Comings and goings X: Longwood

Here we go with another installment of Comings and goings. This time it's Longwood, which finished 4-26 during an injury-plagued 2014-15 season.

The other installments:


Comings and Goings: Old Dominion
Comings and Goings: Richmond
Comings and Goings: George Mason
Comings and Goings: Virginia
Comings and Goings: Virginia Tech
Comings and Goings: William and Mary
Comings and Goings: VCU
Comings and Goings: Liberty

Ebony Gilliam

Who's going

Riannah Frazer 5-4 G: Graduated last spring and will play her final year at Division III Stevenson University near Baltimore
Shannon Mosby 5-3 G: Played 22 games last season as a walk-on and averaged 2.4 ppg, transferred to Division II Salem International in West Virginia.

Who's coming

Ciarah Bennett, 5-5 PG, Camden, N.J. (Woodrow Wilson High), 12.1 ppg, 5.2 apg
Ashlee Jones, 5-9 G, Orlando, Fla. (University High); 12.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, named University High Female Athlete of the Year
Kate Spradlin, 5-8 G, Blue Ridge, Va. (Lord Botetourt HS): walk-on
Eboni Gilliam, 6-0 F, Richmond, Va. (L.C. Byrd High, Cape Fear Community College); 13.6 ppg (2nd-leading scorer), 9.0 rpg, 33 double-doubles for Lady Sea Devils; first player in program history to sign with D-I school; has two years of eligibility remaining
Kemari Jones, 6-0 F, Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne Central Catholic); 18 ppg, 11 rpg; Honorable mention Class 3A all-state (Florida Association of Basketball Coaches)

Coach Bill Reinson tells us Daesha Brown, who underwent ACL surgery last December, is on the mend nicely, about a month ahead of schedule, and Khalilah Ali, who also tore her ACL and sustained meniscus damage, should also be ready by the season's start barring complications. Brown played in just three games last year before the knee injury, scoring 29 against Wake Forest and Ali started in seven.

Expect to see what physical post Eboni Gilliam can do right away, as she comes in with junior college experience under her belt, and Bennett looks to be an adept passer who can give a boost to the Lancers offense. Another bright spot: Autumn Childress will enter the season healthy. The ACL tear she suffered in high school is long behind her as is anemia. Reinson said fatigue slowed Childress last season before doctors determined she had almost no iron in her blood. He expects her to make an impact at both the 3 and the 4.

The Lancers are in for a treat in August with a 10-day trip to Italy that will include four games, one against the national team from Cameroon. Road games against James Madison, Oregon State, Virginia and West Virginia are on tap during the season.