Corona begins rebuild of TCC women’s basketball team
Special to the Outlook
In preparing for her second season at the helm of Tallahassee Community College women’s basketball program, coach Mercedes Corona has added eight new signees to the roster.
“This 2023 class is pivotal in the direction I want the program going,” said Corona. “They are high-character, high-IQ, high-motor, athletic, aggressive, and gritty student-athletes that are going to get after it for a full 40 minutes. They all bring a different dynamic, and once we put it all together these young women will be an exciting bunch to watch.
“We plan to play fast and aggressive on both ends of the floor. Off the court these young women are great students, and are ready to get involved in the Tallahassee community and bring winning ways back to TCC.”
The incoming players will join returning players Skylar Bailey, Za’Naria Robinson, Jayda Andrews, and Jardae Muse on next year’s roster.
Two of the signees come from the Big Bend region, adding some local talent to the Eagles’ roster. Corona believes their sense of local pride will go a long way during their time at TCC.
“I’m excited to add two players from this area,” said Corona. “At my last job we recruited the local area heavily, and I know it will mean just a little bit more to those girls wearing Tallahassee on their jerseys.”
The signees are:
Madeline Penney, G – Tallahassee, FL (Leon HS): Penney is a four-year letter winner at Leon, playing in 75 career games for the Lions. She finishes with 818 career points and led the team this season averaging 16 a game. This season, she also brought in 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Her best game came on Jan. 4 against FAMU DRS, where she scored a career-high 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting.
“Madeline is a big guard that can score,” said Corona. “She’s coming off of an injury, but once she is 100 percent healthy she will add depth in the guard position and be add another scorer on the floor.”
Penney is the first women’s basketball signee out of Tallahassee since Tamia Riles, who played on the 2018-19 team.
Ashari McNeil, G – Quincy, (Munroe Day School): McNeil is another signee at the guard position and the second from the Big Bend. She was a three-year letter winner at Godby High School in Tallahassee before transferring to Munroe Day School for her senior season.
“Ashari is a speedy guard that will add some depth at the point guard position,” said Corona. “She gets out quick in transition which is what we will look to do this season.”
McNeil averaged 7.6 points per game in 18 appearances for the Munroe Bobcats last season. The Bobcats went 13-10 and reached the FHSAA 2A region semifinals where they fell to first-seeded St. Johns Country Day.
Aiyana Sam, PG – Manvel, Texas (Manvel HS): Sam is expected to fight for minutes at the point guard position, and her new head coach is excited about what she will add to the offense. Replacing the production of second-team All-Panhandle Conference point guard Sarai Estupinan will be difficult, but Corona believes that Sam has what it takes to compete at this level.
“She is a true floor general that pushes the ball and can run an offense,” said Corona. “She has a great basketball IQ and does her job as a point guard.”
Sam comes to TCC with experience in winning. In her senior season at Manvel, the team went 29-8 and reached the Region 5A Quarterfinals in the Texas state playoffs.
Chadaria Tingle, F – Manvel, Texas (Manvel HS): Tingle, who was teammates with Sam at Manvel, and Corona is excited to see what she brings to the team on the defensive end.
“Chadaria is a pesky defender that never lets up on the defensive end,” said Corona. “She brings all of the energy on and off the floor. It’s tough to get defensive district MVP in a city that is as rich in basketball talent as Houston. You have to lock in on a different level in every game to be that good defensively.”
Angel Wilkinson, G – Brookhaven, Miss. (Brookhaven HS): Wilkinson was the leading scorer on a Brookhaven team that went 14-2 last season. She averaged 20 points on 41 percent shooting, while also picking up 4.5 rebounds and two assists per game. She converted at a 91 percent clip from the free throw line.
“Angel can score and get to the rim any time she wants,” said Corona. “She’s a strong, gritty guard that can flat out score and shoot it from deep. She will definitely add some grit to the squad.”
Wilkinson was a two-sport athlete at Brookhaven, manning shortstop and center field for the Panthers’ softball team after basketball season wrapped up.
Zhaniah Ervin, C – Cleveland, Ohio (John Hay HS): Ervin received an honorable mention on the Division I OPSWA All-Ohio Girls Basketball Team after her senior season. She started at the center position for the John Hay Hornets, which went 14-9 last season.
“Zhaniah is a very dynamic big,” said Corona. “She’s going to disrupt a lot of shots at the rim with her athleticism and IQ. On the offensive end, she adds a post presence that we have been lacking and she looks to be aggressive and score in the paint.”
Standing at 6-foot-1, Ervin joins Za’Naria Robinson as the only other player on the roster taller than six feet.
Ronni Harper, F/C – Lake Mary, Fla. (Lake Mary HS): Harper comes to Tallahassee by way of Seminole County, where she was a part of a Lake Mary High School team that went 21-7 in her senior season. The Rams reached the region quarterfinals of the FHSAA 7A playoffs.
“Ronni is a role player that knows what she’s good at,” said Corona. “She is going to fill a void that we had last season by being a relentless rebounder on both ends of the floor.”
Brianna Spruill, PG – Stockbridge, Ga. (New Faith Christian Academy): Spruill started at the point guard position for New Faith Christian Academy in Stockbridge, Ga., just south of Atlanta. The Titans went 11-11 in Spruill’s senior season.
“Brianna is a true point guard that is explosive to the rim,” said Corona. “She has a great IQ and can score at all three levels on the floor. She pushes the ball in transition and is crafty when distributing.”
