NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State women’s basketball coach Debra Clark announced Wednesday that New York high school standout De’Janaire Deas has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Spartans beginning in the 2016-17 season.

Deas is a 6-2 center who is in her final prep season at the Academy of the Holy Names High School in Albany, N.Y. Deas averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior last year for Holy Names and head coach Steve Gigliello. She also plays AAU basketball for the Albany Lady Stars, coached by Antwan Morrison.

“We’re very excited to have De’Janaire Deas join our women’s basketball program,” Clark said. “She’s a very powerful post player with great hands and footwork. She will definitely add to our scoring and rebounding in the post area.”

Deas has led Holy Names to a 67-14 record over her four years on the varsity. She is on pace to surpass the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks for her career this season. Deas is a two-time New York Class A all-star selection, two-time Holy Names MVP and was selected to the Colonial Council first team as a junior in 2014-15. She was also recognized on the all-star teams of both the Troy Record and Albany Times Union newspapers following her junior season.