DETROIT (4/17/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball incoming freshmen class grew bigger after it was announced that head coach
Bernard Scott and the Titans have inked guard Jiera Shears (Charlotte, N.C. / Hickory Ridge) to a National Letter of Intent.
Shears, a 5-foot-8 guard, becomes the fifth member of the incoming women's basketball class. She'll join the four other Titans that are set to join the squad over the summer prior to the 2018-19 season.
"Jiera is a winner and someone who loves to compete," coach Scott said. "She has helped lead her high school team to over 100 wins in her four-year career. She's a player that can play the point guard or off-guard position. She's a very good 3-point shooter, good passer and has a really good feel for the game.
"She comes from a great family! Her sister played at St. Joseph University so she understands what it takes to be successful at this level. We are happy to have Jiera joining the Titan Family!"
Shears earned four varsity letters for Hickory Ridge High School and is one of two student-athletes in school history to help the women's basketball team to 100 or more victories over her four-year varsity career. She lost just 14 games in high school and as a junior, helped lead her 2016-17 Hickory Ridge squad to a 31-1 record and a 4A state championship game appearance.
She was All-Conference in both basketball and track and field during the 2016-17 season. She averaged 11.9 points per game, 4.0 assists and scored a single-game career-high 27 points, while shooting better than 54 percent from 3-point range during her high school career.
Shears was the women's athlete of the year in track and field as a junior. She played AAU basketball with Hoop Dreams Athletics and was named as "One to Watch" at the Charlotte Hoop Challenge and twice earned invitations to the Select 60 Showcase in Charlotte.
She plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at the University.
The Titans enter their fourth season under head coach
Bernard Scott in 2018-19. Shears joins a five-member incoming freshmen class that includes forward Paige Bellman (Columbus Grove, Ohio / Columbus Grove), Jess Bicknell (Saginaw, Mich. / Heritage), Alex Burr (Topeka, Ind. / Westview) and Sophia DiMilia (New Boston, Mich. / Huron).
