Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball Adds Pair of Transfers for 2017-18
5/2/2017 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Eagles add Emoni Jackson from Michigan and Tiffany Suarez from Fordham
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Head Women's Basketball Coach Fred Castro announced today, May 2, that the team will add a pair of NCAA Division I transfers to the Eagles' roster for the 2017-18 season.
Emoni Jackson, a 6-1 forward from Los Angeles, Calif., and Tiffany Suarez, a 5-11 guard from Miami, Fla., will have immediate eligibility as graduate transfers under NCAA rules. Jackson comes to Ypsilanti from the University of Michigan, while Suarez started her career at the University of Virginia before playing at Fordham University.
"We could not be more excited to add Tiffany and Emoni to our team," said Castro of the two signees. "I was fortunate to watch both of them play in high school and have always thought highly of their games."
Jackson's playing time in Ann Arbor was limited due to injuries, as she played in just 10 games. As a freshman in 2014-15, she averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. Jackson scored a career-best eight points to go with four rebounds in 14 minutes as a starter against Cleveland State (March 18). She scored two points with two rebounds in her collegiate debut against Western Michigan (Nov. 23) and added two points against EMU (Dec. 22).
An honor roll student all four years of high school, she played the 2014 campaign at Long Beach Polytechnic after starting her career at Muir High School (2010-12). Ranked as the No. 85 senior by the All-Star Girls Report, Jackson helped her team to the California state championship in the top division. From 2010-12, she finished as the team's leading scorer and rebounder both seasons.
"Adding Emoni as a grad transfer with two years of eligibility is huge," mentioned Castro. "Although she did not play due to injury at Michigan, after talking to her it is clear she learned a great deal and is eager to help us build our program. Her skill and athleticism will be a welcome addition to our frontcourt"
In one year at Fordham, Suarez played in 20 games recording 2.4 points and 1.2 caroms a contest. She scored a personal-best 10 points at Rhode Island (Jan. 1) to open conference play. Prior to that, Suarez played two years at Virginia, where she played in 50 career games. She averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebound per game in nearly 11 minutes per outing.
Suarez played four years of basketball at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Coral Gables, Fla. There, she was the Miami Herald Dade County Girls' Basketball 8A Player of the Year, a three-time All-State selection, four-time member of the All-Dade County team, and a recipient of the Nike "Game Changer" Award. Suarez scored 1,400 points and averaged 6.0 assists per game throughout her career and was a McDonalds All-American nominee in 2013.
"Tiffany is a very talented guard with great size," Castro added. "Her ability to play in the open floor and create easy shots for her teammates will allow us to be more efficient. I know Tiffany is eager to make the most of this opportunity."
Since arriving in Ypsilanti, Castro and his staff have hit the recruiting trail hard, securing the top-ranked recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference and 51st overall according to prospectnation.com. EMU's 2017-18 group features four nationally ranked recruits, including one four-star and three three-star according to prospectnation.com.
Emoni Jackson, a 6-1 forward from Los Angeles, Calif., and Tiffany Suarez, a 5-11 guard from Miami, Fla., will have immediate eligibility as graduate transfers under NCAA rules. Jackson comes to Ypsilanti from the University of Michigan, while Suarez started her career at the University of Virginia before playing at Fordham University.
"We could not be more excited to add Tiffany and Emoni to our team," said Castro of the two signees. "I was fortunate to watch both of them play in high school and have always thought highly of their games."
Jackson's playing time in Ann Arbor was limited due to injuries, as she played in just 10 games. As a freshman in 2014-15, she averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. Jackson scored a career-best eight points to go with four rebounds in 14 minutes as a starter against Cleveland State (March 18). She scored two points with two rebounds in her collegiate debut against Western Michigan (Nov. 23) and added two points against EMU (Dec. 22).
An honor roll student all four years of high school, she played the 2014 campaign at Long Beach Polytechnic after starting her career at Muir High School (2010-12). Ranked as the No. 85 senior by the All-Star Girls Report, Jackson helped her team to the California state championship in the top division. From 2010-12, she finished as the team's leading scorer and rebounder both seasons.
"Adding Emoni as a grad transfer with two years of eligibility is huge," mentioned Castro. "Although she did not play due to injury at Michigan, after talking to her it is clear she learned a great deal and is eager to help us build our program. Her skill and athleticism will be a welcome addition to our frontcourt"
In one year at Fordham, Suarez played in 20 games recording 2.4 points and 1.2 caroms a contest. She scored a personal-best 10 points at Rhode Island (Jan. 1) to open conference play. Prior to that, Suarez played two years at Virginia, where she played in 50 career games. She averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebound per game in nearly 11 minutes per outing.
Suarez played four years of basketball at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Coral Gables, Fla. There, she was the Miami Herald Dade County Girls' Basketball 8A Player of the Year, a three-time All-State selection, four-time member of the All-Dade County team, and a recipient of the Nike "Game Changer" Award. Suarez scored 1,400 points and averaged 6.0 assists per game throughout her career and was a McDonalds All-American nominee in 2013.
"Tiffany is a very talented guard with great size," Castro added. "Her ability to play in the open floor and create easy shots for her teammates will allow us to be more efficient. I know Tiffany is eager to make the most of this opportunity."
Since arriving in Ypsilanti, Castro and his staff have hit the recruiting trail hard, securing the top-ranked recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference and 51st overall according to prospectnation.com. EMU's 2017-18 group features four nationally ranked recruits, including one four-star and three three-star according to prospectnation.com.
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