WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women's basketball team inked a quartet of players to its 2021 signing class, head coach Sharon Versyp announced Wednesday. Sacha Washington, Skye Williams, Jayla Smith and Ava Learn signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers as Boilermakers.
"This class is incredibly talented," Versyp said. "The versatility and potential that each one of these players possess will provide a huge benefit to our program. The Boilermaker family got bigger, stronger and better today. I believe this group will make a lasting impact on our program."
Eyed as one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, and with all four players appearing in numerous rankings, this talented group was tabbed No. 22 in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten by ESPNW.
Sacha Washington | F | 6-1 | Lilburn, Ga.
An ESPNW top-50 player, Washington continues the pipeline of Boilermakers from Georgia. After two impressive seasons at Parkview High School, averaging a double-double of 15 points, 15.1 rebounds as a sophomore, she transferred to Collins Hill to play under Bria Harmon's father, Brian. In her first season at Collins Hill, Washington guided the Eagles to a Deep South Championship and Class 7A state runner-up honors.
Head Coach Sharon Versyp on Washington…
Shacha is a physical specimen. She is a very physical and athletic face-up forward. Not limited to the block, she can beat players off the dribble and has range that extends out to the 3-point line. Her rebounding is probably her greatest attribute. Whether it's on the offensive or defensive end, she outworks everyone and her basketball IQ allows her to get control of the ball. Her strength and athleticism allow her to fight through contact. On defense, she has great lateral range to contest and block shots at the rim and guard all positions.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Ranked No. 42 player overall, No. 6 power forward and a rating of 22 by Dan Olson's Girls Basketball Report
• Named the No. 57 player in the nation, the No. 13 forward and a 4-star recruit with a 91 rating by ESPN HoopGurlz
• Tabbed the No. 113 player in the country, No. 24 power forward and a 4-star recruit by Prospect Nation
• Transferred and played for head coach Brian Harmon at Collins Hill, father of Purdue's Bria Harmon
• Guided the Eagles to a Deep South Championship as a junior behind a 31-1 record
• Took runner-up honors in the Class 7A State Playoffs
• Garnered GACA 7A North Player of the Year and Journal Constitution First Team All-State honors in 2020
• Earned two letters at Parkview High School, before transferring to Collins Hill
• Totaled 45 games and averaged 11.1 points, 1.2 assists and 10.7 rebounds at Parkview over two seasons
• Named Journal Constitution Second team All-State in 2019
• Averaged a monster double-double as a sophomore of 15 points, 15.1 rebounds per game
• Played club ball for FBC Hoopstarz Brown
• Earned Honor Roll status every year
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Sacha N Washington
• Intended Major: Engineering
• Birthday: Nov. 14, 2002
• City Born: Lilburn, Ga.
• Parents: Kenneth Washington and Simone Picou
• Sibling: Ethan and Kaci
Keeping the Georgia pipeline flowing 👇 pic.twitter.com/KeBRu8ejTN
— Purdue Women's Bball (@PurdueWBB) November 11, 2020
Jayla Smith | G | 6-0 | Indianapolis, Ind.
Jayla Smith is one of the top players in the state of Indiana for the class of 2021. The native of Indianapolis has led Lawrence North to back-to-back IHSAA State Championship Games, lifting the title in 2020 behind a 22-point, 5 3-pointer performance in the finals.
Head Coach Sharon Versyp on Smith…
Jayla is an elite 3-point shooter, an athletic swing guard and a proven winner. Her length and size give her an edge both offensively and defensively. On defense, her length allows her to get in passing lanes and be an agitator on any opponent. In any late-game scenario, she wants the ball in her hands and that's when she really shines.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Tabbed as a preseason favorite for the 2021 Indiana Miss Basketball by the Indy Star
• No. 42 player in the nation, No. 13 guard and a 4-star recruit by Prospect Nation
• Ranked No. 49 player in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of Indiana by MaxPreps
• Three-year letterwinner at Lawrence North High School and head coach Chris Giffin
• Opened the 2020-21 season by scoring her 1,000th career point in early November
• Started all 59 games over the last two seasons
• Averaged 14.7 points per game and 37% from distance as a junior to lead Lawrence North to a 25-4 record against the toughest schedule in the state
• Won the 2020 IHSAA State Championship, playing all 32 minutes and dropping 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with five 3-pointers
• The state championship was the Wildcats' first in program history, and came at the expense of Madison Layden's Northwestern squad
• Led the Wildcats to back-to-back IHSAA Championship Games, as well as sectional and regional titles
• Five 3-pointers in both of her championship appearances,
• Named First Team Prep Girl Hoops 4A All-State, IBCA Supreme 15 All-State, MIC All-Conference, All-Marion County as a junior
• Garnered Core-6 Junior Indiana All Star and First Team Indy Star Super Preps Team honors
• Invited to the IBCA Top-100 Workout in 2020, 2019 and 2018
• Totaled 16.1 points per game and 39% from 3-point range as a sophomore, taking the Wildcats to the state title game
• Led the team in steals with 3.7 per game, a school record in 2018-19
• Notched First Team IBCA Underclassmen All-State, Indy Star Super Preps Team, All-MIC, All-Marion County for the 2018-19 season
• Played in all 24 games as a freshman, averaged 6.9 points per game and a 35% clip from behind the arc
• Honorable Mention IBCA Underclassmen All-State
• Played AAU for the Nike Lady Gym Rats – EBYL Silver
• Landed on the honor roll every semester since her freshman year
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Jayla Lynn Smith
• Intended Major: Business
• Birthday: Dec. 16, 2002
• City Born: Munster, Ind.
