Gator Country

Florida women's basketball coach Amanda Butler landed the fourth member of her Class of 2009 recruits -- Georgia Player of the Year Tessah Holt./Gator Country file photo by Tim Casey

Amanda Butler crossed into enemy territory and signed another bluechip player for the Florida women’s basketball team’s Class of 2009.

Tessah Holt, the 2009 Georgia Class AAA Girls Basketball Player of the Year according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wednesday became the fourth prep standout to sign a national letter of intent to join the Gators this fall.

A 5-foot-7 point guard from Fayetteville, Holt recently led Fayette County High School to the state championship game, helping the Lady Tigers finish the season with a program-best 31-1 overall record.

Holt averaged 12.7 points, 7.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals during her senior season, when she also was recognized as a first team all-state performer. She helped Fayette County finish No. 2 in the final Class AAAA state poll and No. 47 in the ESPN Rise FAB 50 girls basketball poll.

Holt is the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,422 points) in four seasons and also is the school’s all-time leader in assists (762). She led the Lady Tigers to a 90-27 record, helping the school win three regional titles and reach the state title game twice.

“Tessah is a true point guard, which is especially important for us with the loss of Sha Brooks (selected by Phoenix in the 2009 WNBA Draft),” Butler said. “Tessah is a tremendous competitor and worker. She’s excited about being a Gator and nothing could please me more than that. Tessah will bring a whole new dimension of offense and defense for us and will be one of the best in our conference. I am really looking forward to coaching her.”

Holt’s buzzer-beating, half-court shot not only led FCHS past Douglas County High, 37-34, in the state regional semifinal game on Feb. 20th, but is also was featured as ESPN’s SportsCenter’s No. 2 Play of the Night.

Holt is the fourth different prep star to officially sign with Florida, joining early-period signees Christal Caldwell (5-11, G, Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte), Jennifer George (6-2, F, Orlando/Bishop Moore) and Lily Svete (6-2, F, Granger, Ind./Penn).

The fifth new face for the 2009-10 season is Jordan Jones, who sat out last season after transferring from South Carolina. Jones is a 5-foot-9 guard from Suwanee, Ga., with three years of eligibility remaining.

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