POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Marist Women's Basketball has inked five student-athletes from the high school class of 2020 to National Letters of Intent, the program announced on Wednesday. Zaria Demember-Shazer, Anabel Ellison, Erin Fox, Emma Wax, and Caitlin Weimar comprise the Marist Class of 2024 for Head Coach
Brian Giorgis and the coaching staff.
The group includes a pair guards and three forwards. Three of the upcoming Red Foxes hail from New York State, while the others will arrive from New Jersey and Florida.
"We are thrilled to welcome Zaria, Anabel, Erin, Emma and Caitlin, along with their families, to our Marist Women's Basketball program," said Giorgis. "We see each impacting our team in different ways, as they have diverse and unique skills to bolster our roster. They are all leaders and will have an immediate impact on our locker room. These new Red Foxes will have big shoes to fill, but we feel they are up to the challenge."
- 6-1 Forward | Elmira, NY | Elmira High School | BNY Select
- Demember-Shazer was the 2018-19 BCANY Section IV Class AA Player of the Year.
- Individually, she is a two-time NYSSWA All-State honoree and two-time Elite 10 All-Star.
- Her school has been three-Time Section IV Class AA Champions.
- In three seasons, she has already amassed 1,000 career points.
- Demember-Shazer averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 2.5 steals in her junior campaign.
Giorgis on Demember-Shazer: "We are very excited to have Zaria joining us next year. She is from the same AAU family as
Trinasia Kennedy, so we know she's a worker. She is a versatile player with a scorer's mentality and the ability to rebound in a crowd. Zaria is a dynamic athlete who hasn't even come close to reaching her ceiling yet."
- 5-8 Point Guard | Clearwater, FL | Tarpon Springs High School | Tampa Thunder Team DuPree
- Ellison is a First Team All-Tampa Bay and Second Team All-Pinellas County selection.
- The versatile guard has compiled over 1,000 points and over 300 rebounds, assists and steals during her career.
- Last season, she tallied 24.5 points, 4.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.9 steals while draining 64 three-pointers.
Giorgis on Ellison: "Anabel is a hidden gem in the 2020 class. She has the ability to score at all 3 levels and affects the game in so many areas. What impressed us the most about Anabel was her leadership ability from the point guard position. She has all the tools to be a great point guard for us."
- 6-1 Forward | LaGrangeville, NY | Millbrook High School | NJ Freedom
- The closest recruit in the 2020 class geographically, Fox is a two-time NYSSWA Class C State Player of the Year, two-time Section 9 Player of the Year, and MHAL All-Star and Player of the Year.
- She was a 2018 Class C State Champion at Millbrook High School and has scored 1,000 points.
- The appropriately-named Fox is also an All-State recipient in volleyball and lacrosse.
- Fox collected 21.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per contest in her junior year.
Giorgis on Fox: "It will be great to have another Hudson Valley Red Fox next fall. We have watched Erin develop from a camper at our youth camps to a highly decorated high school athlete. Erin is a leader and a winner. She has the ability to play facing up or with her back to the basket, and does not fear the big stage."
- 5-10 Guard | Pine Brook, NJ | Montville High School | NJ Freedom
- Wax has received accolades twice as a First Team All-Conference player and twice as a First Team All-County player.
- She has also been named to the Third Team All-Group 3.
- Wax helped guide Montville to its best record in school history at 22-5.
- Last season, she put up 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
Giorgis on Wax: "Emma is a great addition to our back court. She is a high IQ player that is fundamentally sound. She has the ability to fill up the stat sheet and will thrive in our motion offense. There were times that Emma reminded me of Erica Allenspach, and to me, that's a heck of a player to be compared to."
- 6-4 Forward | Cortlandt Manor, NY | Hendrick Hudson High School | Hoopers NY
- Weimar is ranked 242nd overall and 38th at her position for the class of 2020 by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
- In addition, she is ranked 292nd on the Blue Star Report, making her one of two commits in the top 300 joining a MAAC program.
- Her individual honors include selections as a 2019 League Player of the Year, 2019 NYSSWA All-State, two-time All-Section and three-time All-League honoree
- She has already eclipsed 1,000 career points.
- Her junior season averages sat at 21.3 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 6.5 blocks per game. She also posted five triple-doubles.
Giorgis on Weimar: "Caitlin is one of the most highly recruited players that we have ever signed at Marist. She will bring a new dimension to our front court as a dynamic defender and shot blocker. She also has great versatility on the offensive end, and will bring some much-needed size to our team."
