COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland women's basketball team will welcome two stellar players to its family for the 2015-16 season, head coach Brenda Frese announced Wednesday. Brianna Fraser (Brooklyn, N.Y./South Shore High School) and Kiah Gillespie (Meriden, Conn./Capital Prep Magnet) make up the No. 10 recruiting class in the nation and the 10^th top-10 recruiting class brought in by Frese and her staff in her 13 years at Maryland.

Both are ranked in the top 20 of the class of 2015. Fraser, a 6-3 forward, is the No. 12 overall player by the All Star Girls Report and is the No. 15 overall recruit in the class by ESPN's Hoop Gurlz.  Gillespie,a 6-2 forward, is ranked No. 14 by Prospects Nation and No. 27 by ESPN's Hoop Gurlz.

“We're really happy about the two players and families we're adding into our program with this signing class,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “I want to thank everyone we built relationships with along the way. A lot of people helped us in the process. Both Bri and Kiah have the chance to make big impacts here and to play this game for a long time. They both have special qualities that are very hard to find. They're both also interesting stories in that Bri is fairly new to the game and was raised in a family where cricket was the No. 1 sport. Meantime, Kiah's dad and mom both coach basketball, so you can see they took different paths to reach the same destination. It's going to be awesome to be a part of their journeys. They're going to make us a better basketball program.”

“I'd also be remiss if I didn't give a huge 'shout-out' to our terrific staff that works so hard to make days like this happen.”

Brianna Fraser ∙ 6-3 ∙ Forward

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

High School: South Shore High School (Anwar Gladden)

AAU Team: NYC Gauchos (Earl Elliotte)

About Fraser: Rated the No. 12 overall player by the All Star Girls Report, No. 15 overall by ESPN's Hoop Gurlz and Collegiate Girls Basketball Report…also rated the No. 3 player at her position by ESPN…led high school team to PSAL championship game at Madison Square Garden as a sophomore in 2013…named to the All-Brooklyn First Team in 2013 and 2014…earned a PSAL AA Sportsmanship Award…played volleyball for four years in high school and was recruited to play Division I…also competed in fencing for two years in high school.

Brenda Frese on Fraser: “Bri can do things a lot of taller girls simply can't. She will amaze our fans with some of her moves and agility. She's potentially a monster rebounder and she could be one of the best shot-blockers we've ever recruited. Watching how her game has grown since the first time we saw her has been phenomenal to see. We plan on continuing that trend here and her potential is tremendous.”

“A neat little tidbit is that Bri's parents immigrated to the United States from Guyana in South America. That's the same place Crystal Langhorne's family came from. Bri's dad was a professional cricket player on the international level. When you watch Bri do some things on the court, it's not a surprise she inherited some amazing ability.”  

Anwar Gladden on Fraser: "Brianna Fraser has continued to mature and develop as a student-athlete throughout her career at South Shore. Her upside is tremendous. She will get better and better at the University of Maryland. She fits Coach Frese's program. Her decision to attend Maryland is a great match.”

Earl Elliott on Fraser: "I have been working with Brianna for over four years and there is nothing that she cannot do on the basketball court. You cannot put her in a box as she has the ability to do all things - handle, shoot, jump, defend, etc. Maryland is getting a phenomenal basketball player and thanks to her strong family ties, an even better person.”

Brianna Fraser on Maryland: “I decided to come to Maryland because of the awesome coaches and the family atmosphere. I felt welcomed as soon as I got to campus and I knew I would fit in. The coaches are amazing and I know they will help me reach all of my goals.”

Hometown: Meriden, Conn.

High School: Capital Prep Magnet (Tammy Millsaps)

AAU Team: New Heights (Rock Rosa)

About Gillespie: Rated the No. 14 overall player by Prospect Nation, No. 24 by the All Star Girls Report and Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and No. 27 by ESPN's Hoop Gurlz…the No. 2 player at her position by Prospect Nation... averaged 22.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.1 steals and two blocks per game as a junior in 2014 and reached 1,000 points in three years…Gatorade State Player of the Year and voted the No. 1 player in the state by GameTime CT… New Haven Register All-State selection, CHSCA All-State, All-Constitution State Conference and team's co-MVP… led the Trailblazers to back-to-back state championships in sophomore and junior season…team went 27-0 in her junior year...named Student-Athlete of the Year as a junior and Team MVP in her first three years of high school…Capital Prep was voted the No. 1 team in Connecticut in the final Gametime CT Top 10 poll… named MVP of Rose Classic League in New York City in 2014…with her AAU team, named to the All-Tournament Team for Adidas Nationals, ATL Summer Slam, Boo Williams, Battle in the Boro, Run of the Roses and Gym Ratz tournaments.

Brenda Frese on Gillespie: “Kiah fits the mold of players we've had tremendous success with – she's big, agile, skilled and can play either on the perimeter or in the paint. Kiah oozes confidence, which is something I love. She can also do something else I really value, which is put the ball in the basket at a high rate.”

“Kiah has led her teams to a lot of success. She's a real match-up problem for opponents, because at her size, she can play positions 1 through 4 on the floor. She can shoot from the perimeter, run the offense and set teammates up with terrific passes. She's really been raised well by her coaches, which happen to include her mom and dad. In fact, when you watch her, it's not surprising at all that she grew up with coaches as parents. She has a feel for the game that is uncommon.”

Tammy Millsaps on Gillespie: “Maryland fits Kiah's style of play. Her versatility is a plus because it makes her tougher to guard.  Kiah has the potential to make an immediate impact and contribute on both ends of the floor. Maryland is getting a great basketball player but more importantly they are getting an awesome person!”

Rock Rosa on Gillespie: “Kiah Gillespie has raised the bar at New Heights! Kiah is a winner and will play whatever role asked of her to accomplish team goals. She is a true student-athlete that works so hard you wonder how high her ceiling can be. She is a 6-2 wing who is not only a terrific scorer and passer, but a very good defender as well. Her most outstanding attribute though is her character. All her teammates loved playing with her and she was not only a joy to coach, but it was honor to coach her as well. She is very humble and always showed appreciation for all the opportunities given to her. New Heights was blessed to have such a person and player represent our organization and I am sure she will represent the Terps beyond expectations!”

Kiah Gillespie on Maryland: “I chose Maryland because it was the perfect fit for me. Maryland has everything I could ever imagine in a school. The coaches are great, the players are great and the school environment is amazing. I wouldn't want to spend the next four years anywhere else."

-Terps-