ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With the Class of 2024 completing the United States Naval Academy's induction days earlier this month and currently taking part in plebe summer training head coach Tim Taylor is proud to announce the three women who were recruited to join the Navy Women's Basketball team. The three student-athletes, include two all-state performers and a third that set her school's scoring record.
 
"I am really excited about this incoming group both as players and people," said Taylor. "I am impressed with their athleticism and versatility to play multiple positions as well as their competitiveness. I love the fact they played multiple sports in high school and came from winning programs. They are outstanding student-athletes who will be a tremendous asset to our program and the Academy immediately."
 
Morganne Andrews – Forward – Martinsburg, West Virginia / Martinsburg HS
Andrews joins the Navy program after a decorated career at Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, West Virginia. A 6'1 power forward, she was a two-year teammate of current Mid, Ciera Hertelendy on the Bulldogs' basketball team. A well-rounded athlete, Andrews competed in four sports during her time at Martinsburg: basketball (4 letters), track & field (3 – high jump, middle distance), volleyball (2) and cross country (1). Under coach Kyle Triggs' guidance, Andrews concluded her senior basketball season by earning West Virginia Class AAA Third Team All-State distinction, as well was the 2020 Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference (EPAC) Player of the Year honor. She previously was named to the All-State Third Team as a junior in 2019. Throughout her four seasons, Andrews garnered All-Region II and All-Section I honors. As a program, Martinsburg collected sectional and regional championship in all four years Andrews was suiting up with the basketball team. As a high jumper, she earned all-county and all-regional awards and came within two inches of breaking the school-record with a career-best jump of 5'2. Martinsburg's track & field program swept the sectional and regional championships, 2017 through 2019.
 
Off the court, she was president of Martinsburg's National Honor Society, as well as president of her freshmen and junior classes, respectively. Additionally, she participated in The Science National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, SCA and the Interact Club. She's the daughter of Marcus and Elizabeth.
 
Taylor on Andrews: "I love the athleticism and tenaciousness that Morganne has shown. She runs the floor extremely well and will be a big presence inside both offensively and defensively. We are really excited to see Morganne have a major impact on our program."
 
Kristina Donza – Guard – Jackson, New Jersey / Jackson Memorial HS
A native of Jackson, New Jersey, Donza is a 5'9 guard that played for Jackson Memorial High School under the guidance of Rachel Goodale and the Franklin Basketball Club (FBC) Defenders for John Stone. A decorated three-sport athlete at Jackson Memorial, Donza earned 10 combined varsity letters playing basketball (4), soccer (4) and lacrosse (2). Donza garnered All-A-South Divisional playing honors in all four seasons of basketball as she was named to the second team in 2017 and 2018 before improving to the first team her final two seasons. Additionally during her last two years at Jackson, Donza was named the 2019 Shore Conference Player of the Year before breaking the program's scoring record (1,824 points) in 2020. In her final season at Jackson, she averaged 26.7 points and 8.4 rebounds on her way to being named to the All-Group 4 First Team, Jackson's Team MVP, as well as winning the Shore Conference's Sportsmanship Award. She helped elevate her squad from eight wins during her freshman season to 23 wins and the A-South Divisional Championship as a senior. On the soccer pitch with Donza playing goalie, the Jackson girl's soccer team won the A-South Divisional Championship in 2017 and 2019.
 
In addition to her athletic prowess, she was a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Student Ambassador, as well as the Inspector General for Jackson's AFJROTC program. Her father John, mother Haydee and sister Ariel were all collegiate athletes.
 
Taylor on Donza: "We are really excited about Kristina and her ability to play multiple positions and score at all three levels. I love her confidence and competitive spirit as well as her energy and toughness on the court. We are looking forward to her being an integral part of our program."
 
Sydne Watts – Canton, Georgia / Cherokee High School
Coming to Annapolis from Canton, Georgia, Watts is a 6'0 guard that recently graduated from Cherokee High School. At Cherokee, she lettered in both basketball (4 letters) and track & field (2 – high jump). Additionally, she played club basketball for Team Elite EYBL. Her basketball coaches were Matt Cates at Cherokee and Chad Hubbard at EYBL. During Watts' four years with Cherokee, she earned All-Cherokee County and All-Region (4-7A) playing honors following each season. As a senior in 2020, she was named All-State Class 7A Honorable Mention after netting her 1,000th career point. The awards continued coming in for her senior season as she was Cherokee's Female Athlete of the Year, an inductee into the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame and a finalist for the Vincent J. Dooley Scholarship in the state of Georgia. As a program, Cherokee won the 4-7A region three straight seasons from 2018 through 2020 and reached the Georgia GHSA 7A State Final Four in back-to-back years in 2019 and 2020. In track, Watts helped Cherokee earn the county championship in 2019.
 
Off the court, Watts was involved in National Honor Society, the Environmental Action Club and the CFA Student-Athlete Leadership Team, while being named Cherokee High School's Most Optimistic Female Student three straight years, 2018-2020. Both of her parents were collegiate athletes as her mother, Georgy, ran cross country and track at Louisville, while her father, Erik, was a quarterback on Louisville's football team.
 
Taylor on Watts: "I really love the versatility that Sydne will provide us at both ends of the floor. She is a tenacious player who can score in multiple ways. Sydne's size and athletic ability will allow us to play a variety of styles. We are looking forward to watching Synde help us build something special at Navy."