ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball head coach Candi Whitaker has added to her 2019-20 signing class with the addition of two transfer players, one with local ties. Whitaker announced this week the signings of Simone Rodney and Chris Wilson.
Rodney is a St. Joseph native and a 2017 graduate of Central High School before playing the past two years at St. Louis Community College. Wilson is originally from St. Louis and was a former teammate of Rodney’s at STLCC before spending one season at Flagler College.
Chris Wilson
5-10 | St. Louis, Mo. | Flagler College
Wilson was named second team All-Peach Belt Conference after averaging 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in 26 starts last year at Flagler. She also led the team with 70 steals and shot 51.7 percent from the field. Wilson posted nine double-doubles and scored 30 points on 14-of-16 shooting at Augusta. She was twice named the PBC Player of the Week. At St. Louis Community College, Wilson was a two-time first team NJCAA All-American. As a sophomore at STLCC, Wilson averaged 14.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game to follow up her 17.1 point and 14.7 rebound average as a freshman.
Whitaker on Wilson: “Chris Wilson is a special athlete that brings great versatility to our team. She can score in a variety of ways and will rebound out of space. With Chris’s experience and maturity as a player, I expect her to impact us immediately.”
Wilson on MWSU: “I chose Missouri Western because of the chemistry I instantly got from the head coach. Campus isn’t too big and it seems like a quiet area. Also, I get to go to school with my sister again!”
Simone Rodney
5-7 | St. Joseph, Mo. | St. Louis Community College
Rodney pulled down 276 rebounds with 147 assists and 98 steals over two seasons at STLCC. She averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a sophomore while shooting 48.6 percent. Rodney was named NJCAA 2nd Team All-Region and All-Conference and was a first team NJCAA Academic All-America selection. At Central High School, she was named All-Conference, All-District and All-City.
Whitaker on Rodney: “We are excited to welcome Simone home! A native of St. Joseph, she will be a fan favorite. Simone is a versatile player with good length on the perimeter. She has all the intangibles to help our team win on and off the court.”
Rodney on MWSU: “The culture shift at MWSU is undeniable and Coach Whitaker is already bringing big energy. It’s more than basketball. It’s an opportunity to finish my career exactly where it started!”
The latest two signings bring the total of new student-athletes for Whitaker’s first season at MWSU to six, joining three other Whitaker signees and one who signed during the early period last winter.