University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Zach Del Bello / Mean Green Sports
Women’s Hoops Signs Five in Early Signing Period
11/13/2024 1:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Mean Green’s class consists of two guards and three forwards
DENTON, Texas – The UNT women's basketball program received signatures from five prospects during the early signing period on Wednesday.
The class contains four high school signees from Texas and bordering states in Allison Rickman, Shelby Thornton, Cherie Spencer and Laynee Stanley. Rising junior college guard Andi Schissler is the fifth member of the Mean Green's signing class.
"This class brings a lot of youth to our program and gives us players to build around for the foreseeable future," head coach Jason Burton said. "It brings size and shooting both in the frontcourt and backcourt. We are extremely excited to have these five young women in Denton next year."
Allison Rickman I Forward I Canton High School
Allison Rickman garnered district and state honors after averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior. An exceptional scorer and passer from the forward position, Rickman was named the District 16 4A MVP and a member of the TABC 4A All-State Team in 2024.
As a sophomore, she helped lead Canton to the regional finals of the 4A state playoffs. Rickman is also a standout volleyball player and considered one of the best blockers in the state.
She chose UNT over offers from Ivy League schools such as Columbia, Cornell, Penn and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Allison may be the best post passer that I've seen since coaching women's basketball. She reminds me of the female version of Nikola Jokić. She is extremely skilled offensively as a passer, ball handler and scorer. Her size is also a much-needed addition to our front court."
Andi Schissler I Guard I Casper College/Platte Valley High School
The lone junior college signee of the early period for North Texas, Andi Schissler is a proven scorer at the collegiate ranks. Four games into her sophomore season at Casper College, Schissler ranks sixth in the country averaging 22.7 points per game. She posted a career-high 33 points with seven three pointers earlier this season against Snow College and followed it up with a 19-point, 12-rebound performance vs. Northeastern Junior College.
She started 32 of 34 games for the Thunderbirds as a true freshman, averaging 13.1 points per game. She helped lead Casper to a 25-5 record and advance to the 2024 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships, while being named to the all-region team.
Schissler signed with Casper College after a decorated career at Platte Valley High School where she won back-to-back 3A Colorado state championships while leading the Broncos to a 40-game win streak. As a senior, she was named the Colorado 3A Player of the Year and was a first team all-state selection.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"With Andi we are adding one of the best junior college scorers in the country. She led her team to the JUCO national tournament as a freshman with her ability to shoot the ball, but has expanded her game this year. We are excited about her versatility to play all three guard positions, her IQ, and her ability to score at every level."
Cherie Spencer I Guard I Northshore High School
A top-ranked player in the state of Louisiana, Cherie Spencer is an electric guard that can score, rebound and pass the ball at a high level. A two-time first team all-district selection, Spencer is ranked as the No. 2 player in the state by Louisiana Girls Rankings.
Spencer averaged 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore before putting together a junior season that earned her a nod for honorable mention all-state recognition. Early in the 2023-24 season, she hit a significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 career points.
She chose UNT over offers from UTSA, Western Kentucky, Louisiana and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Cherie is a top-rated player out of the state of Louisiana. She gives us a true point guard for the future of our program. She's a high-level passer with size that can play at tempo and score the ball at an extremely high level. She will be a huge addition to our backcourt."
Laynee Stanley I Forward I Fort Gibson High School
Laynee Stanley began her high school career at Kansas High School in Eastern Oklahoma before transferring to Fort Gibson High School for her final three seasons. Through the high school seasons and summer circuits, Stanley has proven herself to be one of the best power forwards in the state of Oklahoma.
An all-district selection in each of her three completed seasons of high school ball, Stanley capped off her junior season averaging 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
Stanley is a multi-sport athlete at Fort Gibson, also competing for its softball team. She chose UNT over offers from Texas State, SFA, Wichita State, UTSA and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Laynee is a high-level shooter and high-level rebounder that we are adding to our front court. Laynee plays with a motor, plays with toughness and knows how to win. She will be someone that can play multiple positions for us throughout her career and will pose mismatches with her versatility."
Shelby Thornton I Forward I Del City High School
Shelby Thornton is another standout forward from Oklahoma that will help the Mean Green's frontcourt immediately. Thornton led Del City to the state tournament in 2024, averaging 8.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per games as a junior. She posted a similar stat line as a sophomore and was named a second-team all-conference performer.
A multi-sport athlete, Thornton also plays soccer, volleyball and track at Del City. She chose UNT over offers from SFA, Tulane, UTSA and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Shelby's 6'2-6'3 frame paired with her toughness and ability to rebound makes her one of the best post defenders that I've seen out of high school in a long time. She will bring physicality and rim protection to our front court while also allowing us to stretch the floor with her ability to knock down the 3."
