Today, Georgia Southern (GS) head women's basketball coach Anita Howard announced the addition of three new student-athletes who will join the Eagles for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.
The new athletes suiting up for GS this fall include:
- Zaria Johnson a 6-1 guard/forward from Houston, Texas Gulf Coast State College
- Torrion Starks a 5-8 guard from Hartwell, East Georgia State College
- Kayla Thomas a 6-3 forward from Beltsville, Md., Penn State
Johnson started all 30 games at Gulf Coast State as a sophomore in 2022-23. She averaged 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and reached double figures 18 times.
Johnson scored a season-high 23 points vs. Tallahassee CC on Feb. 22, played in four games as a freshman at the University of Virginia in 2020-21, and ranked No. 37 at her position by ESPNW. She averaged 13.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during her senior season at Hightower HS.
"Adding another bucket-getter was a top recruiting priority for us this off season, and I believe we've found that in Zaria. She is a legit three-level scorer that has played in the ACC and in the country's toughest junior college conference,” said Howard.
Starks started in 26 games for the Lady Bobcats in 2022-23 and averaged 19.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
She scored double digits in 25 of 26 games and reached 20+ points in 15 games, including 11 straight games from Jan. 25 to March 3.
"At GS, we play fast, and we feel like we have just added one of the fastest players in the country to our roster in Torrion. She is an electric play maker who will make an immediate impact on our team this season,” said Howard.
Starks also scored more than 2,000 points at Hart County HS in her career and earned First Team All-Region and Player of the Year honors for the Bulldogs.
She averaged 27.8 points, six rebounds and seven assists per game as a senior and holds the all-time scoring record at Hart County HS.
Thomas played for two years at Penn State University. She was active in 17 games as a sophomore in 2022-23, scoring 23 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in 100 minutes of action.
"Kayla will be a huge addition to our front court. She has played on some of the biggest stages in basketball, both in high school and in the Big 10. Her maturity and personality will make her a star on and off the court here at GS,” said Howard.
The forward scored a season-high seven points at Maryland on Jan. 30 and helped Emerge Christian Academy 76-13 record and a pair of district championships over her three full season.
She was named MVP of the She Got Game Classic Tournament in 2020 and team captain ahead of 2020-21 high school season.
The GS women’s basketball team went 21-11 a season ago, the first 20-win season for GS in 20 years.
The three transfers join a pair of incoming freshmen - Kanija Daniel and Liv Fuller - to round out the 2023-24 recruiting class for the Eagles.
For more information, click here.
