Dover, Del. (Apr. 22, 2022) --- Five NCAA Division I transfers and a former junior college standout highlight the list of 11 newcomers who recently signed to attend Delaware State and compete for the Lady Hornets women's basketball team beginning in the 2022-23 season.
Among the signees are Division I transfers signed by second-year head coach E.C. Hill are: Jayla Johnson, a 5-8 guard from Cocoa, Fla., who previously attended the University of North Carolina Greensboro;  Denijsha Wilson (5-4  Guard/ Phila., Pa. /University of South Carolina Upstate); Jessica Martino (5-10 Guard-Forward /Manhattan, N.Y./Univ. Texas Rio Grande); Paula Weekes 5-10 Guard-Forward / Toronto, Ont./Iona College); and Brishonne Tollie (6-0  Forward / Bartow, Fla./ SMU).
Brishonne's younger sister, Tyshone Tollie, has also signed to join then Lady Hornets after previously starring at Florida Southwest State CC.
Two newcomers with Delaware ties have also signed on with the Lady Hornets.
Breionna Dodson, a 6-0 forward from Chester, Pa., was a star at the Tatnal School in Wilmington, in addition to attending the Shipley School in nearby Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Julia Saleur, a 5-10 guard-forward, hails from Lewes, Del., and attended Cape Henlopen High School, in addition to competing in France.
Also signing with the Lady Hornets beginning next season are former high school stars: Deyonce Thompson, a 5-10 guard-forward from Grand Rapids, Mich.; Naomi Gonzalez, 5-11 Guard/ Forward  from Lancaster, Pa; and Savannah Brooks, 5-9 Guard-Forward from Taneytown, Md.

"We're extremely excited to welcome this group of talented young ladies to our program," said Hill. "In addition to  athleticism, each has strong academic credentials, good character, work ethic and basketball IQ to help bring immediate success to our program."
Hill added, "This group has the experience, size and speed to allow us to be more competitive the MEAC and against our non-conference opponents right next season."


2022-23 DELAWARE STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNINGS
Breionna Dodson              Freshman            Forward    6-0      Chester, Pa. / Shipley School/ Tatnall School
High School: Attended Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., for two seasons under head coach Sean Costello … helped lead the team to state and league championships … earned team Most Improved Player honors …   attended the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Del., from 2019-21 … two-time all-conference first team selection (junior & senior years) and all-state honorable mention (junior) … also selected as Team MVP and was a Top 15 in Delaware honoree … tallied 29 points and 11 rebounds in her senior night contest vs. Wilmington Christian … helped lead
Club/AAU: Bba (books and basketball)
Personal: Daughter of Barry and Anastasia Dodson … born 10/7/02 … full name is Breionna Sadiya Dodson… plans to major in Law Studies and minor in Criminal Justice at DSU
Why Delaware State: "I wanted to attend a school that was not too far from home, and where I wasn't a minority. During my visit, I spoke to the head of the Law Studies department and was really impressed with the quality of the program." 

Julia Saleur         Freshman            5-10        Guard/Forward                  Lewes, Del./ Cape Henlopen HS  
High School: Two-year letterwinner at Cape Henlopen (junior and senior years) … played two high school seasons in France …all-conference first team and all-state honorable mention in France … all-academic honoree … scored career-high 41 points in a game in France
Club/AAU: Competed for East Coast Thunder and Philadelphia Belles
Personal: Daughter of Kimberly Jarvis and Stephanie Saleur …. born 3/24/04 … plans to major in Accounting
Why Delaware State: "I really like how the coaches are building the program and the chance to be near my family."  
 
Jayla Johnson                   Senior   5-8          Guard    Cocoa Fla./UNC Greensboro/Florida Prep Academy
2021-22 (UNCG): Appeared as a reserve in 10 games … scored season-high five points vs. Western Carolina
2020-21 (UNCG): All-SoCon Honor Roll (2021) … averaged 4.2 points and 1.2 assists in 22 games ... earned a starting role in January and started the last 14 games of the season ... made her first career start Jan. 14 at home against Mercer and scored seven points ... scored a career-high 13 points including 9-for-9 foul shooting in second game against Mercer ... in SoCon games, averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 27.4 minutes ... finished with seven points, three steals and three assists in 56-53 win at East Tennessee State.
2019-20 (UNCG) Made 13 appearances over the course of the year ... made her collegiate debut against Richmond (11.5), scoring six points with two steals ... scored six points with four rebounds against Erskine College (11.26) ... had a bucket at UNC Asheville (11.29).
High School: Played two seasons at Florida Prep Academy in Melbourne, Fla. ... As a senior, Johnson played in 28 games where she averaged 17 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.5 steals per contest ... Also won FACA District 12 Player of the Year and played in the FACA All-Star Game last winter.
Personal: Daughter of Jeannetta Johnson … born 4/25/01 … plans to major in Biology
 
