Ball State University Athletics
Sallee Adds Four To Incoming Class of 2015
April 17, 2015 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State women's basketball fourth-year head coach Brady Sallee announced the signing of four players to national letters of Intent Friday.
“I am really excited about next season and our incoming class is a big reason why," Sallee said. "I feel we have absolutely filled our needs with the young ladies we are adding to our team and look forward to coaching them all.”
Lucia Fernandez (Madrid, Spain), Carmen Grande (Madrid, Spain), Cat Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) and Destiny Washington (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) all signed to join the Ball State program, along with early signee Nakeya Penny (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) for the 2015-16 season.
One of two signees from Madrid, Spain, Fernandez, a 6-1 forward, played for Club Baloncesto Torrelodones, a top club in Madrid. She is a member of both junior and senior level clubs in Madrid. Fernandez earned Most Valuable Player honors and participated in the All Star Game, Fernandez was one of eight girls that attended the 2014 Five Star Boys Basketball Camp located in New York. In 2014, Fernandez also attended Keystone State Camp where she earned Most Valuable Player.
“Lucia is simply a tremendous talent. There is nothing she cannot do on the court and reminds me a lot of Nathlaie Fontaine. She will instantly make us a better rebounding team and fits perfectly into our system offensively and defensively. Lucia is a steal for Ball State.”
Grande, also from Madrid, Spain, is a 5-8 guard who is a member of the U16 Spanish National Team. She most recently has been a member of two top clubs in Spain, Estudiantes and Rivas. Grande helped Estudiantes earn the 2012 and 2013 Madrid Championship title. She became a three-time bronze medalist in the Spanish Championships (2009, 2011, and 2013). In 2011, Grande also helped the Spanish National Team to a first- place finish in Slovenia.
“Carmen is everything you would want in a guard. She sees the floor extremely well, can score and most importantly makes other players better. Her best attribute may be the energy and effort she plays with every day. Carmen is going to be a special player here.”
A 5-11 guard who can also play at the forward position, Washington becomes the second native from Indiana to sign with Ball State for next season. She graduated from Lawrence North High School in 2014. She recently transferred to Ball State from Loyola University in Chicago, where as a freshman she started 13 out of 26 games. At Lawrence North, Washington averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks per game while helping the Wildcats to a 21-4 record as a senior. She also surpassed the 1,000 point mark and was selected to the Indiana Junior All-Star Team. Washington earned honorable mention for the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association/Underclassmen and All-State accolades from the Associated Press. She was also a First Team All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference honoree.
“Destiny is where she belongs. She is a versatile, high energy competitor that can play multiple positions and is simply a winner. As soon as we heard she was leaving Loyola, it became a priority that we get her back home and I look forward to seeing her flourish in a Ball State uniform.”
The last Ball State signee is Wells, a 5-4 guard who graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 2013 in Toledo, Ohio. She was a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter for the Eagles. During her tenure at Notre Dame Academy, Wells earned First Team All-City, First Team All-District, First Team All-State and was named a Three River Conference Player of the Year. Wells transferred to Ball State from Tallahassee Community College where she averaged 14.0 points per game and was named First Team All-Panhandle Conference.
“Cat is the experienced, versatile guard we desperately needed next season. She has grown tremendously in the time from her great high school career until now and I'm excited to watch her develop into what I believe can be one of the best guards in our league.”
