University of Massachusets Athletics
Women’s Basketball Signs Four On National Signing Day
November 10, 2023 | Women's Basketball
The class features two signees from New Jersey in Kasey Bretones and Taylor Derkack, one from New York in Yahmani McKayle, and one from Massachusetts in Jess Ross.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball head coach Mike Leflar announced the signings of four student-athletes on national signing day. The class features two signees from New Jersey in Kasey Bretones and Taylor Derkack, one from New York in Yahmani McKayle, and one from Massachusetts in Jess Ross.
"Today is a great day for our program," said Leflar. "We officially welcome four uniquely skilled student-athletes and their families to UMass. Jess, Kasey, Taylor and Yahmani will all help us continue to elevate our program and compete for championships. Our recruiting success is truly a team effort. Thanks to our entire staff for diligently working to identify our top recruits. Thanks to our players for creating and maintaining a welcoming locker room and environment. I am excited about who we are as a program, and who we are becoming together."
Bretones (Linwood, N.J.) helped Mainland Regional to a South Jersey Group 3 Championship and to the most wins in a season with 28. The guard led her squad in points, assists, and steals while ranking second in rebounds on her way to earning Al Carino All-South Jersey Second-Team and All-Group 3 Team honors in 2023. The Atlantic City Press First-Team selection and Mainland Regional MVP also earned the MVP award of the Cape Atlantic Championship game in addition to being named to the Cape Atlantic League First-Team.
"Kasey caught my attention playing with her AAU team (New Jersey Rise) this past spring," said Leflar. "She is athletic and versatile at the guard position. Kasey plays point guard for her high school and AAU teams, but I have seen her be equally impactful off the ball. She has great size and will play multiple guard positions, and I look forward to seeing her affect the game and our team success in a number of ways. Her recruitment and commitment came together quickly and I am excited to welcome Kasey and her family to UMass."
Derkack (Colonia, N.J.) is a 1,000-point scorer at Colonia High School, where she was named a three-time all-conference and all-division first team selection. The guard was named both the Home New Tribune and NJ.com GMC Player of the Year and was a two-time all-state selection after helping Colonia to its first GMC Division Championship. Derkack also helped her AAU squad to an EYBL Nike Nationals 16U Championship, the EYBL Boo Williams 16U Championship, and the EYBL Run for the Roses 16U Championship.
"I am excited to coach a scorer like Taylor," said Leflar. "She is an aggressive guard can score at all three levels, and she will have great opportunity to showcase those skills in our offense. When I saw Taylor play with her high school team I was as impressed with her competitiveness as I was with her basketball ability. Taylor also played on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit so she is no stranger to the highest level competition. I also love the fact that Taylor comes from an experienced athletic family. Both of her parents were Division-1 athletes, her older brother plays basketball at Merrimack, and her younger brother is a Division I prospect."
McKayle (Queens, N.Y.) will join UMass after finishing her high school career at South Shore in Brooklyn. The guard was named the NY vs. NY MVP in 2023 and earned 2022 Defensive Player of the Year honors at South Shore. McKayle was also named the 2022 Nike Swoosh Classic MVP and helped her teams to a City Championship twice while going undefeated in summer tournaments in 2021.
"Point guard is the most important position on the court, and I look forward to seeing Yahmani handle that position for our program," said Leflar. "She is a quick point guard who does a great job balancing when to score and when to get her teammates involved. Yahmani can score at all three levels and I am excited because the more aggressive she can be, the more it will open up opportunities for the rest of the team. Yahmani attends South Shore High School in Brooklyn, the same high school of UMass alum and one of my personal favorite players Destiney Philoxy. I love that we are able to keep that connection with South Shore and with their well-respected Head Coach Anwar Gladden."
Ross (Eastham, Mass.) signed with the Minutewomen after spending time at Nauset Regional and Tabor Academy. The forward earned All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention honors in both 2022 and 2023 and helped her squad to a 2022 NEPSAC Championship.
