years."
Added Caldwell's former high school coach Aaron Gratch, "Syd was always an absolute pleasure to coach. She is one of the most competitive and hardworking kids and she plays with an uncommon toughness you wish every player had. What separates her is her will to win and she will do whatever it takes for the team to be successful. She is a natural born leader and I wouldn't trade my time coaching her for anything."
A 5-11 forward from Las Vegas, Nev., Walker averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds last year in helping lead her Centennial High School team to a 29-3 record and a fourth consecutive Class 4A state championship (Walker scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Centennial's overtime victory in the state title game). Ranked No. 9 at her position by ESPN.com, Walker earned First-Team All-State honors in 2018. A member of three state championship teams, Walker, whose club team won the 17-under championship at the ASGR summer basketball playoff earlier this year, has been named to the Las Vegas Sun's Super 7 each of the last two years. As a sophomore in 2017, Walker averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on her way to earning Second-Team All-State and First-Team All-Northwest League honors. She also earned All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a freshman in 2016.
"From the first time I watched Eboni, I thought she was a perfect fit for us," Turner Thorne said. "Eboni is a smart, hardworking, versatile and tremendously talented forward, who only knows winning. She will give us scoring, rebounding and tenacious defense. Eboni truly understands what it means to be a great teammate because of her strong, supportive family and the championship culture she comes from."
Added Walker's high school and AAU coach Karen Weitz, "Eboni is a high-intensity athlete that does things you can't coach. I've enjoyed watching her mature as a young woman and grow into a player that steps up to challenges. I'm excited to watch her grow under the tutelage of Coach Turner Thorne."
Currently No. 22 in the AP poll, the Sun Devils (1-1) return to action Sunday (7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT) when they play at Arkansas. The game can be seen on SEC Network and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
"Sydnei and Eboni have both distinguished themselves as outstanding, high-character student-athletes who are passionate about achieving excellence in all phases of their lives," Turner Thorne said. "Both of them come from incredibly loving and supportive families and we are thrilled they are now part of our own Sun Devil family."
A 5-9 guard, Caldwell will be coming to ASU from the state of New Jersey. Ranked No. 27 at her position by ESPN.com, Caldwell averaged 15.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds last season at Gill St. Bernard's High School where she led her squad to the South Jersey, Non-Public B semifinals. For her outstanding play in 2018, Caldwell earned First-Team All-Conference, Third-Team All-State (non-public), Honorable Mention All-Area (Courier News) and Honorable Mention All-NJ recognition. Caldwell, who plays AAU basketball for the New Jersey Sparks, averaged 19.6 points per game as a sophomore. As a sophomore in 2016, Caldwell scored a career-high 36 points in a win over No. 8 Franklin in the semifinals of the Somerset County Tournament. As a freshman in 2016, Caldwell was named First-Team All-Conference, Second-Team All-Area (Courier News) and Honorable Mention All-NJ honors.
"When I got to coach Sydnei as an eighth grader at our camp I knew she was very special," Turner Thorne said. "Sydnei is a strong, dynamic combo guard who can really score the basketball. She is going to fit beautifully with our up-tempo team and our aggressive defensive system. Sydnei already is a strong leader with incredible maturity. I am so excited to be her coach for the next four years."
Added Caldwell's former high school coach Aaron Gratch, "Syd was always an absolute pleasure to coach. She is one of the most competitive and hardworking kids and she plays with an uncommon toughness you wish every player had. What separates her is her will to win and she will do whatever it takes for the team to be successful. She is a natural born leader and I wouldn't trade my time coaching her for anything."
A 5-11 forward from Las Vegas, Nev., Walker averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds last year in helping lead her Centennial High School team to a 29-3 record and a fourth consecutive Class 4A state championship (Walker scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Centennial's overtime victory in the state title game). Ranked No. 9 at her position by ESPN.com, Walker earned First-Team All-State honors in 2018. A member of three state championship teams, Walker, whose club team won the 17-under championship at the ASGR summer basketball playoff earlier this year, has been named to the Las Vegas Sun's Super 7 each of the last two years. As a sophomore in 2017, Walker averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on her way to earning Second-Team All-State and First-Team All-Northwest League honors. She also earned All-State Honorable Mention recognition as a freshman in 2016.
"From the first time I watched Eboni, I thought she was a perfect fit for us," Turner Thorne said. "Eboni is a smart, hardworking, versatile and tremendously talented forward, who only knows winning. She will give us scoring, rebounding and tenacious defense. Eboni truly understands what it means to be a great teammate because of her strong, supportive family and the championship culture she comes from."
Added Walker's high school and AAU coach Karen Weitz, "Eboni is a high-intensity athlete that does things you can't coach. I've enjoyed watching her mature as a young woman and grow into a player that steps up to challenges. I'm excited to watch her grow under the tutelage of Coach Turner Thorne."
Currently No. 22 in the AP poll, the Sun Devils (1-1) return to action Sunday (7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT) when they play at Arkansas. The game can be seen on SEC Network and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.