November 18, 1999

Release: Upon Receipt

FURMAN BASKETBALL SIGNS FOUR

IN THE EARLY PERIOD

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman head basketball coach Sherry Carter announced on Thursday the signing of two guards and two forwards to National Letters Of Intent during the recent early signing period.

Deshara Shealey, a 5-11 guard from Greenbay, Va., is ranked as a top 50 guard in the country and last year was a first-team all-state selection at Prince Edward High School. This season, she is averaging 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, while leading coach Jim Wahrman's squad to a No. 1 ranking in the state of Virginia.

Kim Lawrence hails from Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Ga., where she was a Street & Smith's honorable mention All-America as a junior. A 6-0 forward, Lawrence led her team to a 28-4 record and state AAA title last season under coach Jim Waller. Entering her senior season, Lawrence is rated as one of the top 50 prospects in the country by All Stater, and was named a "Player to Watch" by USA Today. Last season, Lawrence averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 55% from the field.

Laney Harris from Loganville High School in Loganville, Ga., rounds out the guard corps in the 2000 freshman class. Harris averaged 16.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season and already holds six Loganville career records including points scored (1,034), blocked shots (117), and rebounds (602). Also named a "Player to Watch" by USA Today, Harris was an all-state selection last season and earned a spot on the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Team of the Month in Decmber of 1997.

Last, but not least, is 5-10 forward Alison Thomason, from Pickens High School in Jasper, Ga. Another Street & Smith's honorable mention All-America, Thomason was named one of the nine best prospects in the South by Stars of the South and brings tremendous scoring ability to the Furman lineup.

"This recruiting class gives us added quickness, which should strengthen our transition game and they are all tremendous shooters," said Carter. " In addition, they all come from good programs and know how to find a way to win when the game is on the line. I am a big believer that if you recruit winners they will continue to win, and I look for this class to help us do just that."

For More Information Contact: Teri Brinkman

(864) 294-3065