June 28, 2002

DIXON ANNOUNCES SIGNEES

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman women's basketball coach Sam Dixon announced on Friday the signing of four prepsters to National Letters of Intent to play for the Lady Paladins this winter. Tommi Paris (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Melynda Gant (Herndon, Va.), Princess Wells (Marietta, Ga.) and Lauren Few (Hendersonville, N.C.) will comprise the 2002 basketball freshman class at Furman.

A 5-8 point guard at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Parris led her team to three Tennessee State Championships under coach Anthony Andrews. A finalist for Tennessee's Miss Basketball, Paris led the city in scoring, was a first-team all-state selection and a McDonald's All-America nominee. In addition, she earned all-state honors in volleyball, tied the school high jump record and was a member of the Beta Club. Paris is the daughter of Edwin and Tommie Paris.

Gant joins the Lady Paladins after a successful prep career at Oakton High School in Herndon, Va. A 5-10 shooting guard, Gant helped her team to a runner-up finish in the state championship as a junior and was the MVP of her team and two all-star games as a senior. In addition, she was named all-district, all-region, and honorable mention all-state. Gant was a two-year member of a college partnership program while in high school and is the daughter of Thomas and Sheila Gant.

Atlanta-area standout Princess Wells, a 5-7 guard out of South Cobb High School, will further strengthen the Lady Paladin backcourt. Wells helped coach Cliff Collins' squad to the region championship and Final Four in her senior season, while earning team MVP and all-state honors for herself. In addition, Wells was the Christmas Tournament MVP, a McDonald's All-America nominee,and was named to the Georgia-Tennessee All-Star team. She also excelled at softball and was the receipient of the coach's award in her senior season. Wells is the daughter of Richard and Gloria Wells.

Rounding out the 2002 recruiting class is 5-9 guard Lauren Few, who hails from East Henderson High School in Hendersonville, N.C. Few led her team to a second-place conference finish and sectional championship in her senior campaign, and was named all-conference and all-Western North Carolina, while averaging 14.7 points and 5.1 assists per game with a 42.0% shooting percentage from three-point range. In addition, Few lettered in golf, tennis and soccer, earning all-conference as a senior on the links and on the tennis court. A member of the National Honor Society, Few also was a Morehead Scholar Nominee, a four-year member of the A Honor Roll, and was in the honor block. Few is the daughter of Carol and Mike Duermit and Harry Few.

"I am really excited about these four young ladies," said Dixon concerning his first signing class. "They provide a strong nucleus for the future and in addition, they are great people with a tremendous work ethic. They also fulfil some critical spots in our program and come from oustanding basketball programs that have been successful over a long period of time. Collectively, their winning attitudes will be a further asset to an already successful program."