GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University announces the second half of their signing class with an additional eight players which includes four Division 1 transfers and four talented incoming freshmen.
These eight signees should bolster an already strong team that has eight returning starters, four of them All-Conference honorees from the 2022 season where the team went 12-8-3 last season
Raquel Houston is an incoming grad student transfer from the University of Texas El Paso. Raquel was a key player for Utep's midfield last year starting 14 out of 16 games while logging just under 900 minutes. She is dominant in the air, a good vocal leader and has a high work rate. Her leadership and experience will be helpful for our squad over the next few seasons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntbj7okYoEw
Kaylen Jankans is an incoming freshman defender from California that played for the Slammers FC ECNL team. Prior to Slammers she played for the SoCal Blues ECNL program. Kaylen is big, strong, fast and great at getting into the attack. At Villa Park HS she was an All-League selection and contributed to 4 straight Conference Championships.
https://clipchamp.com/watch/HMgcALDiE3M?utm_source=share&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=watch
Valentina Guzman is a speedy outside defender and mid from Florida who competed for the Boynton Knights soccer club and prior to them with the Wellington Wave ECNL program. Guzman was invited to the Columbian U-20 National team camp last year to train and try out for the team. For her Somerset Academy Canyons HS team Val was a 4 year varsity starter, 2 year team captain, team MVP, School Athlete of the Year, and All-County and All-State honoree.
http://www.hudl.com/v/2Gv96c
Kayla Reed is an incoming transfer from CAA Champion Monmouth University where she scored two goals and had two assists in half the season for them as a true freshman. Kayla played club ball for STA and PDA ECNL where she is listed as a Top Drawer Soccer Top 150 player in the nation and was rated the 4th best player in New Jersey. She was selected as a 1st Team All-American in high school and scored in the All-American game. Kayla received a US National Training Center Invite and was a US Camp attendee. Reed is a big strong attacking player with a rocket for a shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv_PF10s7fY
Khori Banks is a grad transfer joining GSU from Towson University where she scored 7 goals and 3 assists in her three years at Towson U while starting in 12 out of 46 games notching nearly 2,000 minutes. Prior to her time at Towson, Khori prepped for Johnson High in San Antonio, TX and she competed for Classic Elite ECNL. Khori is really calm on the ball, holding and keeping possession while getting up the field and into the attack. She can play the flank forward or outside mid position with the best of them.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jP_b6WurVjqJbt94yWNfvUpUzEyZt6GV/view?pli=1
Sophia Lazari is a versatile skilled attacking player who is coming into GSU as a freshman this fall. Lazari hails from Davenport, Florida where she helped lead her club team to back to back Florida Premier League Championships. She was selected as her Conference MVP, was a 4 year Varsity starter and two time Team MVP. Sophia is very versatile and can play striker, center or outside mid effectively.
https://youtu.be/Cyrvtgisln8
Whitney Walker is joining GSU from California where she was a 3 year varsity player for La Costa Canyon High in Carlsbad. She was honored as a 1st Team All-Conference Player and 2nd Team All-League while garnering the CIF Sportsmanship Award as well. Whitney played her club ball for City SC GA for six years where she was invited into the Regional and then National Talent ID camp. Her senior year Walker switched clubs to play for the San Diego Surf ECNL-R team. She is a talented and speedy defender who is superb in 1 vs 1 defending.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVxvZylPSk4
Naya Vialva is a grad transfer joining GSU from Rutgers University who qualified for the National tourney last year. Naya spent her first three years as a starter and key contributor for La Salle University before transferring to play at Rutgers for her last year of undergrad. While at La Salle Naya started in 36 out of 41 games anchoring their back line, and played in two games this past year for Rutgers. Prior to college Naya was named to the US Youth Soccer Championships Best XI as a central defender. Her Club team Princeton SA IGFA won three NJ State Cup titles and an NPL National Championship and USYSA National Championship. Naya is a leader on the backline, reads the game well and is good in the air.
These eight players complement the ten that GSU announced in their initial signing class this winter. In total the class features 6 transfer players and 12 incoming freshmen. Our team will have a good balance of experience and youth and should help us to be competitive. It features a lot of speed mixed in with great dribblers and defenders. Coach Wagar said "we'll have some tough games and challenges this season but I'm excited for our recruiting class that will grow and learn to play together and thrive. This is one of the more talented classes we've had here at GSU in recent memory. Gram Fam, come watch some exciting games this year! Schedule announcement coming soon.
2023 recent signees by position:
Midfielder-
Raquel Houston
Defender-
Kaylen Jankans
Defender-
Valentina Guzman
Forward-
Kayla Reed
Forward-
Khori Banks
Midfielder-
Sophia Lazari
Defender-
Whitney Walker
Defender-
Naya Vialva
Previous 2023 Signees:
Forward-
Sophia Lezizidis
Defender-
Dori Johnson
Defender-
Makyla Peterson
GK-
Lauren Baylor
Forward-
Kennedy Farr
Forward-
Mya Joseph
Defender-
Taiya Mitchell
GK-
Tiaona Henderson
Midfielder-
Morgan Johnson
GK-
Aimee Benton
