by JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 14, 2017) – Head coach Brittney Ezell announced on Tuesday the signings of Amaya Adams (Kansas City, Mo.), Shynia Jackson (Warner Robbins, Ga.), E’Lease Stafford (Navajo/Lawrence, Kan.), and Kaia Upton (Nashville, Tenn.) to National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2018-19 season.
“As a whole, the versatility in this class is going to be impactful, said head coach Brittney Ezell. “The fact that all four of them have won in multiple levels of competition was importance to us. All four are high character kids. All four come from winning programs and are leaders in their own right. We’re really excited to see how this class continues to come together. We’re honored and thankful that they chose to be a part of what we’re doing at East Tennessee State University.”
E’LEASE STAFFORD – 5’11 FORWARD – LAWRENCE, KAN. – LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL
- Named the Sunflower League’s Co-Player of the Year last season
- Averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 2016-17
- Led her team to their first Class 6A state tournament appearance since 2008
- KBCA and Topeka Capital Journal First Team All-State 6A
- Third Team All-State and named to Top 15 in Kansas by the Wichita Eagle Beacon
- Second Team Kansas-City All-Metro named by Spectrium Sports
- Named to the 2017 Native American Top 50 All-Star Team (This event features 25 of the best Native American high school players in the country.)
“E’Lease is another versatile player who could compete for playing time at all 5 positions. She is physically gifted as an athlete and has a workman like approach to bettering herself daily. We believe that she is a big time sleeper in the class of 2018 and that she too has her best basketball ahead of her.”
