Three of last year’s players will return to AACC’s Women’s Basketball in the upcoming season, and the team will welcome several new players, including three high school recruits.

Head coach Lionel Makell said his team is “looking good so far.”

“This is probably the first year in all my years that I’ve felt so positive about a season and about my team,” said first-year student Imani Robinson, who will be playing forward for the team in spring.
Makell, who is in his fifth season as head coach, signed high school recruits for the first time this year.

“I have three all-county players that I signed into the team,” Makell said. “I am very happy with the recruits we have this year.”

The three players include Robinson from Glen Burnie, as well as guard and forward Autumn Foster-Fields from Broadneck and guard and forward Daja Burnett from Severna Park.

Makell said one of his goals for the new recruits is to help them move on to their next colleges.

“It’s expected [they’ll spend] one or two years here,” Makell said. “And we’re moving them to a four-year institution.”

He said he wants his athletes to prioritize their academics above their play.

“You’re a student first, and then you’re a basketball player,” Makell said.

Foster-Fields said the team needs to work on its offense.

“Our defense has gotten really good,” Foster-Fields said. “We just need to make a few touch-ups on our offense and then we’ll be fine.”

Robinson said the team mainly needs to improve on communication.

“It’s a totally different atmosphere and definitely a step up from high school,” Robinson said. “It feels great having a team that actually works well together and has so much talent.”

Makell said the Women’s Basketball team is expecting to do big things this year and is ready for whatever happens.

The team’s first game—a home game—is on Nov. 5 at noon against Middlesex County College.