Women's Basketball Player Wiley-Gatewood to Attend Maryland
1/25/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - 2004 Parade National High School Player of the Year Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood has decided to attend the University of Maryland beginning the 2006 spring semester. Wiley-Gatewood will be eligible to play for women's basketball head coach Brenda Frese in December of 2006 and will have 1.5 years of eligibility remaining.
"We are ecstatic to be able to add a player of Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood's caliber to an already talented team," said Frese, whose Terps are ranked sixth in the nation. "Sa'de has a lot to offer as the 2004 National High School Player. She is a winner and her championship mentality will fit right in with our current players and where we're trying to take our program. Her leadership and maturity will be valuable assets to this team from day one."
"I'm very excited about going to Maryland," said Wiley-Gatewood. "I believe in Maryland and think they can win a national championship. I chose Maryland because the coaches really care about the players and the team seems to get along really well. I enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to helping the team get better once I get there."
Wiley-Gatewood is the first-ever prep high school girls player of the year to play for the Terrapins. She comes to College Park after spending one and a half seasons at the University of Tennessee where she was the starting point guard. She also helped the Lady Vols reach the NCAA Final Four in 2005 and attain a No. 1 national ranking during the course of the season.
In nine games this season as Tennessee's floor general, she started eight games, averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. In 2004-05, Wiley-Gatewood played in 13 games and battled injuries, but recorded a career-high 12 points vs. Connecticut on Jan. 8, 2005.
A native of Pomona, Calif., Wiley-Gatewood was one of the most heralded players coming out of high school in 2004. A graduate of Lynwood High School, she was also selected All Game Sports National Player of the Year in 2004. A McDonald's and WBCA All-American, she won the McDonald's All-American three-point shooting contest. A two-time Parade All-American, she was also USA Today All-American in 2003 and 2004, and a USA Today Super 25, also earning a spot on the publication's freshman, sophomore, junior and senior All-American teams. Wiley-Gatewood is a four time All-American honoree by Street & Smith's and named to Slam Magazine's All-American squad three times.
A starting point guard at Lynwood all four years, Wiley-Gatewood helped her team to a 119-7 record over her career, including a 33-0 mark during her sophomore campaign en route to claiming the state championship and being named USA Today and Student Sports National Champions. As a junior, she led Lynwood to a No. 2 national ranking and the state title, as well.
Wiley-Gatewood will practice with the Terrapins, who are 17-2 on the season and 4-1 in the ACC, during the 2006 spring and fall semesters. She will be eligible to play at the conclusion of the fall semester.
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