MIAMI (November 18, 2016) -- Several top recruiting experts have weighed in on the 2017 FIU women's basketball signing class, and the results are positive.
 
Announced earlier this week, the Panthers added center Shionna Banks, forward Callie Cavanaugh and guards Cabria Lee and Lauryn Snipes. This is the first recruiting class for first-year Head Coach Tiara Malcom and her staff.
 
FIU reached out to Dan Olson, who owns and directs the "Collegiate Girls Basketball Report" and also directs espnW hoopgurlz, for his thoughts on the members of the class.
 
"First-year Head Coach Tiara Malcom sought both backcourt and frontcourt help and got it," Olson said. "FIU signed two nationally-ranked prospects that give a blend of speed and athleticism, but also size and quickness at each position."

Olson said the sleeper prospect of the group may be Banks, the 6-2 center from Charleston, West Virginia. She is ranked 315 by "CGBR." 

"Imposing in size, but deceptively nimble in footwork," said Olson "Banks can finish either in block or facing up." 

The signing of the 5-10 Snipes out of Wellington, Kansas, impressed Olson. "Snipes is the versatility element to this signing class," he said. "She has great length and size for a backcourt prospect. She can exploit smaller defenders. Snipes has only begun to scratch the surface of her potential."

From Holyoke, Massachusetts, the 6-1 Cavanaugh adds an element of toughness, according to Olson.

"Every team needs a blue-collar player and Cavanaugh brings this to FIU," he said. "She is a rebounder and inside scorer that can also trail the break and stretch the defender to the arc."

The highest-ranked prospect from "CGBR," at 149, is the 5-7 Lee from in-state Lake Worth.

"Lee stayed close to home and has the ability to break you down off the dribble and make plays in transition," added Olson. "She is a speed merchant in the up-tempo game and an exciting prospect that FIU lands to complete their class."
 
Bret McCormick of the "All Star Girls Report" put FIU third in Conference USA so far for this 2017 recruiting class and 67^th overall.
 
"New head coach Tiara Malcolm is starting with a tremendous class," said McCormick. "Lee is an outstanding guard who wanted to stay close to home. She should start from Day One. Cavanaugh is another key recruit who is something of a sleeper."
 
FIU is home next Tuesday when the Georgetown Hoyas visit the Panthers for the first time in Miami. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
For women's basketball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUWBB) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWBasketball) for all the latest FIU women's basketball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and at the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.