SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following his promotion to the position for the 2025-26 season, Converse University interim head coach
Kevin Lyons announced the addition of 11 signees ahead of the 2025-26 season.
"I am extremely excited about the signing class coming to Converse for the 2025-26 school year," stated Lyons of his first recruiting class at the helm of the program. "We have a mixture of freshman and transfer students who all bring unique experiences with them. I am pleased with the talent level and leadership this group has brought to the program. They are motivated to be successful on and off the court and will elevate our university on several levels. I know our returning players will work well with them. Together we will compete at the highest level possible in all areas!"
JoLesa Birkhead comes to the Hub City from Apollo Beach, Florida where she was a dual-sport athlete at Winthrop College Prep Academy. She was a four-year letter winner in basketball and a two-year letter winner in flag football. She helped lead the Spartans to three district championships while averaging 25 points per game. She was named the schooled Female Athlete of the Year.
Lisa Lorenz Conrotto comes to Converse from Lower Columbia College where she appeared in 27 games and made 17 starts last season. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, she averaged 6.4 points per game for the Red Devils. She also dished out 68 assists and recorded 58 steals, helping lead Lower Columbia to a West Region Championship. Off of the court, she was honored with the All-NWAC Academic Award. Prior to her time at Lower Columbia, she spent time with Diamonds Second League in Germany, averaging 4.0 points per game on an average of 9.8 minutes per game. She was once named the Player of the Week with 17 points on 5-6 shooting, hitting three three-pointers.
Skyler Ellison is the first of the team's in-state additions, hailing from Williamston. A multi-sport athlete at Palmetto High School in Williamston, Ellison was a five-year letter winner in basketball, a two-year letter winner in volleyball and a one-year letter winner in track & field. She also served as a student athletic trainer for one year. On the basketball court, she was named the team's top varsity newcomer and sixth women of the year following her 8th grade year, the team's assist leader during her freshman season, earned the Mustang HUSTLE Award following her sophomore year, earned all-region honors following her junior year and was the the team's Defensive MVP her senior year. Off of the court, she was named the track & field team's Female Thrower of the Year and was named the Student Athletic Trainer of the Year. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, BETA Club, and the Spanish National Honor Society.
Rayanna Evans joins the Valkyries from Division-III Averett University. Originally from Greenville, Evans averaged 4.7 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game during her time at Averett. She made 46 appearances and started five games over two seasons with the Cougars.
Madison Fileen makes her way to Spartanburg from the Empire State, Monroe, New York. There she played for the Monroe Woodbury High School basketball team.
Janiyah Hagood comes to the Valkyries after spending her last two seasons at Shaw University. Originally from Greenville, Hagood spent the first two years of her collegiate career at conference-foe Francis Marion, where she appeared in 46 games over two seasons. Before her time in college, Hagood was a standout at J.L. Mann High School where she was an all-region and all-county selection and an all-state selection following her junior season. Hagood tallied 19.4 points per game during that season. Off of the court, she was a member of the National Honor Society.
Mazie Helpman joins the Valkyries from Catawba College where she spent her last three seasons. Originally from Bryson City, North Carolina, Helpman tallied 74 points over 62 career games at Catawba. Prior to her collegiate career, Helpman was a multi-sport athlete at Swain County High School. She was a four-year letter winner for the basketball and track teams, a three-year letter winner for the volleyball team and a two-year letter winner for the soccer and softball teams. She was a four-time all-conference selection for both track and basketball, two-time all-region honoree for track and soccer. She was the Conference and Regional Player of the Year in soccer, helping guide the team to two conference championships. She also aided the track team in winning the same number of conference titles en route to two regional and two state championships. She was also a part of the team's 4x800 state-champion relay team. Helpman was the leading scorer for both the Swain County basketball and soccer teams and served as a team captain for both and the volleyball team.
Emma Kanz comes to Spartanburg from Iowa Lakes Community College, where she spent the last two seasons. She averaged nine points per game during her freshman year and 14 points per game with six rebounds per game during her sophomore season. She was named second team all-conference. Kanz scored a career-high 25 points against Ellsworth Community College, also grabbing seven rebounds during that game. She left Iowa Lakes with 680 career points. Prior to her time in college, she was a four-year standout at Maple Grove Senior High School in Hamel, Minnesota.
London Vaughn comes to Converse from Sumter. She averaged 12.5 points per game for the Crestwood High School Knights. She was named Athlete of the Year, Team MVP twice and was an all-region honoree three times. Vaughn also played with SC Future and Upward Stars, averaging 10 points per game. She was also involved with FCCLA and JAG.
Keke Wright joins the Valkyries from right down the road in Chapin. She was a four-year letter winner for the Chapin High School basketball team, serving as a team captain during her final two seasons. She was twice recognized as the team's Defensive Player of the Year, earned the Distinguished Athlete Award and served as the team's starting point guard beginning with her freshman season. During her time in high school, she helped lead the Eagles to the second round of the SCHSL playoffs, the team's first appearance since 2013. Off of the court, Wright was a member of the National Honors Society.
Jaclyn Wright-Thompson comes to Converse after spending her freshman season at St. Andrews University. She appeared in 27 games for the Knights during her freshman campaign, averaging 10.3 minutes per game. She averaged 2.5 points per game and put up a season-high in scoring twice within a three-game stretch: nine points against both Bluefield (Va.) on Jan. 18 and at Johnson (Tenn.) on Jan. 25. Prior to college, Wright-Thompson attended A.C. Flora High School in Columbia.
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