Auburn women's basketball adds six for 2023-24; eight total newcomers

Auburn women's basketball adds six for 2023-24; eight total newcomersAuburn women's basketball adds six for 2023-24; eight total newcomers
Connor Putman/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Six new student-athletes will join the Auburn women's basketball team for the 2023-24 season after signing with the Tigers over the last few weeks, head coach Johnnie Harris announced today.
 
Auburn will welcome five transfers to the Plains: Taylen Collins (6-1, F, Muldrow, Okla./Oklahoma State), McKenna Eddings (6-0, G, Williamsburg, Va./Moberly Area CC), Kionna Gaines (5-9, G, Columbus, Ga./Clemson), JaMya Mingo-Young (5-8, PG, Bogalusa, La./Alabama), and Celia Sumbane (6-1, F, Maputo, Mozambique/South Plains CC).  Also joining the Tigers will be freshman Yakiya Milton (F, 6-4, Jacksonville, Fla.).
 
Along with November signees Timya Thurman and Savannah Scott, the Tigers will have eight new players on the roster for next season.
 
Below is some information about the newest Tigers:
 


TAYLEN COLLINS
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Muldrow, Okla.
High School: Muldrow
Previous School: Oklahoma State
 
Highlights: Started all 33 games for Oklahoma State as a junior, averaging 9.5 points and 9.1 rebounds … Led OSU and was 4th in the Big 12 in rebounds … Tied a school record with 23 rebounds in a win over North Texas on Dec. 3 … Recorded nine double-doubles in 2022-23 … Started 28 of 29 games in 2021-22 and led OSU with 6.9 rebounds per game … Was a Big 12 All-Freshman selection in 2020-21, starting 25 of 28 games as a freshman … Has played in Neville Arena; scored 11 points and had eight rebounds when Oklahoma State visited Auburn in December 2021 … Will have two years of eligibility at Auburn.
 
Coach J on Taylen: "Taylen is coming to us with three years of experience in the Big 12. She's another player that fits our system very well. She plays with passion and with a purpose, and her relentless rebounding is something that will help us tremendously right away."
 


MCKENNA EDDINGS
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
Hometown: Williamsburg, Va.
High School: Warhill
Previous School: Moberly Area CC (Mo.)
 
Highlights: Averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.4 steals per game, leading Moberly Area CC to a 29-4 record in 2023 … First-Team NJCAA All-American … Region 16 Player of the Year … Scored career-high 38 points in win over Three Rivers CC … Originally signed with Stetson out of high school, played in 10 games there as a freshman in 2020-21 … Will have two years of eligibility at Auburn.
 
Coach J on McKenna: "McKenna has tremendous range on her shot, which is something we were looking for in this class. She will be able stretch the defense but can also create off the bounce. She is another long, athletic player who can play multiple positions. This will aid in our ability to switch up and play positionless basketball."
 


KIONNA GAINES
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Columbus, Ga.
High School: Carver
Previous School: Clemson
 
Highlights: Played in all 35 games for Clemson in 2022-23 … Averaged 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game … Played in 27 games as a freshman, averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds … Career-high of 18 points twice, vs. Georgia Tech and Wake Forest … Ranked as No. 52 overall prospect and No. 19 guard out of high school by ESPN … Georgia AAAA State Player of the Year as a senior at Carver HS … Led Carver to two state titles … Will have two years of eligibility at Auburn.
 
Coach J on Kionna: "Kionna is a player that fits what we want to do on both ends of the ball. She can get out and pressure the ball, as well as play passing lanes. She also has the ability to create her own shot and get to the basket and finish."
 


YAKIYA MILTON
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
High School: Mandarin
 
Highlights: Averaged 10.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.8 blocks as a senior at Mandarin HS … Played at University Christian HS as a junior, averaging 7.7 points/game to lead her team to the class 2A state semifinals … Chose Auburn over eight other Division I offers.
 
Coach J on Yakiya: "Yakiya is dominant on the defensive end of the floor with her ability to block shots, guard both inside and outside, and help side defense; not to mention she takes charges. She is multidimensional on the offensive side of the ball, scoring in the paint, pull up jumpers, and shooting the 3. She runs the floor and finishes well in transition. She could very well be the sleeper of the class."
 


JAMYA MINGO-YOUNG
Position: Point Guard
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Bogalusa, La.
High School: Loranger
Previous Schools: Alabama/Mississippi State
 
Highlights: Played in 14 games for Alabama last season before missing the rest of the season with injury ... Averaged 5.4 points, 4.4 assists, 1.5 assists … Started all 34 games in the 2021-22 season for Alabama, averaging 11.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.4 steals … Shot 47.1% from the field … Double-digit scoring 20 times … Played two seasons at Mississippi State, including the 2019-20 season under Harris … Averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 2020-21 … Was third on the team in assists and steals in 2019-20 … Has one year of eligibility for Auburn.
 
Coach J on JaMya: "Mingo is a fierce competitor! She epitomizes our foundation, which is tough, hard-nosed, physical, and aggressive. This is the type of player that helps elevate your program to an elite level. She has a winning mentality. Fans will love watching her on the court and will love her even more off the court."
 


CELIA SUMBANE
Position: Forward/Wing
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Maputo, Mozambique
Previous School: South Plains CC (Texas)
 
Highlights: Led South Plains CC in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg) as a sophomore … Named an NJCAA First-Team All-American in 2023 … Ranked No. 18 overall and No. 3 in her position by Dan Olson Collegiate Basketball Report … Competed for home country of Mozambique at 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup … Will have two years of eligibility for Auburn.
 
Coach J on Celia: "One of the things that excites me the most about Celia is her versatility. She can play multiple positions on defense. Her length, athleticism, and speed make her a perfect fit for our system."