Nov. 15, 2011

QUEENS, N.Y. - Head women's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico signed her third incoming freshman to the class of 2016 on Monday, welcoming forward Sandra Udobi-Ofogu, a top 30 recruit, to the St. John's women's basketball family on the sixth day of the early signing period. From Wednesday, Nov. 9 through Wednesday, Nov. 16, student-athletes throughout the nation are set to sign National Letters of Intent (NLI).

On Friday, Nov. 11, Barnes Arico announced the signing of guards Cedrica Gibson and Ashley Perez.

"Sandra is a special player, she brings a true passion for the game and she has a certain toughness that this program embodies and has built on," said Barnes Arico. "Sandra has the versatility to provide a strong post presence, enabling her to be both a scoring and rebounding threat. She is active, physical on the glass and is incredibly mobile in an up-tempo offense. She uses her body well and will bring athleticism to the frontcourt that will help us fill the hole Da'Shena [Stevens] will leave when she graduates in the spring."

Sandra Udobi-Ofogu • 6-2 • F • Life Center Academy (Burlington, N.J.) • Nigeria
A power forward, Udobi-Ofogu is rated 30th in her class by BlueStar Basketball, 39th on All Star Girls Basketball Report and No. 74 on ESPN HoopGurlz Top 100 players. A Nigerian native, Udobi-Ofogu played club ball for the Philadelphia Belles and attended the Nike Junior Nationals in July 2011, where she was named to the Pool A All-Star team. She also was selected as one of 12 to play with the Nigerian U-19 team for the 2011 FIBA World Championships in Chile.

Sandra Udobi-Ofogu representing for Nigeria.

With the Belles, she excelled at the Nike Nationals, noted as being a tough and physical player and a potential knock down post defender. According to HoopGurlz "Nike Nationals Players Who Shined" Udobi-Ofogu she defends "right up to the limit of being called for a foul. That willingness to mix it up makes whomever she is guarding have to earn everything." She also played for her Nigerian U-19 national team. Udobi-Ofogu was also noted as having a strong drop step to go along with her counter moves. She's at her best when slashing from the high post and can get around the weak side help.

As a junior at Life Center Academy she averaged 21.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in just 10 contests, leading her team in both categories. Of her 109 rebounds, also half of them were offensive. She was her team's MVP and received the academic award for highest average in college prep literature.

Udobi-Ofogu chose St. John's over by Arizona State, Miami, Virginia and Seton Hall.

What They're Saying About Udobi-Ofogu:

"Sandra will be a very good player for St. Johns. She is a strong physical forward with a good mid range game. The thing most people don't realize about Sandra is she has not played in many games in her career. Her basketball knowledge grows by leaps and bounds with each game. In addition, Sandra has a passion for learning, which is why the Blue Star Report has her as a top 40 player in the 2012 class."
-- Kevin Lynch, BlueStar Basketball

"Sandra is a tremendous athlete and leaper with a great body, an aggressive rebounder and shot blocker. She gives the a post presence they [St. John's] have been missing and will impact the Red Storm program right away. She has a great upside and will be a All-BIG EAST performer during her career.
-- Bret McCormick, All Star Girls Report

The Red Storm will lose two scholarship seniors for the 2012-13 academic year as both forward Da'Shena Stevens and guard Tesia Harriswill graduate. Stevens, who has played in 98 games and started 93 for St. John's and enters her senior season No. 11 on the all-time scoring list of 1,243 points. Harris will player her first season for St. John's in 2011-12, as she was a transfer from Delaware.

No. 25 St. John's kicks off the 2011-12 season on Saturday, Nov. 12 as the Red Storm hosts St. Bonaventure at 2 p.m. in Carnesecca Arena. St. John's is coming off its second-straight NCAA Tournament berth and second round appearance after finishing 2010-11 with a 22-11 overall record. The Red Storm returns just three starters back to the hardwood this season after losing Sky Lindsay and Centhya "Coco" Hart to graduation in May. Stevens, a BIG EAST All-Conference Preseason selection and 2011 All-BIG EAST second team honoree will be sitting out the first four to six weeks due to an offseason knee injury and is expected to return in December. Junior guard Shenneika Smith, also a BIG EAST All-Conference Preseason selection and 2011 All-BIG EAST second team member, and junior guards Nadirah McKenith and Eugeneia McPherson will be most experienced players on the court.

Check back with RedStormSports.com for more updates!