Women's basketball announces 2021 recruiting class

BRYN ATHYN, Pa. -  Bryn Athyn College Head Women's Basketball Coach Travis Ponton announced the program's 2021 recruiting class Monday morning. The Lions are coming off a COVID-shortened exhibition slate last year as they look to continue their climb with a strong group of new additions. 
 
"I am so excited to have our full team on campus this fall for what I know we all hope is a more normal school year and basketball season," Ponton said. "We look forward to having some of our players back who opted out last year due to the pandemic, and I'm very excited about these new additions. When we put it all together with our returners who competed through the COVID season, I think we are going to have a special group that's ready to make some noise." 
 
Added depth and numbers will certainly aid the Lions in their quest as they look forward to the resumption of CSAC play in 2021-22. There are some big shoes to fill, with the graduation of All-CSAC forward and 2019 CSAC Defensive Player of the Year Clayshonia Cogmon, and 2019-20 leading scorer Jayda Campbell. There is plenty of optimism in the experience gained even through navigating the pandemic last year, which saw more growth and progress from returners Alisha McKnight, Kaylia Duncan, and Kalie Soulsby and some impressive play from new additions Terrae Lewis, Aida Barry, and Kiyann Peterson.  
 
"To be able to play those 8 games during a global pandemic was nothing short of an amazing undertaking, made possible by so many, from our administration to our medical team, and of course by our student-athletes," said Ponton. "In this recruiting class, we targeted players who fit our style, strengthened our weaknesses, and compliment our core we have in place. These young ladies are coming in hungry to help us keep building." 

The first commitment to the Lions was 5'5 guard Kyra Brant out of East Orange, New Jersey. Brant played her high school basketball for Immaculate Conception High School. Coach Ponton on Kyra, "Kyra Brant is a winner, on and off the court. She comes from a tremendous high school program, playing at IC-Montclair for Coach Jimmy Kreie, so she is a wonderful fit for our program and for the Bryn Athyn community in a lot of ways. Kyra is the epitome of a well-rounded student-athlete, earning All-Conference honors in the SEC-American, Honor Roll in the classroom, and she was even announced as Prom Queen this spring. Her leadership, drive, and appetite to get involved on campus is going to set her apart from day one, and we are ecstatic to have her."
 
Coach Ponton and his staff continued to hit Jersey hard gaining the commitment of 5'0 point guard, Alyia Gray-Rivera. The Wildwood Catholic product was a four year starter for her high school team. "We identified Alyia as a top target early on in the recruiting process, when she was only a junior. She's a jet, flat out speed, and she has the accolades and records in cross country and track to prove it," Ponton said. "A 4 year starter at Wildwood Catholic for Coach Steve DiPatri, she is coming in with a ton of experience playing at a high level down the shore, and I think she will be a fast learner, no pun intended. Academically, she was a member of the National Honors Society as well. There are veteran guards on our team to learn from, and she fits our style of play, so we are excited to get her here and get to work."
 
Keeping with the Jersey trend, the Lady Lions picked up a juco transfer from Elizabeth, New Jersey in 5'11 forward, Keziah Mitchell-Reyes. Mitchell-Reyes played her juco ball at Union County. Coach Ponton stated, "Keziah joins us from local Junior college power Union County College, where she was teammates with current Lion Terrae Lewis and a part of two Region XIX Championships and 49 victories under Coach Marbely Montas. While their 2020 season was cut short by the pandemic, her team played for an NJCAA National Championship in 2019, which is quite an accomplishment! Like Terrae, I expect Keziah to come right in and give us an immediate boost with her size, athleticism, and versatility. We missed having her last year, but I'm glad she's here now and ready to get rolling."
 
Coach Ponton and the program traveled down to the Sunshine State to pick up their next commitment. Amber Souffrant, a 5'8 Wing/Forward from Miramar, Fl. signed with the Lions. Souffrant played her high school basketball at Everglades High School. " We heard about Amber last fall, and once I saw her play I was hooked. Amber is uber athletic and a fierce competitor who does a little bit of everything on the court. There are some players who make plays that don't show up in the stat sheet, and this is one of those types," Ponton shared. "Her team at Everglades made the 7A District 14 Playoffs in each of her 4 years in high school, where she was a team captain, and she suited up for Lady Blue Chips during the club season. Amber is going to make an impact all over the floor, and I think her game is suited perfectly to how we like to play. The future is bright for her and I think our fans are going to enjoy watching her for 4 years."

The Lions garnered a late commitment in Norma Thornhill. The Greenbelt, Md. native started her college career at Wesley College (De.) before deciding to transfer to Bryn Athyn. The 5'5 point guard has been on the radar for Coach Ponton and his staff since she was in high school. Coach Ponton on adding Norma to the mix, "Norma is a young lady we recruited out of Elanor Roosevelt High School a couple years ago. She ended up at Wesley last January after navigating the craziness of the pandemic, and started both of our games against Wesley last winter. Following Wesley's merger with Delaware State, we are very happy to have her continue her studies and basketball journey with us. Norma fits our style of play, and has a wonderful mid-range game. Our team got to see her in person last season, so they have a good idea of what she can bring to the table. It will be good to have her on our side in the coming years!"

To round out the class, Reilly Ward, a 5'5 guard from Conway, S.C., signed on with the Bryn Athyn Women's basketball program. Ward played high school at Carolina Forest High School. "Everyone loves a shooter out there, and Reilly Ward made quite a name for herself down south doing just that. I was very familiar with her club team, the Confidence Cougars under Coach Larry Roberts, from my time at Charleston Southern, and the first time I saw her play, I was instantly impressed," Ponton said. "Reilly was an All-Region selection and won the SCHSL Academic/Athletic Award in her senior season, leading her team to the South Carolina AAAAA State Semi-Final game. Reilly is used to winning, works hard, and she's eager to join our team and make an impact, so we are looking forward to the energy she brings to the table."

The Lions will be adding the six newcomers to seven returners in what will be the third season under Ponton. Bryn Athyn will open their 2021-22 season on November 6 at Asplundh Field House as they take on Vaughn College (NY).