MIAMI, Fla. - FIU women's basketball head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley announced another addition to the program's 2023 recruiting class, Fantasia James out of Oakleaf High School in Orange Park, Fla. 

"We have had the pleasure of watching Fantasia blossom over the last couple of years," said Coach Burks-Wiley.  "Fantasia's motor has allowed her to get better and better every single year. We couldn't be more ecstatic to be able to have a local player of her caliber for four years, she has definitely been worth the wait!"

Fantasia James | G/F | 5-9 | Fr. | Jacksonville, Florida | Oakleaf High School
James will start her collegiate career at FIU as a true freshman after playing all four years for the same high school. In her first three years with Oakleaf, she was named player of the game 14 times.

She has played in 76 games in her first three years of high school and averaged 14.6 points per game and 7.5 rebounds. She is a two-way player and can make an impact in any game on the defensive end. In her first three years with Knights, she averaged an impressive 2.1 steals per game to go along with 2.6 blocks.

"I'm super excited and grateful to be joining the FIU family," said James. "Can't wait to be a part of something special!"

James' game has grown from season to season in high school especially with her scoring. She went from averaging 10.4 points per game as a freshman to averaging close to 19 points during her junior year. She led the Knights in that category and was second in Florida's 7A District 1 with 44 three pointers made. The way she plays on both ends seems like an ideal fit for Coach Burks-Wiley's champions pace.
 
"I chose FIU because the coaching staff believed in me from day one, and has always felt like home," said James. "What I'm most excited about joining the program is to get better as a player and be around great people and teammates every day."