ANDERSON, S.C. - After a memorable 2014-15 season, Anderson University women's basketball head coach Jimmy Garrity has announced the signing of a pair of prep standouts for 2015-16, as Tamia Eatmon and Erika Martin have signed letters of intent to play for the Black and Gold, announced by Garrity on Monday.
Eatmon (Chapel Hill, N.C. / Chapel Hill) and Martin (North Charleston, S.C. / Northwood Academy) join the group of fall signees which signed to play for the Trojans in late November.
"We are really excited to welcome Tamia Eatmon and Erika Martin to the Trojan Family," Garrity said. "They are fantastic additions to complete our 2015 recruiting class. They both come from championship high school programs and will make an impact in our basketball program."
Name: Tamia Eatmon
Position: G
Height: 5-5
Hometown: Chapel Hill, N.C.
High School: Chapel Hill High School
Eatmon shined throughout her prep career, leading the CHHS Tigers to three 3A state championships, including a state title following her junior season. Through her four seasons, Eatmon paced the Tigers to an astounding 113-8 overall record, headlined by a perfect 32-0 mark in 2013-14. Following her junior season, the point guard was named the team's co-MVP and the team's Defensive Player of the Year.
For her high school career, the Chapel Hill, N.C. native averaged 7.2 points per game, 3.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 3.5 steals. In the classroom, Eatmon was a member of the National Honors Society, as she played for head coach Sherry Norris.
Garrity on Eatmon: "Tamia is a point guard who does an outstanding job of running her team. She shoots the ball well and has great strength for a guard, which allows her to get to the basket. She also is a great distributer of the ball and has the ability to be a lock down defender. Tamia knows how to win and has played in some big time games. She has learned from some of the best in the game in Sherry Norris, and her AAU Coaches Mike Zeillman with NC Attack and Brian Norwood with the Carolina All-Stars. I am really looking forward to Tamia contributions to our program."
Name: Erika Martin
Position: F
Height: 5-11
Hometown: North Charleston, S.C.
High School: Northwood Academy
Martin, who was named South Carolina Independent School Player of the Year by the South Carolina Sports Report at the conclusion of her senior season, led Northwood Academy to a 26-6 overall record and was a class 3A State Champion. In her two seasons with Northwood, the forward led her school to two state title games. During her final season with the Chargers, Martin averaged 14.7 points per game, 10.6 rebounds and three assists, while recording 15 double-doubles. In her two seasons with Northwood, the North Charleston native led her school to two state title games.
The forward was a nominee for McDonald's All-American, while being picked to the all-region 3A team following her final prep season. Martin landed on the SCISA All-Tournament Team during the postseason and was a first-team honoree on the Post and Courier All-Lowcountry squad. Away from her prep career, Martin was a member of the SC76ers during her AAU season.
ESPN rated Martin as a three-star recruit and ranked her 74th best forward in the country. MaxPreps slotted her as the 10th best player in the state of South Carolina.
Garrity on Martin: "Erika is a very skilled player that can play multiple positions and she can score in a variety of ways. She can score with her back to the basketball and she has a good face up game, but also, she has the ability to step outside with some range and beat her opponent off the dribble. Erika is a very good rebounder and will help us with her ability to run the floor in transition. She has received great coaching from Pressley Singleton who coached her at Northwood and for the SC 76ers AAU Program. I am really excited to watch Erika's growth during college career here at Anderson."
Anderson is coming off a memorable 2014-15 season where it claimed its second conference regular-season championship in three seasons, as it became the first program to claim 20 conference wins in SAC history. In the postseason, the Trojans advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, marking the further AU has reached since 2005.
