Women's Basketball
Women’s Basketball adds six new faces to roster
FLORENCE, Ala. (June 21, 2024) – University of North Alabama women's basketball head coach Candi Whitaker announced the signing of six players for her summer recruiting class on Friday, as she and the Lions gear up for the 2024-25 season. The Lions bolstered their roster in both the frontcourt and backcourt, adding two guards in Sarang West and Charity Gallegos along with four forwards in Jazzy Klinge, Sofia Ceppelloti, Venla Ulander and Chrishunti Walker.
West, Gallegos and Klinge bring a combined eight years of collegiate basketball experience, while Ceppelloti and Ulander add international playing experience. Walker rounds out the recruiting class as she looks to make an impact from the post in her first year with the Lions. "We are excited about this upcoming recruiting class," said Whitaker. "We really wanted players who competed and won at a high level and also bring experience, toughness and versatility. The six signings bring a lot to every position, and I look forward to working with them."
Jazzy Klinge – Overland Park, Kan. – Forward – (Johnson County CC)
- Junior Transfer
- Spent the past two seasons at Johnson County Community College under Coach Ben Conrad
- Appeared in 70 games with 36 starts with the Cavaliers
- Averaged 8.5 points with 8.0 rebounds per game
- Shot 59.6 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from three
- NJCAA All-American First Team selection and All-Region 6/Plains District and All-Kansas Jayhawk ConferenceDivision II First Team selection in 2023-24
- Helped lead the Cavaliers to a 34-1 record and anNJCAA Division II National Championship berth in 2023-24
- Prepped at Blue Valley High School under Coach Bruce Erickson
- Earned First team All-State and league honors with the Tigers
- Also lettered in track and soccer in high school
- Plans to major in Business
- Daughter of Shad Klinge, Darcy Clinton and Charles Clinton
- Has five siblings
Quote from Coach Whitaker
"Jazzy is someone I've watched over the last couple of years and have always loved her level of competitiveness and toughness. She is a tremendous athlete that can really rebound out of space, get to the rim and make a lot of things happen defensively. I really like her versatility, and I think she has a great inside-outside game."
Charity Gallegos – Sacramento, Calif. – Guard – Cal State San Marcos
- Senior Transfer
- Played two seasons at Cal State San Marcos from 2022-24 under Coach Renee Jimenez
- Played her freshman season at Chico State in 2021-22
- Averaged 14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists for her career at Cal State
- Helped lead the Cougars to the 2023-24 NCAA Division II Elite Eight Semifinals
- California Collegiate Athletic Association Regular-Season Champions and Division II West Regional Champions (2023-24)
- Two-time California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament champion (2022-23 & 2023-24)
- All-CCAA First Team (2021-22 & 2023-24), All-West Region team (2023-2024) and CCAA Tournament MVP (2022-23)
- Prepped at Folsom High School under Coach Lynn Wolking
- Scored 1,000 points in her high school career
- Led her team to the Sierra Foothill League championship in 2017-18 & 2019-20
- Named to the Sierra Foothill League First Team (2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-2020) and California All-Freshman Team (2017-18)
- Plans to major in
Business - Daughter of Goldie Winchester
- Has six siblings
Quote from Coach Whitaker
"Charity is a big-time player. I think she can really score the basketball, and she proved that at the highest level in Division II. I had the opportunity to see her play in person, and I was very impressed with her skillset, grit and competitiveness."
Sarang West – New York, N.Y. – Guard – Allen CC
- Junior Transfer
- Spent the 2023-24 season at Allen Community College under Coach Leslie Crane
- Played her freshman season at Division I Binghamton in 2022-23
- Averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in her lone season at Allen
- Named the 2023-24 Newcomer of the Year in the Kansas Jayhawks Community College Conference
- Earned KJCCC First Team Selection honors in 2023-24
- Prepped at Bronx High School of Science and Choate Rosemary Hall under Coaches Mike Mei (Bronx Science) and Donta Johnson (Choate)
- Scored 1,000 points in her high school career
- Helped lead Choate to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council semifinals in 2021
- Also led Bronx Science to playoff appearances in 2018, 2019 and 2020
- Lettered in track and softball outside of basketball
- Plans to major in Psychology
- Daughter of Sunhwa Chung and James West
Quote from Coach Whitaker
"Sarang provides a lot of versatility at the guard position, and I think she can play 1-3 on the perimeter. You can tell she played a lot on the playground in New York City and just knows how to play the game. Her versatility will be huge for the roster."
Sofia Ceppellotti – Ruda, Udine, Italy – Forward – Freshman
- Spent the 2023-2024 season for APU Udine Delser in Serie A2 — Italy's second-tier professional basketball league
- Played in 19 games, scoring 22 points on the season to go with 26 rebounds in 179 minutes of action
- Helped lead team to an Italian Cup appearance in 2024
- Part of team that played in playoff final for promotion into Italy's top professional league (Serie A1) (2023-24)
- Played on Italy's U18 (2023) and U20 (2024) national teams
- Averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in her youth league
- Daughter of Luca Marco Ceppellotti and Stefania Taverna
- Has one sibling
Quote from Coach Whitaker
"I am very excited about Sofia. I love the skill set and length she brings to the team. Sofia can pass, post, shoot the three, put the ball on the floor and defend. Her international team experience will help her transition to the college game."
Venla Ulander – Espoo, Finland – Forward – Freshman
- Spent the 2023-2024 season for HBA-Marsky in the Korisliiga — Finland's top-tier professional basketball league
- Appeared in 13 games, totaling 48 points, 38 rebounds, nine assists and six steals in 191 minutes of action
- Shot 90.9 percent from the free-throw line with HBA-Marsky
- Prepped at Makelanrinteen High School under Coach Janne Hänninen
- Led her team to an U16 Finnish League Bronze Medal in 2019
- Also helped HBA make the Finnish Cup Final Four in 2022, along with a playoff appearance in 2022 & 2024
- Named European Girls Basketball League U17 Stage 1 MVP (2019) and U17 Stage 3 All Star (2020)
- Part of Finland's national team that won gold at the U18 Baltic Sea Cup (2022), gold at the U18 Nordic Championship (2021) and bronze at the U16 Baltic Sea Cup (2020)
- Daughter of Sanni & Aki Ulander
- Has two siblings
Quote from Coach Whitaker
"Venla brings size and strength to our roster. I'm excited about her international experience and her experience in the women's league in Finland. She is a forward with great versatility inside and out."
Chrishunti Walker – Oakland, Tenn. – Forward/Center – Freshman
- Prepped Rossville Christian Academy under Coach Kendrick Watkins
- Led the Wolves to two state championships in 2023 and 2024
- Two-time All-State — 2023, 2024
- Four-time All-District — 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Broke her high school record for rebounds in a game (22) and most double-doubles in a season (28) in 2022-23
- Also lettered in soccer and volleyball
- Played AAU Basketball for Team Thad, winning the Battle of the Boro and USA Magnolia Classic in 2021
- Plans to major in Business
- Daughter of Steven & LaShanta Walker
- Has two siblings
Quote from Coach Whitaker
"Chrissy provides much needed size, and I'm excited about her potential. She has fantastic hands and feet, which will be beneficial to our post play. I'm excited to get to know her and look forward to working and developing her game."
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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