Nov. 16, 2009

PITTSBURGH — University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball head coach Agnus Berenato announced the signing of a National Letter of Intent with three high school seniors – Kyra Dunn, Marquel Davis and Asia Logan.

“I think it’s an exciting and fabulous class,” said Berenato. “We’re really looking forward to filling some gaps we will have in the future with these three great student-athletes who are all excited to be a part of the Pitt family.”

Dunn, a 6-3 forward from Sacramento, Calif., comes to Pitt from Sacramento High School where she was recently named a 2009 Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American for her senior season under head coach Michelle Massari.

“The family environment at Pitt made me feel extremely comfortable with being far from home,” said Dunn. “Everyone was so down to earth and nice, making it easy to relate better to them than any other school.”

In addition to being a two-time all-league second team selection, All-City Honorable Mention and MVP of the West Coast Jamboree Tournament, Dunn is also an All-Academic Metro League member. She averaged 9.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 10.0 blocks per game as a junior, led the nation in blocks per game and finished second in the country in total number of blocks.

Dunn is rated the No. 42 power forward in the country by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and has tallied 711 points heading into her senior season. A member of the JBS Purple AAU squad coached by Sean Chambers, Dunn chose Pitt over Gonzaga, Northwestern and Washington.

“When Kyra came on her official visit she fit right in to the Pittsburgh family,” said Berenato. “She’s lean, tall, athletic, unbelievable on the boards and has an uncanny knack for blocking shots.

Davis, a 5-8 guard from Stafford High School in Fredericksburg, Va., enters her senior season having been recently named a 2009 Sporting News Honorable Mention All-America selection. A successful junior campaign saw Davis named the 2009 Commonwealth District Player of the Year and an All-Northwest Region First Team member.

“I choose Pitt because the bond I had when I visited separated them from any other school. I see the coaching staff and players as life-long and family friends,” said Davis. “I look forward to hard work and improving my game and hopefully making the team better with what I have to offer.”

A 2009 All-Metro Fourth Team selection, Davis was selected as the Freelance Star All-Area Player of the Year. She was the 2009 MVP of the Sports Booth Classic and also took home MVP honors in both 2008 and 2009 Kip Erosion Tip Off Tournaments. In 2008 she was named to the all-district and all-area first teams.

Rated the 19th-best guard by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, Davis has already eclipsed 1,000 points in her career through her first three seasons. Coached by Julie Hinckley at Stafford and Aggie McCormick-Dix when competing for the Fairfax Stars AAU team, Davis averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game a year ago. She chose Pitt over Michigan State, USF, Minnesota, Memphis, and Temple.

“Marquel comes from a great program and has always played with a fantastic AAU team,” said Berenato. “Her explosiveness allows her to do so many things. She’s really good off the dribble and can pull up and hit the jump shot.”

Baltimore, Md., native Asia Logan comes to Pitt from Digital Harbor High School where she plays for head coach Patrick McDonald. Logan is ranked the 31st-best guard by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and enters her senior season with over 1,000 points and 500 career rebounds.

In 2008 and 2009 she helped lead her team to the Maryland 1A state championship, earning tournament MVP honors along the way in ‘09. Logan was a first team all-city selection in both 2008 and 2009 and was voted the 2009 Basketball Academy Shootout MVP.

“I am looking forward to earning a great education and playing in the Big East, a conference that is tough and will help me develop into the player I know that I can be,” said Logan. “Seeing their [Pitt] work ethic and hanging with the team made me realize that I could see myself going here.”

As a junior she averaged 19.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game for Digital Harbor. Logan plays AAU basketball for the Lady Lions under the direction of Alexis Washington. She chose Pitt over Clemson, Xavier, Villanova, Virginia Tech and Washington.

“Asia is a pure athlete with her best days ahead of her,” said Berenato. “She didn’t play AAU this past summer, but we believe she is the best kept secret out there. I would compare her to Shavonte Zellous when we signed her.”

The Panthers open up the regular season Tuesday, Nov. 17 against the University of North Florida at 11 a.m. at the Petersen Events Center. The game will mark the first-ever School Day promotion for local grade schools. For ticket information, contact the Pittsburgh Panthers Ticket Office at 1-800-643-PITT.