WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue women's basketball head coach Katie Gearlds welcomed five new Boilermakers to the family Wednesday on National Signing Day. The quintet was ranked No. 21 by ESPNW.
After her first full recruiting cycle as the head coach of her alma mater, Gearlds gladly announced the additions of Mary Ashley Stevenson (New York City), Sophie Swanson (Barrington, Ill.), Emily Monson (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and homegrown talents Rashunda Jones (South Bend) and McKenna Layden (Kokomo). The five submitted their National Letters of Intent to play for the Boilermakers on Wednesday.
The quintet marks the largest signing day class for Purdue since 2013.
"Going back to when I first came in as the associate head coach, my focus instantly became the 2023 class," head coach Katie Gearlds said. "Our staff all dug in to put the best group together for Purdue. We wanted to have a big class. We wanted to hit a home run with talent, obviously, but we wanted to add culture pieces. I think we did that.
"This group of five loves everything about Purdue already. They're all winners. Their track records speak for themselves. Not only are they really good basketball players, but they are phenomenal young women as well. I think the Purdue faithful will really fall in love with them."
MARY ASHLEY STEVENSON
6-2 | F | New York City, N.Y.
Mary Ashley Groot is a 6-2 forward out of New York City. A two-time stat champion, Stevenson will arrive in West Lafayette following six-years of varsity experience. Stevenson is an elite rebounder on both ends of the floor. She brings a physical presence to the paint on the offense end and can finish through contact. Her extensive experience on the floor has developed a high-level leadership quality.
NOTABLE
• No. 97 player in the nation, four-star prospect with a 91 grade from ESPN HoopGurlz
• No. 101 player in the nation, No. 13 forward, with a 20 rating from Dan Olson Basketball Report
• Named Elite 150 by Prospect Nation
• Tabbed the No. 3 player in New York by Prep Girls Hoops
• Invited to the U16 and U17 Team USA trials
• Participated in the 2022 Wooten Top-150 Camp
• Two-time state champion, one in New York and one in South Carolina
• Named the New York State Sportswriters Association State Player of the Year (Class C), First Team All-Ivy League and Basketball Coaches of New York Player of the Year in 2021-22
• Named to the South Carolina Independent School Association All-Tournament Team as a sophomore
• Garnered SCISA First Team All-State, All-Region and North/South All-Star Team honors in 2020-21
• Tabbed All-Ivy League First Team, NYSSWA Fifth Team All-State, BCANY First Team All-State and BCANY Top-50 as a freshman
PREP
• Enters senior season with 1,911 points (18.6 ppg), 1,293 rebounds (12.6 rpg in 103 career games
• Played varsity starting in seventh grade at The Dalton School in New York City
• Spent sophomore season at Cardinal Newman in South Carolina
• Guided The Dalton School to a NYSAIS State Championship in 2021-22
• Tabbed to the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Underclassmen Watch List
• Averaged 24.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2. Steals, 3.8 assists and one block per game in 2021-22
• Played junior season at Cardinal Newman, totaling 17 points and 13.3 rebounds per game
• Crossed 1,000 rebounds in career as a sophomore
• Won the SCISA State Championship in 2020-21
• Went for 16.6 points, 13 rebounds, ½ steals, 2.5 assists and 2.1 blocks per game as a freshman
• Passed the 1,000-point mark during her freshman campaign
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Mary Ashley Stevenson
• Birthdate: Feb. 22, 2005
• Birthplace: Fort Mill, S.C.
• Intended Major: History
• Parents: Gary and Ashley Stevenson
• Ashley played basketball at Wofford from 1994-98
• Siblings: Will Stevenson, Alex Stevenson, Casey Stevenson, Kevin Stevenson
• Will is set to play basketball at Johns Hopkins
• Casey was a basketball manager and an operations assistant with Duke Men's Basketball
• Kevin played soccer at Duke, reaching the NCAA Tournament four times and winning the ACC in 2005
RASHUNDA JONES
5-8 | G | South Bend, Ind.
An Indiana talent, Rashunda Jones is one of the premiere guards in the state. A versatile guard, Jones' court vision and elite passing allows her to be a total floor general and leader on the floor. Jones also makes an impact on the defensive end with her athleticism as a lock-down defender, knowing what it takes to win.
NOTABLE
• No. 79 player in the nation, four-star recruit, 93 grade from ESPN HoopGurlz
• No. 85 player in the nation, No. 25 guard with a 21 rating by Dan Olson Basketball Report
• No. 4 player in the state by Prep Girls Hoops
• 2022 IHSAA Class 3A State Champion
• Two-time All-NIAC selection
• Won two sectional and two regional titles
• Referenced as a candidate for 2023 Indiana Miss Basketball
• Named to the Indiana Supreme 15
• Dished out seven assists for as a junior in the Indiana Junior/Senior All-Star Game
PREP
• Plays for South Bend Washington
• Enters senior season with 1,261 points, 307 assists and 309 steals
• Averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.6 steals per game over 87 outings
• Tallied 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game in her championship junior season
• Totaled 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting with five assists in a 93-35 win over Silver Creek in the state title game
• Reached semi-state as a sophomore behind 11.6 points 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game
• Averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game as a freshman
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Rashunda Meshayl Jones
• Birthdate: Oct. 2, 2004
• Intended Major: Sports Marketing
• Parents: Jason and Awani Jones
• Siblings: Jason, Kei'Marie, Jada, Alexus
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EMILY MONSON
6-0 | G | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Emily Monson is a tall, rangy guard out of Murfreesboro, Tenn. The 6-foot guard will be an instant perimeter threat with her deep range. A multi-tool player, Monson has high basketball IQ that is shown on both ends of the floor. She uses her length to get in the passing lanes on defense. On top of her talent on the court, Monson is also a great motivator and teammate.
