NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers bring back a wealth of experience in their backcourt as the build-up to the 2023-24 season continues. In all, eight guards return off last season's team with two new additions put in place by the first-year coaching staff led by Trelanne Powell.
"This season's UNO guard play will encompass a blue collar mentality," said Coach Powell. "They will carry the weight of being the catalyst for both our energetic offense and gritty defense. Our guards will have separate goals from the forwards each outing and we will celebrate all forward progress that makes this team 1% better every contest."
DeArica Pryor has been a leader on both ends of the floor and she had a strong 2022-23 campaign. That included her making the All-Southland and All-Defensive Team. Pryor was an All-Defensive member for the second season in a row after leading the conference and finishing in the top 20 nationally in steals per game at 2.9.
Justice Ross, who also saw some minutes in the post last season, returns after starting 24 games last year. Ross averaged 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Ross was a rebounding machine out of the gate as she recorded 17 boards in the first two games of the year. Ross also led the team in total assists last season with 75.
Kyla Davis has been with the Privateers for three seasons and has appeared in 61 games. She has hit 78 career triples as a Privateer. The Fort Worth native logged a season-high 25 minutes in the regular season opener against UTEP. 84 percent of her made baskets were from three-point range in 2022-23.
Brianna Ellis returns after playing in most of the games last year. Ellis is two seasons removed from a phenomenal four games where she averaged 15.5 points per contest before an injury sidetracked her 2021-22 campaign.
Tomyree Thompson is heading into her third season with the Privateers. Thompson suited up in 24 games for New Orleans last season. Thompson averaged 5.5 points per game in her first season on the Lakefront.
Imani Williams,
Kristen Crenshaw-Gill and
Jayla Kimbrough are all in their second seasons with the Privateers. Williams was an All-State and All-Region honoree at Dreher HS in South Carolina. Crenshaw-Gill transferred from Kentucky and averaged 26 points per game as a senior at Valley Christian HS in Ohio. Kimbrough battled through injury that forced her to redshirt her first year in New Orleans (2021-22). Kimbrough averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game at Southwest DeKalb.
New to the squad are two international players:
Evangelia Davlakou (Greece) and
Yaly Ben Harush (Israel). Davlakou transfers in from Jacksonville State and was a McDonald's All-American nominee in high school. Harush averaged 14 points, five assists and five rebounds per game in her last two years. She also shot 40 percent from three-point range.
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