PORTALES, N.M. – After completing their first season as Head ENMU Women's Basketball Coach, Blake Huber has added 10 new members to the green and silver squad for the 2024-25 roster. Huber brings in an experienced group of recruits, with six upperclassmen joining the team along with four first year student-athletes.

"I am beyond excited about this signing class and all the high character athletes we have coming in," said Huber "Pretty much all the players we have signed have won championships at some level and all have different skillsets that will help our team win. We knew we had to get bigger at every position and that is something that was a priority for us in our recruiting process," said Huber "This was our first full season to recruit, and I think we have identified quality talent on and off the floor and I think the city of Portales is really going to fall in love with our players," said Huber.

LEIANYA MASSENAT, GRADUATE STUDENT, GUARD, 5'9", GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN STATE

Massenat joins the Greyhounds after spending one season with Georgia Southwestern State. The Trenton, N.J. native made 13 starts, helping the Lafy Hurricanes win a Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championship, along with a Division II Southeast Regional title. Prior to joining GSW, Massenat spent three seasons at Central Methodist University, being named an NAIA All-American and Heart of America Conference Player of the Year in 2023, averaging 17.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg.

"Nana is someone that we are thrilled to have for her final year of eligibility. Nana is a proven winner at every level," said Huber. "Nana made a national championship game at Central Methodist and was in the Elite 8 this year at Georgia Southwestern. Nana is someone that can really score the ball at a high level," said Huber. "She can really play in transition, can play off ball screens, and is a good catch and shoot player. Nana is instant offense and can really create her own shot," said Huber. "Defensively, Nana is long and athletic and can guard multiple positions, and that is something we really want in our guards. Nana is going to have great leadership intangibles because she is a proven winner and someone that will command respect from our locker room from day 1. We can't wait to coach her!" said Huber.

JAYLA SMITH, SENIOR, GUARD, 5'11", DELTA STATE

Smith comes Portales after one season at Delta State playing seven games for the Lady Statesmen. Before heading to Delta State, Smith played at Labette CC contributing 8.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.3 apg, and 1.2 bpg. Their biggest performance in the 2022-23 season came against Neosho County, dropping a season high 20 points and 17 rebounds along with five assists and four blocks.

"Jayla is one of the most fluid players I have ever recruited. The game comes very naturally to Jayla, and she has a ton of talent," said Huber. "We are excited to pair her back up with her junior college teammate, Ishuana Hunter. They won a ton of games together at Labette CC and we are hoping to do the same here at Eastern New Mexico," said Huber. "First off, Jayla can really guard. She is incredibly long and athletic with a long wingspan, so she is going to be able to guard some of the best guards in this league," said Huber. "Jayla also can really get out in transition and play in the open floor. Jayla also shoots the three at a very high level, and when she gets hot, she is hard to guard," said Huber. "Jayla is a two-way player and someone that we are blessed to have for her final year,".

VITÓRIA CARVALHO, SENIOR, FORWARD, 6'3", TARLETON STATE

A Division I transfer; Carvalho brings a superior post presence after one season at Tarleton State and two years at South Plains College. With the Texans, Carvalho had limited opportunities seeing the floor in 16 games, averaging six minutes per game. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native accumulated 25 rebounds, 19 points, and 10 blocks with Tarleton State, averaging 5.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg in two seasons at South Plains.

"Vitória is a key addition to our program for this upcoming season! She is every bit of 6'3 and she is super athletic and physical in the post, something again that we did not have on our roster this past season," said Huber. "Vitória is someone that has played at an incredibly high level. She played at South Plains for two seasons, in a great junior college league, and played this last season at division one Tarleton State," said Huber. "Vitória is a lefty post that can really score on the block, but also has good touch and makes free throws at a high level because she gets to the line a lot with her physicality. We can't wait to coach her for her last year!" said Huber.

NIYAH JOHNSON, JUNIOR, FORWARD, 6'2", MCLENNAN CC

Joining ENMU from McLennan Community College, Niyah Johnson began their collegiate career at Abilene Christian playing in 13 games for the Wildcats. Last season, Johnson helped a McLennan squad reach the NJCCA Region V Tournament with a 25-6 record. The 6'2" forward played in 24 games and provided 6.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg in just over 20 minutes per game.

"We are incredibly happy and blessed to have Niyah coming to Portales! Niyah is something that we did not have this past season, consistent rim protection and a post presence offensively and defensively," said Huber. "Niyah has played at the D1 level and was also on a top 10 junior college team in the country this year, so she knows what it takes. Niyah is an incredible athlete and rim runner, and her activity never stops- she is always around the ball," said Huber. "Niyah can score it on the block, in transition, and we are going to work on extending her game out to three," said Huber. "Defensively, I think she will be one of the best in the league, she can guard multiple positions, ball screens, and will rim protect in pressing situations. We can't wait to get her here," said Huber.

NATAYA LOCKETT (SNODDY), JUNIOR, GUARD, 5'8", PENSACOLA STATE JC

Despite playing in just 15 games for the Lady Pirates in the 2023-24 season, Lockett provided 14.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 3.1 apg. The Omaha, Neb. native scored double-digits in 11 games and eclipsed 20 points in three games. Their best games from this past season came against Tallahassee Community College in a 107-45 win. Lockett accounted for 26 points on 9-15 shooting from the floor, including 5-6 from behind the arc, adding seven rebounds and four steals.