The class contains four high school signees from Texas and bordering states in Allison Rickman, Shelby Thornton, Cherie Spencer and Laynee Stanley. Rising junior college guard Andi Schissler is the fifth member of the Mean Green's signing class.
"This class brings a lot of youth to our program and gives us players to build around for the foreseeable future," head coach Jason Burton said. "It brings size and shooting both in the frontcourt and backcourt. We are extremely excited to have these five young women in Denton next year."
Allison Rickman I Forward I Canton High School
Allison Rickman garnered district and state honors after averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior. An exceptional scorer and passer from the forward position, Rickman was named the District 16 4A MVP and a member of the TABC 4A All-State Team in 2024.
As a sophomore, she helped lead Canton to the regional finals of the 4A state playoffs. Rickman is also a standout volleyball player and considered one of the best blockers in the state.
She chose UNT over offers from Ivy League schools such as Columbia, Cornell, Penn and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Allison may be the best post passer that I've seen since coaching women's basketball. She reminds me of the female version of Nikola Jokić. She is extremely skilled offensively as a passer, ball handler and scorer. Her size is also a much-needed addition to our front court."
Andi Schissler I Guard I Casper College/Platte Valley High School
The lone junior college signee of the early period for North Texas, Andi Schissler is a proven scorer at the collegiate ranks. Four games into her sophomore season at Casper College, Schissler ranks sixth in the country averaging 22.7 points per game. She posted a career-high 33 points with seven three pointers earlier this season against Snow College and followed it up with a 19-point, 12-rebound performance vs. Northeastern Junior College.
She started 32 of 34 games for the Thunderbirds as a true freshman, averaging 13.1 points per game. She helped lead Casper to a 25-5 record and advance to the 2024 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships, while being named to the all-region team.
Schissler signed with Casper College after a decorated career at Platte Valley High School where she won back-to-back 3A Colorado state championships while leading the Broncos to a 40-game win streak. As a senior, she was named the Colorado 3A Player of the Year and was a first team all-state selection.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"With Andi we are adding one of the best junior college scorers in the country. She led her team to the JUCO national tournament as a freshman with her ability to shoot the ball, but has expanded her game this year. We are excited about her versatility to play all three guard positions, her IQ, and her ability to score at every level."
Cherie Spencer I Guard I Northshore High School
A top-ranked player in the state of Louisiana, Cherie Spencer is an electric guard that can score, rebound and pass the ball at a high level. A two-time first team all-district selection, Spencer is ranked as the No. 2 player in the state by Louisiana Girls Rankings.
Spencer averaged 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore before putting together a junior season that earned her a nod for honorable mention all-state recognition. Early in the 2023-24 season, she hit a significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 career points.
She chose UNT over offers from UTSA, Western Kentucky, Louisiana and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Cherie is a top-rated player out of the state of Louisiana. She gives us a true point guard for the future of our program. She's a high-level passer with size that can play at tempo and score the ball at an extremely high level. She will be a huge addition to our backcourt."
Laynee Stanley I Forward I Fort Gibson High School
Laynee Stanley began her high school career at Kansas High School in Eastern Oklahoma before transferring to Fort Gibson High School for her final three seasons. Through the high school seasons and summer circuits, Stanley has proven herself to be one of the best power forwards in the state of Oklahoma.
An all-district selection in each of her three completed seasons of high school ball, Stanley capped off her junior season averaging 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
Stanley is a multi-sport athlete at Fort Gibson, also competing for its softball team. She chose UNT over offers from Texas State, SFA, Wichita State, UTSA and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Laynee is a high-level shooter and high-level rebounder that we are adding to our front court. Laynee plays with a motor, plays with toughness and knows how to win. She will be someone that can play multiple positions for us throughout her career and will pose mismatches with her versatility."
Shelby Thornton I Forward I Del City High School
Shelby Thornton is another standout forward from Oklahoma that will help the Mean Green's frontcourt immediately. Thornton led Del City to the state tournament in 2024, averaging 8.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per games as a junior. She posted a similar stat line as a sophomore and was named a second-team all-conference performer.
A multi-sport athlete, Thornton also plays soccer, volleyball and track at Del City. She chose UNT over offers from SFA, Tulane, UTSA and others.
Quoting head coach Jason Burton:
"Shelby's 6'2-6'3 frame paired with her toughness and ability to rebound makes her one of the best post defenders that I've seen out of high school in a long time. She will bring physicality and rim protection to our front court while also allowing us to stretch the floor with her ability to knock down the 3."
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