NOTABLE
• No. 15 player in the state by Prep Girls Hoops
• 18 rating by Dan Olson Basketball Report
• Tabbed Elite 150 by Prospects Nation
• Guided the Blaze to a 2020 Tennessee state championship, a trio of regional championships and two district titles
• Invited to the Wooten Top-150 Camp
PREP
• Played for Blackman High School in Murfreesboro
• Enters senior season with 528 points with 103 3-pointers over three seasons
• Averaged 15 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game as a junior
• Tallied 12 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1 steal per game as a sophomore
• Saw limited action as a freshman due to injury to finish with 6.1 points per game
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Emily G Monson
• Birthdate: Dec. 31, 2004
• Birthplace: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• Intended Major: Psychology
• Parents: Mat and Brenda Monson
• Siblings: Andrew
McKENNA LAYDEN
6-2 | G | Kokomo, Ind.
The Boilermakers welcome the younger-half of the Layden sisters in McKenna. The 6-foot-2 guard is a deep-range shooter, who can score at all levels. Defensively, she poses a threat in the passing lanes and can guard multiple positions. Layden runs the floor well both ways in transition. Coming from a basketball family, McKenna shows her passion for the game very time she sets foot on the floor.
NOTABLE
• No. 144 player in the nation, No. 37 guard, 20 rating by Dan Olson Basketball Report
• Tabbed Elite 150 by Prospects Nation
• No. 5 player in the state by Prep Girls Hoops
• Three-time All-Hoosier Athletic Conference selection
• Three-time Kokomo Tribune All-Area, twice earning MVP honors
• Two-time Supreme 15 Underclassman and ICGSA All-State honoree
• Two-time sectional champion won regional and semi-state once, appeared in one state final
• Named an Indiana Junior Core Six All-Star as a junior
• Garnered an IBCA Top-100 selection twice
PREP
• Played for her mother Kathie Layden at Northwestern High School
• Enters senior season with 1,141 career points, including 116 3-pointers, 301 assists and 205 steals
• Averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists and 2.8 steals in her first three seasons
• Led the team in scoring as a junior with 22.1 points, 4.1 assists, 6.2 assists and 3.8 steals per game
• Set the Northwestern single-game record with 47 points with nine 3-pointers against Taylor on Dec. 10, 2021
• Tallied 22.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.5 steals per game
• Posted 6.0 points, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game as freshman, reaching the state championship game
• Played four seasons of volleyball, totaling 1,393 kills at 4.2 per set with a .377 hitting percentage
• Also played tennis for Northwestern
PERSONAL
• Full Name: McKenna Nicole Layden
• Birthdate: Jan. 11, 2005
• Birthplace: Kokomo, Ind.
• Intended Major: Pre-dental
• Parents: Kathie and Jeff Layden
• Sibling: Madison Layden
• Both parents played basketball at the University of Evansville
• Jeff was named to the Missouri Valley All-Bench Team and led the team in blocked shots in 1996-97, as well as 1993-94
• Kathie finisher her career with Evansville ranked seventh in career assists and tied for fourth in 3-pointers
SOPHIE SWANSON
5-10 | G | Barrington, Ill.
A pure scorer, Swanson will provide a scoring option at all three level. She has the ability to finish through traffic and off the dribble. Swanson is a scrappy defender on the ball and disrupts the passing lanes. She is a big-time competitor who plays with a chip on her shoulder to find a way to win.
NOTABLE
• No. 103 player in the nation, No. 29 guard with a 21 rating by Dan Olson Basketball Report
• No. 8 player in the state by Prep Girls Hoops
• Named 2022 Illinois Miss Basketball and Illinois 4A Player of the Year as a junior
• Invited to the U18 USA Team Trials
• Three-time all-state, all-conference and all-area honoree
• Twice named the MSL West Player of the Year
• Honored as the Barrington Female Athlete of the Year in 2021-22
• Won conference, regional, sectional, super-sectional titles as a junior, reaching the state finals
PREP
• Played for Barrington Prep
• Tallied 21.4 points, 5.2 rebounds behind a 58% clip inside the arc as a junior
• Set the school record for points in a season (750), 3-pointers in a year (86), thrice set the school mark for points in a game (40, 37, 36)
• Averaged 16.5 points, 4.3 steals per game as a sophomore
• Totaled 462 points to average 14.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign
PERSONAL
• Full Name: Sophia Annabelle Swanson
• Birthdate: Aug. 3, 2005
• Birthplace: Hoffman Estates, Ill.
• Intended Major: Elementary Education
• Parents: Jim and Sloan Swanson
• Jim was a three-year football letterwinner at Ohio from 1988-90, leading the Bobcats in receiving with 37 catches for 503 yards and a touchdown as a tight end in 1989
• Sloan played basketball at St. Joseph's College, graduating in 1989
• Siblings: Sam and Audrey