"I had been recruiting Jess for the past three years, and I am thankful she and her family chose UMass," said Leflar. "She is a scoring threat in the post and on the perimeter and will help us stretch the floor. Skilled and versatile post players like Jess tend to have great success in our system, and Jess fits that mold. She is the second Massachusetts commitment for us in the past two seasons, and keeping our state's best players home here at UMass is important. Jess will come to UMass after being very well-coached by Will Becker at Tabor Academy and Laurie Bollin with the Bay State Jaguars AAU program."
"Today is a great day for our program," said Leflar. "We officially welcome four uniquely skilled student-athletes and their families to UMass. Jess, Kasey, Taylor and Yahmani will all help us continue to elevate our program and compete for championships. Our recruiting success is truly a team effort. Thanks to our entire staff for diligently working to identify our top recruits. Thanks to our players for creating and maintaining a welcoming locker room and environment. I am excited about who we are as a program, and who we are becoming together."
Bretones (Linwood, N.J.) helped Mainland Regional to a South Jersey Group 3 Championship and to the most wins in a season with 28. The guard led her squad in points, assists, and steals while ranking second in rebounds on her way to earning Al Carino All-South Jersey Second-Team and All-Group 3 Team honors in 2023. The Atlantic City Press First-Team selection and Mainland Regional MVP also earned the MVP award of the Cape Atlantic Championship game in addition to being named to the Cape Atlantic League First-Team.
"Kasey caught my attention playing with her AAU team (New Jersey Rise) this past spring," said Leflar. "She is athletic and versatile at the guard position. Kasey plays point guard for her high school and AAU teams, but I have seen her be equally impactful off the ball. She has great size and will play multiple guard positions, and I look forward to seeing her affect the game and our team success in a number of ways. Her recruitment and commitment came together quickly and I am excited to welcome Kasey and her family to UMass."
Derkack (Colonia, N.J.) is a 1,000-point scorer at Colonia High School, where she was named a three-time all-conference and all-division first team selection. The guard was named both the Home New Tribune and NJ.com GMC Player of the Year and was a two-time all-state selection after helping Colonia to its first GMC Division Championship. Derkack also helped her AAU squad to an EYBL Nike Nationals 16U Championship, the EYBL Boo Williams 16U Championship, and the EYBL Run for the Roses 16U Championship.
"I am excited to coach a scorer like Taylor," said Leflar. "She is an aggressive guard can score at all three levels, and she will have great opportunity to showcase those skills in our offense. When I saw Taylor play with her high school team I was as impressed with her competitiveness as I was with her basketball ability. Taylor also played on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit so she is no stranger to the highest level competition. I also love the fact that Taylor comes from an experienced athletic family. Both of her parents were Division-1 athletes, her older brother plays basketball at Merrimack, and her younger brother is a Division I prospect."
McKayle (Queens, N.Y.) will join UMass after finishing her high school career at South Shore in Brooklyn. The guard was named the NY vs. NY MVP in 2023 and earned 2022 Defensive Player of the Year honors at South Shore. McKayle was also named the 2022 Nike Swoosh Classic MVP and helped her teams to a City Championship twice while going undefeated in summer tournaments in 2021.
"Point guard is the most important position on the court, and I look forward to seeing Yahmani handle that position for our program," said Leflar. "She is a quick point guard who does a great job balancing when to score and when to get her teammates involved. Yahmani can score at all three levels and I am excited because the more aggressive she can be, the more it will open up opportunities for the rest of the team. Yahmani attends South Shore High School in Brooklyn, the same high school of UMass alum and one of my personal favorite players Destiney Philoxy. I love that we are able to keep that connection with South Shore and with their well-respected Head Coach Anwar Gladden."
Ross (Eastham, Mass.) signed with the Minutewomen after spending time at Nauset Regional and Tabor Academy. The forward earned All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention honors in both 2022 and 2023 and helped her squad to a 2022 NEPSAC Championship.
"I had been recruiting Jess for the past three years, and I am thankful she and her family chose UMass," said Leflar. "She is a scoring threat in the post and on the perimeter and will help us stretch the floor. Skilled and versatile post players like Jess tend to have great success in our system, and Jess fits that mold. She is the second Massachusetts commitment for us in the past two seasons, and keeping our state's best players home here at UMass is important. Jess will come to UMass after being very well-coached by Will Becker at Tabor Academy and Laurie Bollin with the Bay State Jaguars AAU program."
Players Mentioned
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