MIAMI (Nov. 20, 2015) – FIU Head Coach Marlin Chinn announced on Friday the signing of Jamesia Amand (Dallas, Texas), Alexis Gordon (Melbourne, Fla.), Kayla Rogers (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Sydney Fields (Conyers, Ga.) to play basketball for the Panthers beginning in the fall of 2016.
 
"We were really excited in putting this first class together," Chinn said. "It immediately gets us better, offensively, defensively and in transition. This class allows us to do a number of things that will help us be successful next season. Overall, I couldn't be more proud of them. They are great students and they are classy individuals along with their families. We look forward to a special relationship with this class. This class is going to helps us get to the top of Conference USA."   
 
Amand, a 6-foot-2 center, is in her senior season at Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas, playing for Head Coach Melonie Hopson. Having played basketball for over 10 years, Amand was a 2014-15 University Interscholastic League (UIL) 9-6A All-Region Honorable Mention selection for the Raiders. Amand helped guide Skyline to a 31-7 record during her junior year and a state runner-up finish in Class 6A under former coach Cassandra McCurdy. She was also named an All-City Academic honoree. Amand played for Texas Elite adidas U17 Thomas (AAU) during the summer of 2015.
 
Amand chose FIU over New Orleans, Lafayette, Louisiana Tech and Texas Pan American.
 
"Jamesia gets us big immediately," Chinn said. "She is a very aggressive rebounder and a very aggressive scorer. I love how physical she is when she plays the game. I expect her to come in and really help us on our front line next season."
 
 "An untapped potential with a college-ready frame, Amand has the physical make up to impact early in her college career," Dan Olson owner and director of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report stated. "She is an under the radar interior prospect that played on a Top-25 prep team."
 
Gordon, a 5-foot-8 guard, is in her senior season at Covenant Christian in Palm Bay, Fla., playing for Head Coach EJ Murray. With her senior season underway, Gordon is averaging 24.5 points-per-game, 4.5 assists-per-game and 4.5 steals-per-game for the Lions. Prior to joining Covenant Christian, Gordon was a two-time Athlete of the Year (2013 and 2014) at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Fla. She was named Second-Team All-Space Coast in 2014. She is a member of the Honor Roll, the President's List and was named Squadron Commander at Florida Air Academy. Gordon played for Essence (AAU) for two years (sophomore and junior year) and the Lady Titans for four years.
 
Gordon chose FIU over Wisconsin, Jacksonville, UNC Wilmington, Charleston Southern and Radford.
 
"Alexis is one of the players that I absolutely fell in love with her skill set and how she plays the game," Chinn said. "Her ability to shoot the basketball, her ability to attack the rim will be paramount for us next season. I look forward to her, with her high IQ, to come in and really do some nice things for us. She's a quality kid, on and off the floor. I just look forward to her doing some special things for us."
 
"A value for any team, Gordon brings a game manager to the FIU back court," Olson said. "She is a quick, athletic distributor of the ball and a capable offensive threat as well."
 
Rogers, a 5-foot-8 guard, is in her senior year at Jean Ribault Senior High School in Jacksonville, Fla., for head Coach Shelia Seymore-Pennick. Rogers helped the Trojans win back-to-back state championships in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. During her junior year, Rogers averaged 9.5 points-per-game, 4.7 assists-per-game and 3.1 steals-per-game as Ribault went 27-4 with a state ranking of No. 10. Scored 10.5 points-per-game, while averaging 2.3 assists-per-game and 2.5 steals-per-game to help the Trojans to a 29-5 mark and a state title. Rogers earned All-Gateway Conference honors in 2013-14 and 2014-15, while being named a McDonald's All-American nominee. Is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Beta Club. Rogers also played for Essence (AAU).
 
Rogers chose FIU over Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Longwood and Stetson.
 
"Kayla Rogers gets us really athletic, quickly," Chinn said. "Her ability to succeed in transition, her ability to explode in transition is something that will definitely help us with our transition game. She's a very, very good defender. She just enjoys working hard, offensively and defensively, which makes her a very special player."
 
"Kayla Rogers is a crafty left-handed combo-guard with a streaky offensive game," Olson said. "Ideal in and up-tempo, pressure game plan."
 
Fields, a 6-foot-1 guard/forward, is in her senior year at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga., playing for Head Coach Kirk Call. She is currently in her first year with the Panthers. A First-Team All-Region selection during her sophomore (2013-14) and junior (2014-15) years, Fields averaged 14.9 points-per-game, 9.0 rebounds-per-game and 2.0 blocks-per-game in 2014-15 at Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga. She also earned Rockdale/Newton County All-Area honors. Fields also played for the GA Hoopstars (AAU).
 
Fields chose FIU over Princeton, Memphis, Davidson, Wisconsin, Furman, Jacksonville and LaSalle.
 
"Sydney is our last commit, who really has a game that is very unique because she is so long and athletic," Chinn said. "With her ability to play both the three and four will allow us to play some multiple defenses next season. She is going to be that player that can stretch the defense out to the perimeter and really get by them or shoot over them. She's going to be really good."
 
"Sydney is a versatile face up-4 prospect with quickness, mobility and a high ceiling to improve," Olson said.
 
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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 Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
 About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.