• Parents: Jay and Aiesha Smith
• Sibling: Juneus "JR" Smith
𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝟯-𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿.
— Purdue Women's Bball (@PurdueWBB) November 11, 2020
Welcome to Boiler Nation, @_JaylaSmithh!
📍: Indianapolis, Ind.
🏀: 6'0 | Guard
🏫: Lawrence North pic.twitter.com/Lt3egAga2H
Skye Williams | G | 5-10 | Pickerington, Ohio
Williams, a 5-foot-10 guard for Pickerington Central High School, has explosive creativity on the offensive end. Over the last two years, she led the Tigers to a 50-9 record, including a state finals appearance for the 2018-19 season. Williams produced one of the best high school highlights in recent memories in the Region III Final with a crossover that was featured on SportsCenter, ESPN's NBA: The Jump and over social media.
Head Coach Sharon Versyp on Williams…
Skye is an extremely athletic guard and flourishes out on the wing at both guard spots. Her ability to attack is what she does best. She excels while creating off the bounce by either getting to the rim and finishing or utilizing her ability to pass and get her teammates involved. She's also an incredibly accurate shooter from the perimeter.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Tabbed a 4-star recruit, the No. 93 player in the nation, the No. 38 guard and 91 rating by ESPN HoopGurlz
• Named the No. 98 player in the country by Prep Girls Hoops
• Played the last two seasons at Pickerington Central High School under Johnathan Hedgepeth
• Guided the Tigers to a 50-9 record in two seasons
• Finished as the Region III runner-up as a junior
• Averaged 11 points, four assists and four rebounds as a junior
• Named to the District 10 All-Star Game and Wootten Top 100 for the 2019-20 season
• Named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, All-State Special Mention, OGBR Talent Show All-Star, Prep Hoops Ohio Top-2 Player, OGBR Top-10 Watch List
• Crossover in the Region III final was tabbed the Max Preps Play of the Week, Max Preps Top-5 Play of the Year, SportsCenter Top 10 No. 1 and was featured on NBA Jump
• Finished sophomore season as the Ohio State Division I runner-up
• In first season at Pickerington, stepped up in several events – 12 points, six boards, five assists at the Crystal Ball High School Exposure Showcase, 11 points, four steals, four assists to earn Region IV Impact Performer honors and 10 points, six rebounds and four dimes against Kettering Fairmont in the Classic in the County
• Earned Ohio Capital Conference Honorable Mention and District 10 All-Star honors as a sophomore
• Played her freshman season at Teays Valley High School and averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 assists and four steals per game
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Skye Taige Williams
• Intended Major: Undecided
• Birthday: June 17, 2003
• City Born: Columbus, Ohio
• Parents: DeSean and Erica Williams
• Sibling: Sydney
• Sister plays basketball at Bethel University
Skye's welcome message to Boiler Nation 👇 pic.twitter.com/NU0fi0eyQ6
— Purdue Women's Bball (@PurdueWBB) November 11, 2020
Ava Learn | G | 6-1 | Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Learn, the first New Yorker to play for the Boilermakers, is a lengthy guard for Our Lady of Lourdes. Through three seasons with the Warriors, the 6-foot-1 guard has been an impactful player on both ends of the floor, averaging double-double 19.4 points, 11 rebounds with 3.8 blocks as a junior in 2019-20
Head Coach Sharon Versyp on Learn…
Ava is a unique and versatile 3-4. Her greatest asset is shooting from the perimeter, but her ability to find open teammates is something that separates her. Ava has superb court awareness and a great basketball IQ. She can guard 2-4. Her skill of using her length to get into passing lanes and block shots.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Tabbed the No. 153 player in the nation, the No. 41 guard with a rating of 20 from Dan Olson's Girls Basketball Report
• Three-year letterwinner at Our Lady of Lourdes under head coach Al Viani
• Named a Poughkeepsie Journal All-Star three years in a row
• Regarded as one of the players to watch for two straight seasons by the Poughkeepsie Journal
• Went 55-17 through three seasons with the Warriors
• Averaged 19.4 points, 11 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots in 2019-20
• Dropped 36 points with 16 rebounds and five blocks against Arlington as a junior, going 14-of-18 from the field
• Finished with 18 points and 21 rebounds in a state playoff game in 2019-20
• Took the Warriors to the Section 1 Class AA final her junior year
• Tabbed Class AA Third Team All-State as a junior
• Guided the Warriors to a league title with an 8-0 record and 23-1 mark overall as a freshman
• Played for the Philadelphia Bells
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Ava Schuyler Learn
• Intended Major: Elementary Education
• Birthday: Jan. 10, 2003
• City Born: Norfolk, Va.
• Parents: Andy and Alicia Learn
• Sibling: Sisters – Grace and Tess
FOLLOW THE BOILERMAKERSHear from our first New Yorker 👇 pic.twitter.com/AvwQzkCOI5
— Purdue Women's Bball (@PurdueWBB) November 11, 2020
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