Alabama Women’s Basketball Signs No. 12 Recruiting Class

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama women's basketball head coach Kristy Curry signed three student-athletes to the class of 2023, inking Essence Cody, Reychel Douglas and Naomi Jones to National Letters of Intent. ESPNW ranked the Crimson Tide's incoming class at No. 12 nationally for the early signing period.

Essence Cody

6-4 | Forward | Valdosta, Ga. | Valdosta High School | ESPNW Five-Star Recruit

2022 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Watchlist
Ranked No. 22 recruit in the country by ESPNW
Competed at the 2019 and 2021 BallN Across Borders in Toronto, Canada, and Las Vegas, Nev., respectively
Invite to the 2022 USA Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the 2022 Under Armour Elite 24 in Chicago, Ill.
Was named the MVP at the UA Elite 24 in addition to being named a five-star recruit by ESPNW
Invited to the Wooten Camp 150 on multiple occasions
Selected as the 2021-22 Player of the Year and GACA MVP for 2022 for Valdosta High School
Was named the 2022 No. 1 post player in Georgia in addition to being ranked a top-five overall player in the state
Ranked 18th by Prospects Nation and 27th by Blue Star
Was also named a member of the Blue Star 30
Played AAU for one of the premier programs in the country FBC United under director and coach Alfred "Mo" Motton on the Under Armour Circuit in addition to competing under coach E.A Wilcox at Valdosta High School

Reychel Douglas

6-0 | Guard | Raleigh, N.C. | Millbrook Magnet High School | ESPNW Four-Star Recruit

No. 1 guard and No. 2 overall player in the state of North Carolina in addition to being ranked 41^st nationally by NC Prep Girls Hoops
Earned Blue Star 30 distinction, ranking 28^th nationally and listed as the No. 51 recruit nationally by Jr. All Star Girls Basketball
Chapel Fowler of the Fayetteville Observer and USA TODAY Network ranked her as the Top 2023 Girls' Recruit in the State
Earned the No. 1 overall spot for the class of 2023 from Get Me Recruited and Prospects Nation
Invited to the 2021 and 2022 Wooten Camp, participated in the 2021 John Lucas Top 160 Invitational Camp and played at the 2018 EBA All-American Camp
Competed at the 2018 Jr. NBA World Championship and received the Respect Award presented by two-time WNBA All-Star Ivory Latta
Ranked 50^thby ESPNW for the class of 2023
Nominated as the 2021 Gatorade NC Player of the Year and the 2021 High School OT NC Girls Player of the Year
Named 4A Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-District
Four-time News and Observer Player of the Week and Charlotte Observer NC Miss Basketball Watch List
Led her team to an East Region 4A Final Four appearance
Played for Dan Cortright at Millbrook High School in addition to playing AAU on the Nike EYBL Circuit for the CP3 Carolina Flames under program director and head coach Arne Morris

Naomi Jones

6-3 | Forward | Jackson, Ala. | Jackson High School | ESPNW Four-Star Recruit

Invited to compete at ASGR Top Ten All-American Camp
Ranked 87th by ESPNW
Named a two-time 4A First Team AHSAA All-State and 4A All-Region Team selection and a three-time All Area Team selection
Named a Third Team AHSAA Class 5A selection as a freshman
Competed in the 2021 North vs. South All-Star game
Averaged 15.4 points per game, 11 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per game her junior year
Pulled down 107 boards, leading her high school team to a 22-4 record while earning first team AHSAA Class 4A honors
Sophomore year, she helped lead the Aggies to a 29-3 record and a AHSAA State semifinal appearance
Averaged 13.2 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game, while tallying 57 blocks sophomore year
Scored her 1,000th point on Dec. 28, 2021 and earned AHSAA Female Athlete of the Week in Feb. 14, 2022
Tallied 28 career double-doubles while at Jackson High School
Played for Trinnia McKenzie-Smith at Jackson High School. Jones also competed with Alabama Southern Starz on the Nike EYBL Circuit under director and head coach Doug Bush

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