Nov. 20, 2012

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass women's basketball and head coach Sharon Dawley announced the signing of Kymber Hill and Meredith Tarver to letters of intent to play for the Minutewomen on Tuesday afternoon.

Hill is a member of the Althoff Catholic girl's basketball team that has averaged more than 20 wins per season during her three years with the squad while the all-conference forward and center has lettered in each scholastic season. Tarver led Northview to a Georgia Region 5 Sweet 16 appearance in 2010-11 and enters her senior campaign as an all-region and all-metro honoree after averaging 14 points per game a season ago.

"We are thrilled that Kymber and Meredith will be joining our UMass family next year," said head coach Sharon Dawley enthusiastically. "Kymber is a long, athletic post player who has great hands, good instincts and runs the floor extremely well. Meredith is a very gifted and athletic guard who will be an impact player for us on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor."

MEET THE NEWEST MINUTEWOMAN
Name: Kymber Hill
Hometown: Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
High School: Althoff Catholic
High School Coach: Todd Hill
Notes: Has lettered three times forward and center for Althoff Catholic, helping the Crusaders to a 26-4 overall record as a freshman to go with regional, sectional and super sectional championships ... Added conference titles as a sophomore and junior ... Earned all-conference and was twice named an all-tournament honoree as a junior in 2011-12 ... Led Althoff Catholic with 3.1 blocks per game in 2010-11 and was the most improved player on the 2009-10 team ... Daughter of Kenard Hill and Nicola Hill ... Stepdaughter of Delores Hill ... Has five siblings, Aysha, India, Christian, Simone and Aleana.

Name: Meredith Tarver
Hometown: Johns Creek, Ga.
High School: Northview
High School Coaches: Russell Harrell and Evan Deis
Notes: Four-time letterwinner at Northview High School ... Averaged 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block per contest with the Titans as a junior in 2011-12 ... Started her scholastic career with MVP and Rising Star honors whole also helping her AAU team, the Georgia Pistols, to a division championship ... Added another Rising Star laurel as a sophomore while being named to the All-North Fulton accolade listing ... Grabbed all-region top-10 laurels to go with North Fulton All-Metro Team, Rising Star and Deep South Classic All-Tournament honors ... Was named the MVP of her Douglasville Lady Tigers AAU squad in 2011-12 ... Improved on her production during AAU play, averaging 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks for Douglasville ... Volunteers at Mission Atlanta, an organization that supports underprivileged families and served as a basketball counselor ... Participates in Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) ... Daughter of Clyde Tarver and Linda Bowles ... Has three older brothers, Nick, Josh and Drew.