November 14, 2018

Oak Ridge's Jada Guinn joins Tech women's basketball 2019 signing class

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There’s no question how much tradition means to the Tennessee Tech women’s basketball program. It also only makes sense to bring in players who have also played in programs steeped in tradition. Tech head coach Kim Rosamond and her staff certainly found that fit with their latest signee in 5-8 guard Jada Guinn from the highly successful Oak Ridge program, just 85 miles up the road from the Tech campus. Guinn is the second player to sign with the Tech women on Wednesday, joining Maaliya Owens from Scott County, Ky., as well as Dainajoy (DJ) McFarlane from New Hope Academy (Md.).

By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There's no question how much tradition means to the Tennessee Tech women's basketball program. It also only makes sense to bring in players who have also played in programs steeped in tradition.

Tech head coach Kim Rosamond and her staff certainly found that fit with their latest signee in 5-8 guard Jada Guinn from the highly successful Oak Ridge program, just 85 miles up the road from the Tech campus.

Guinn is the third player to sign with the Tech women on Wednesday, joining Maaliya Owens from Scott County, Ky., as well as Dainajoy (DJ) McFarlane from New Hope Academy (Md.).

A heavily-recruited prospect, Guinn brings plenty of potential to the Golden Eagles and her resume speaks for itself. She helped lead ORHS to two district championships and a share of a third, two region championships and two TSSAA Class AAA state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish as a freshman in 2015-16.

Guinn has twice been named the District 3-AAA Most Valuable Player, the Region 2-AAA MVP, an all-state selection by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and was on the all-state tournament team. The Knoxville News-Sentinel named her its PrepXtra Sophomore of the Year following the 2016-17 campaign.

"Jada is one of the best players in the state of Tennessee and to be able to keep her home is a huge win for our staff and program," said Tech head coach Kim Rosamond. "Jada is a winner in every sense of the word and brings another dimension athletically to our team. She is a versatile player who can change the game at the point guard position with her size and speed, but can also play as a combo guard because of her ability to score."

Her first two seasons, Guinn helped the Lady Wildcats to back-to-back 30-win campaigns and was close to breaking the 1,000-point mark before even reaching the midway point of her prep career.

During her junior year, she averaged 16 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

"Jada is one the most natural, smooth players that I have ever seen at the high school level," said Oak Ridge head coach Paige Redman, a former Vanderbilt player who knows first-hand what kind of talent there is on the Division I level. "She is the total package. Jada led our team in every statistical category as a junior. She is such a great kid with an extremely bright future. I am thankful for the opportunity that I have had to coach Jada and look forward to her leaving her mark at Oak Ridge High School during her senior season."

And when Guinn visited Tech, the choice was clear.

"It felt like home," she said. "I loved the team and bonded well with them, and I had a great relationship with the coaches. I also felt like it was somewhere I could grow not only as a player, but a person."

Guinn also competed at a high level on the summer circuit while playing for the East TN Pyro organization under the tutelage of coach Quentin Young.

A committed student-athlete, Guinn also excels in the classroom as she claimed a spot on Oak Ridge's Honor Roll all three years.

"Jada's winning background on and off the court make her the total package," Rosamond said. "She excels on the court, in the classroom and in the community and will be a fan favorite at Tech."