Itoro Coleman adds HS All-America transfer Charmaine Tay to 2012 class

Clemson women's basketball coach Itoro Coleman has further strengthened a highly-ranked recruiting class with the addition of former ESPN High School All-American Charmaine Tay, who has enrolled for the current semester.

Tay, a sophomore from Irvington, NJ, played her freshman season at Louisville for a team that advanced to the Sweet 16. The 5-11 point guard is eligible to compete in practices immediately, but will sit out competition until the end of the Fall 2012 academic semester.

“We are excited that Charmaine is a part of the Lady Tiger family," said Coleman. “Although she will not play right away, we look forward to her helping us get better in practice"

Tay is the final member of what was already the most highly-rated recruiting class in Clemson women’s basketball history. Clemson's class was ranked 16th nationally at the conclusion of the fall signing period.

Tay was ranked as the 17th-best player in the nation in 2010 by ESPN Hoopgurlz, and as the nation's No. 6 point guard. She also received top-30 national rankings from All-Star Girls Report (23rd overall, No. 5 shooting guard) and Dan Olson scouting (30th overall, No. 6 shooting guard).

Tay attended high school at Bloomfield Tech in Irvington, NJ.

In her one season at Louisville, Tay appeared in 30 games, and averaged 15.6 minutes per game, totaling 102 points, 83 rebounds, 50 assists, and 26 steals in 467 total minutes. The squad advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, during which Tay scored 11 points against Xavier to advance to the third round game.

Tay becomes the sixth member of Clemson's 2012 class, joining Danaejah Grant (5-9, G, Piscataway HS), Jonquel Jones 6-3, G/F, Riverdale Baptist), Kayla Montgomery (6-4, F/C, McEachern HS), Nyilah Jamison Myers (6-3, F, Orangeburg Wilkinson HS), and Aisha Turner (5-7, PG, Westlake HS).

All five November signees are rated as four-star prospects by ESPN.

This year's class follows up on Clemson's 30th-ranked recruiting class in 2011 - the first full class for Coleman and recruiting coordinator Yolett McPhee-McCuin.