"We are super pumped to have Nataya joining our Greyhound family! Nataya is a natural scorer, she is a lefty that plays extremely downhill at the rim, but you can't give her space, because she can shoot the 3 at a high clip as well," said Huber. "Nataya played in one of the best if not the best junior college league in the country down in Florida and put-up big numbers against the best teams in the country. She put up 20+ points on Northwest Florida, Chipola, and Gulf Coast, three of the best teams in the country," said Huber. "But she is a two-way player, she wants to get in a stance and guard people 94 feet, and we really value that. She also has a ton of winning pedigree and genetics, her older sister is in the WNBA, she has been around it her whole life and we can't wait to have her on our team," said Huber.

MERVEILLE NKOYOCK, JUNIOR, GUARD, 5'10", INDEPENDENCE JC

A native of Cameroon, Merveille Nkoyock had a breakout campaign for Independence Junior College leading the team with 17.4 points per game. As a sophomore, Nkoyock dropped double digit scoring in all but three games during the season, reaching 20 points in a game nine times. Their best performance of the season came in a 69-62 victory over Butler Community College – KS, scoring 34 points, connecting on five three pointers and finishing 15-21 at the foul line, while grabbing eight rebounds.

"Wonder is someone that we are thrilled to have in our program! She plays on the Cameroon national team, so she has a ton of experience playing against high level competition," said Huber. "Wonder was one of the best scorers in the Jayhawk conference this year, which is year in and year out one of the best junior college leagues in the country. Wonder is a shot creator; she can create instant offense from pretty much anywhere on the floor," said Huber. "She is long and athletic and someone that we will rely on a lot to score it. She also has incredible length and athleticism, which will really help in how we want to play defensively next season," said Huber. "Wonder is a competitor and gym rat, and she will continue to get better and better here,".

VICTORIA BARRERA, FRESHMAN, GUARD, 5'9", AMARILLO HS

Making the journey from Amarillo, Texas, Victoria Barrera joins the Greyhounds for their freshman season in 2024-25. Barrera comes to ENMU from an established program, with the Sandies finishing with 32-5 record in 2022-23, and improving to 35-6 in 2023-24 with an 8-0 district record reaching the 5A UIL Texas State Championships Regional Semifinal. Amarillo has finished in the top-10 of the MaxPreps ranking for the past two seasons.

"We are thrilled to have Vic join us coming into her freshman year," said Huber. "Vic hurt her knee at the worst possible time in her junior summer, and unfortunately she did not play her senior year, but she is recovering extremely well because she works incredibly hard," said Huber. "Vic has played for a great high school coach and program in Amarillo High, so she knows what it takes to win and has a ton of winning attributes on the floor, she gets to every 50-50 ball, is incredibly physical defensively, and plays at a different pace than most people. She is a tireless worker and someone that is going to make our program better day in and day out," said Huber.     

KAITLYN EDMONDSON, FRESHMAN, FORWARD, 6'1", FLOWER MOUND HS

Edmondson provides a great interior presence, with the forward playing a key role in the success of Flower Mound High School in 2023-24. The Jaguars finished 20-12 with Edmondson's help, reaching the 6A UIL Texas State Championships Opening Round. During the opening five games of the season, Edmondson led the team in scoring an rebounding with 14.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg.

"We are extremely excited that Kaitlyn is joining the Greyhound family. Kaitlyn had a phenomenal senior season and I think her best basketball is ahead of her," said Huber. "First off, Kaitlyn gives us rim protection, her shot blocking abilities and timing are at a high level. Kaitlyn also rebounds the ball at a high level because she is a big-time athlete at her size," said Huber. "Her offensive game continues to grow- she has stretched out her range and has been scoring more consistently on the block. I think Kaitlyn is the type of player that is going to do a ton of damage in this conference, and we are excited that she is on our team," said Huber.

ABBI HOLDER, FRESHMAN, GUARD, 5'8", FRENSHIP HS

Holder comes to Portales from Wolfforth, Texas, playing at Frenship High School for the Tigers. The guard helped the team to a 33-4 record, 9-1 in district play, reaching the 6A UIL Texas State Championships Regional Quarterfinals. Holder helped the Tigers improve on their win total every season, with their 33 wins being the most in a single season over a decade.

"Abbi is someone that we identified early on when we got the job last summer as someone that we were extremely interested in from the jump. Abbi has won her whole life in high school and in AAU and that is something we really value," said Huber. "She is tough as nails on the floor and will do whatever it takes to win. She can score it all 3 levels, can guard multiple positions, and continues to get better and better because she is a gym rat. Her AAU Coach and I have a great relationship and I give thanks to him a lot in our process with Abbi," said Huber.

TONKA JAKŠIĆ, FRESHMAN, GUARD, 5'8", ZAGREB, CROATIA

Although coming in as a freshman, Tonka Jakšić brings in a wealth of experience playing at a high level. Internationally, Jakšić helped their national team win the Division B U-18 Women's European Championship, finishing 7-0 in the tournament. Jaksic helped Croatia the team go undefeated in the tournament, averaging 4.6 ppg, 3.6 ppg, and 2.7 rpg.

"Tonka has an incredible skillset and has been playing high level basketball back in Croatia for a long time. She also is on her Croatian national team and brings a ton of experience and competitiveness that will help her get on the floor early for us," said Huber. "She can make people around her better and facilitate, but also shoots the three at a high level and really takes pride in being a pest defensively. She wants to get up and guard and that is an incredible asset.  We are thrilled to have her," said Huber.

ENMU closed out their 2023-24 season with three consecutive wins, finishing with a 11-17 record and 7-15 standing in Lone Star Conference play. Huber returns for his second leading the Greyhounds.