 
Deyonce Thompson         5-10        Freshman            Guard/Forward  Grand Rapids, Mich./ E. Kentwood HS
High School: Three-year letterwinner at E. Kentwood .. averaged 22.2 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in senior season … McDonald's All-America nominee … three-time all-conference selection … All-State First Team … Team MVP … scored 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in victory vs. defending Michigan state champs  … helped lead team to district championship game appearance 
Club / AAU: Michigan Crossover … member of three tournament championship teams with the program
Personal:    Daughter of Debra and David Thompson … born 6/18/04 … full name is Deyonce Nicole Thompson … plans to major in Graphic Design/Media Arts
Why Delaware State: "The school gave me a feeling of home. The coaches are great and you can tell they love what they do. I can see what they hope to accomplish and I'm eager to help reach those goals."
 
Denijsha Wilson      5-4     Senior    Guard   Phila., Pa. /USC Upstate/Labette CC Audenried Charter School  
2021-22 (USC Upstate): Appeared as a reserve in 28 games for the University of South Carolina Upstate of the Big South Conference … averaged 4.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game … also recorded 36 assists and 30 steals …
2020-2021 (USC Upstate): Started 22 out of the 23 games she played averaging 31.5 minutes per game…Led the team with 288 overall points…eighth in the conference and led the team in free throws made at 70…Led the team with 54 Assists…Led the team with 28 steals…Season high of 27 points versus Hampton University
Previous School: Averaged 12 points per game, 3 assists per game, and 4 rebounds per game at Labette Community College in Kansas …Conference Player of the Year…First-Team NJCAA All-American…First-Team NJCAA All-Region…First-Team KJCC All-Conference.
Personal: Daughter of Sharon Hunter … born 7/21/2000 … plans to major in Communications
 
Naomi Gonzalez                5-11        Guard/ Forward Freshman            Lancaster, Pa./ Lancaster Catholic
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Lancaster Catholic … helped lead 2018-19 team to 32 straight wins, including victory to break school record of 62 in a row … member of 2018-19 and 2019-20 sectional, league and district championship teams two-time all-league first team selection
Club/AAU: Alyssa Thomas Elite in Harrisburg, Pa.
Personal: Daughter of Bertha Zulueta … born 9/18/03 … plans to major in Psychology
Why Delaware State: HBCUUUU BABBBYYY!
 
Savannah Brooks                             5-9          Guard/Forward   Freshman            Taneytown, Md./Legacy Early College/Springdale Prep
High School / Prep: Attended Legacy Early College HS in Greenville, S.C. …. helped lead school to 25-5 overall record and Prep School National Championship in 2021-22 season … first girl in school history to reach 1000 career points … honors include: GCBCA All-County Second Team, PAA/GCBCA All-Star, PAA/GCBCA All-Star MVP … tallied 346 points on 46 percent shooting and 83 steals during senior season … attended Springdale Preparatory School in New Windsor, Md.
Club/AAU: Competed for Team Melo MD23 in Baltimore 
Personal: Daughter of Stephanie and James Brooks … mother played volleyball and basketball at Hood College … born 12/29/03
Why Delaware State: "It's not far from home and I love the family atmosphere. Also, I like it when a team has a chip on its shoulder and has something to prove." 
 
Jessica Martino  5-10       Guard/Forward                  Senior                  Manhattan, N.Y./Univ. Texas Rio Grande Valley/Labette CC/ Hudson Tech HS
UTRGV: Appeared in 48 games (one start) in two seasons for the Vaqueros, averaging 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game … averaged 4.6 ppg during 2020-21 season
Labette CC (Kan): Two-year letterwinner … helped lead team to 2019-20 Jayhawk Conference championship … 2020 NJCAA All-Region Second Team and NJCAA All-Conference … 2019: All-Region IV, KJCCC All-Conference and NJCAAV WBCA All-Star …  
Personal: Daughter of Kiesha Venzen and step-dad Stacey McCall  … born 6/12/00 … will pursue master's in Sports Administration at DSU
Why Delaware State: "I believe it's the best place for me to showcase my talent and I enjoy the family atmosphere." 
 
