DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball announced the addition of three future Wildcats on Thursday, Nov. 9, as Head Coach Janell Crayton and her staff inked three during the beginning stages of the National Signing Period.
 
Crayton, now in her third season at the helm in Daytona Beach, announced the signing of Mya Johnson, Janessa Kelley and Laila Lancaster to National letters of Intent for the Wildcats.
 
Last season, BCU finished the campaign with a 10-8 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (11-18 overall), with the Wildcats earning their first first trip to the SWAC Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, as the Cats finished tied for sixth in the final regular season league standings.
 
"This year's recruiting class is extremely exciting," commented Crayton. "We are looking forward to adding three very successful young players who will add skill and depth to our team. Each young lady in this class brings her own special talents, but each of these talents will blend great and help our program continue to march towards winning championships.
 
"We have two players with a big presence in the paint, and an outside shooting weapon. It's a well-rounded group that will add to various areas of our roster. Each one of these new Wildcats are also great people who come from strong families with great values. They will be wonderful additions to our Wildcats Women's Basketball program."
 
Mya Johnson – Center, 6-2, St. Cloud, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Mya Johnson has lettered three seasons for the varsity squad at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. She finished the 2022-23 season averaging 4.5 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per contest. In her first season playing varsity as a sophomore, Johnson provided 3.0 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per contest. She has been a part of two state championship teams as a sophomore and junior.
 
Quotes from Crayton on Johnson… "Mya [Johnson] is a force to be reckoned with. She is an extremely strong, hard-nosed player who punishes defenses with her physicality and skill. She is a big presence in the paint and makes everything hard for the other team. Mya is a WINNER. She has won three state titles, and she is going for her fourth this season. She is a true competitor, and her work ethic and desire to be great are a big reason why she has been so successful. I am very excited to have Mya join our program. She is exactly the type of player who can cause a lot of damage in the SWAC, and we can't wait to see it."
 
Janessa Kelley – Guard, 5-6, Pompano Beach, Fla. (Blanche Ely HS)
Janessa Kelley is a shooting guard from Blanche Ely High in Pompano Beach, Florida. The 5-foot-6 left-handed shooter is also a fierce defender off the ball. She averaged 2.6 steals per game as a junior during the 2022-23 season, owning a 1.8 steals per game average across her varsity career. In 24 games last season, Kelley poured in an average of 16.1 points per game, adding 5.6 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. In two seasons playing varsity to date, Kelley averages 14.4 points and 4,.1 rebounds per game.
 
Quotes from Crayton on Kelley… "Janessa [Kelley] is a deadly shooter and true outside threat. Her ability to shoot the basketball is what first caught my attention, but her maturity and poise – both on and off the court, are the characteristics that made us pursue her so hard. She is a smart basketball player who uses her high IQ to make plays, and that also translates for her off the court as well. She is going to be a great addition to what we do, as she is someone we are extremely excited about adding to the Wildcats Family."
 
Laila Lancaster – Center, 6-5, Lanett, Ala. (Lanett HS)
Laila Lancaster signed with Bethune-Cookman after receiving several offers, including Michigan State and Auburn, respectively. She is a physical center that protects the rim for her team, as well as enjoys rebounding. As a junior during the 2022-23 season, Lancaster averaged 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, while going on to average 1.4 blocks per game. In her prep career on the varsity level, she is averaging 1.4 blocks per game, in addition to 3.5 rebounds per game. Offensively, she averages 5.6 points with 1.8 rebounds per game coming off the offensive glass. She also played JV volleyball at Lanett High.
 
Quotes from Crayton on Lancaster… "[Laila] Lancaster's height alone is a true asset. But that, along with her skill, makes her an individual who will undoubtedly make an impact – not only for this program, but in the league. She is a player with endless potential. We are excited to add her to our roster as someone who can be a serious defensive presence in the paint, and someone who will cause opposing defenses a lot of trouble with her length and skill. She has been extremely well-coached, and we know that we are getting a player which understands the game and wants to do everything in her power to be the very best. We are thrilled to add Lancaster as one of our newest Wildcats."
 
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