Coker Welcomes Three for Women's Basketball

By: Jake Miller

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker head women's basketball coach Shannon Johnson has announced that Georgina Cerezuela Robuste, Jordan Power and Kaleah Hires have all signed to play basketball for the Cobras.

Robuste also played at Tallahassee Community College and Northeast Junior College before coming to Hartsville. As a freshman at Tallahassee Community College Robuste helped her team to advance to regional play. As a sophomore at Northeast Junior College she helped that team to the first round of regionals. 

Robuste had an outstanding career at La Merced High School, where the school's girl's basketball team won three state championships. Robuste was a member of nationally ranked squads both her freshman and sophomore years, and both those years Robuste helped her team finish in the top 10 at the national tournament. As a senior, the 6-5 center averaged 14.6 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game.

"I am excited to have Georgina join our team. She gives us a great post presence at 6-5. I also look forward to her bringing the international game to our team," said Johnson.

The Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain native is the daughter of Jordi Cerezuela Badia and Gemma Robuste Perez and plans to study business. 

Power comes to Hartsville from International Community School where she played soccer, volleyball and basketball. On the hardwood she was a three-time All-District selection as well as a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. She was also a member of the district champion 2014 Comets women's basketball team. She was also voted team MVP in 2016.

"Jordan will play small forward for us and we will also look to her as a defensive specialist," said Johnson. 

The Winter Park, Fla. native is the daughter of Thomas and Karen Power and plans to study exercise science.

Hires played for the Dreher Blue Devils women's basketball team and had a successful career. She was a member of the 2015-2016 District AAA state championship team, and named to the Region 4 AAA All-State team. She was selected to the Region 4 AAA All-Region team twice, and led District AAA in assists and was third in the district in steals. In 2016, she was selected to the Georgia vs. South Carolina All-Star Game, where she was voted the Most Outstanding Player for South Carolina. 

"Kaleah is a solid point guard and we are looking for an immediate impact out of her next season," said Johnson.

The Columbia, S.C. native is the daughter of Chryssandra and Marvin Hires and plans to study business management.

The trio joins an already solid recruiting class, as well as a group of returners for Johnson's second season as the Coker bench boss.