Paula Weekes      5-10        Junior    Guard/Forward                  Toronto, Ont./Iona College/St. Joseph's College School
At Iona (2020-21): MAAC All-Academic Team selection … Preseason All-MAAC Third Team honoree … appeared in all 15 games, making 11 starts … averaged 5.9 ppg and 4.6 rpg across 26.8 mpg … scored career-high 15 points vs. Saint Peter's (Dec. 12)  … set or matched career-bests in field goals made (6, at Niagara), free throws made (5, vs. Saint Peter's) assists (4, at Niagara), blocks (1, at Niagara) and steals (5, at Niagara) … registered double-doubles vs. Saint Peter's (Dec. 13) and at Niagara (Jan. 1)
At Iona (2019-20): MAAC All-Rookie Team Selection … MAAC Rookie of the Week (Feb. 10) … MAAC All-Academic Team selection … MAAC Academic Honor Roll honoree … Averaged 4.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG … Recorded double-digit rebounds in two games, including the first double-double of her career in a win vs. Saint Peter's (Jan. 20) … Career-best 14 rebounds vs. Quinnipiac (Feb. 1)
At Iona (2018-19): Missed season due to injury
At St. Joseph's College School:  Three-time honor roll recipient ….earned the school's Faith Award
Personal: Daughter of Anita Robinson and Paul Weekes … born 1/21/00 … will pursue a master's in Social Work at DSU
Why Delaware State: "I believe I will get a top-notch education to prepare me for life after college. I also believe the team has a chance to be great and I want to be a part of the success."
 
Brishonne Tollie                6-0          Forward       Senior                      Bartow, Fla./ SMU/ Montverde Academy             
At SMU: 2019-20 (Sophomore): Played in 11 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury against UC Irvine (12/29)…Averaged 7.5 points, reaching double figures five times…Scored a career-high 19 points against Rice (11/13) with 11 rebounds for her first career double-double…Also posted a double-double against CSUN (11/29) with 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds…Had 10 rebounds against North Dakota (12/9)…Scored 14 points against TCU (11/20)…Averaged 7.1 rebounds…Also had 16 steals and five blocks.
2018-19 (Freshman): Played in all 30 games with eight starts, averaging 11.9 minutes per game…Scored a season-high 13 points against Mississippi Valley State (11/12)…Scored 12 points at Cincinnati with a season-high six field goals in nine attempts (1/6)…Scored 10 points against UCF, going 4-for-6 with a pair of 3-pointers (2/9)…Grabbed a season-high seven rebounds at Wichita State (2/17)…Had 19 steals and four blocks.
High School: Averaged 18.0 points and 11.9 rebounds, leading her team to the regional quarterfinals of the state tournament...Named Player of the Year at Montverde Academy, averaging 13.5 points and leading the team in rebounds with 7.0 per game as a freshman...Led her team in both scoring and rebounding each season...Earned three MVP awards during her career… played for current Delaware State head coach E.C. Hill   
Club/AAU: Central Florida Elite
Personal: Daughter of Donyea and Shandrin Tollie … younger sister Tyshonne is also member of 2022-23 Delaware State signing class … born 3/14/99 … plans to pursue a master's in Justice Studies at DSU
Why Delaware State: "I'm excited about the opportunity to finish my college career on a good note while also pursuing a grad degree in an area that I am very passionate about. I'll also excited to be attending a HBCU."
 
Tyshonne Tollie                6-0          Forward               Sophomore          Bartow, Fla./Fla. Southwestern State/ Bartow HS/ Montverde Academy
At Fla. SW State: Helped lead the team to 21-6 overall record as a freshman during 2021-22 season, averaging 6.8 points on 46.9% shooting and 5.0 rebounds in 19 games … scored career-high 12 points in three games … had a personal-best 10 rebounds and six assists vs. Caldwell Tech on Mar. 16, 2021 
High School: Played two seasons at Bartow HS, averaging 11.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game … shot 53% from the field and hit 50 three pointers during senior season ...competed two seasons for current Delaware State coach E.C. Hill at Monteverde Academy
Personal: Daughter of Donyear and Shandrin Tollie …  born 9/24/00 … older sister Brishonne is also member of 2022-23 Delaware State signing class …plans to major in Public Health at DSU
Why Delaware State: "The Public Health major and the opportunity to play for coach E.C. Hill."