COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton announced the signings of four talented prospects Wednesday, as Kiya Dorroh, Isabella Higginbottom, Sarah Linthacum and Da’Necia Trusty each signed National Letters of Intent and will continue their athletic and academic careers at the University of Missouri. Dorroh and Higginbottom highlight the class as top-100 prospects, while Linthacum and Trusty boast potential at the forward position for the Tigers.
“Our 2021 class is a group of ladies we are extremely excited about and fully expect will make an instant impact on our program,” said Pingeton. “Kiya, Izzy, Da’Necia, and Sarah all have very dynamic skill sets, which will make them incredibly versatile within our system. On the court, they are great teammates, they are high-energy, and they play with the effort, passion, and grit that has defined Mizzou Women’s Basketball for many years. More importantly, though, they are invested in their academics and they are high-character young ladies who we are so looking forward to having in our family for the next four years.”
Dorroh, a 6-1 forward from Tuscon, Ariz., is the No. 47 overall recruit in the Class of 2021, according to ESPNW, and the top-ranked player from the state of Arizona. As a junior at Sabino High School, Dorroh led her team to the Class 3A State Championship after averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game. She was named the Prep Girls Hoops Arizona Player of the Year and the Class 3A South Offensive Player of the Year following her junior campaign and received first team honors for Max Preps Arizona All-State and Arizona 3A All-Region. For her senior season, Dorroh will follow the path of Arizona’s best players and play at the AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz. A top-10 ranked wing player nationally, Dorroh chose Mizzou over North Carolina, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and Texas. Outside of basketball, Dorroh is a three-time academic honor roll recipient and has participated in the African American Career Fair for High Achievers multiple times.
“I chose Mizzou because of the amazing family atmosphere that the coaches and players made me feel the very first time I stepped on campus,” said Dorroh. “I’m excited to play and practice against the best, and I look forward to growing as a basketball player and as a woman.”
Higginbottom, a 5-7 point guard from Batesville, Ark., will make the trip north to Columbia for her collegiate career. The No. 20-ranked point guard by ESPNW and the No. 97 overall recruit by Prospect Nation, Higginbottom led Batesville High School to the 2019 Class 4A State championship and a state semifinals appearance in 2020. She was named the tournament MVP during her team’s state title run, and is a two-time Arkansas all-state selection, earning the honor as a sophomore (2018-19) and a junior (2019-20). Entering her senior campaign at Batesville, the three-year starter has recorded 1,755 points, 226 assists and 265 steals while shooting 86.4 percent from the free throw line. Outside of basketball, Higginbottom has maintained a 4.0 GPA, has twice been named Student of the Month, and is active in the FCA and Special Olympics.
“I chose Mizzou because I felt it would be the best education and athletic program to raise my human potential,” said Higginbottom. “Because I want to continually grow as a student and an athlete, I felt Mizzou would be the best school to push me to reach my goals. I am looking forward to learning, growing, meeting new people, and competing as a student-athlete over the next four years.”
Linthacum, a 6-0 forward from Jefferson City, Mo., will follow her sister, Micah, and three generations before her when she suits up in the Black & Gold for the Tigers. Linthacum earned 2019-20 MBCA Class 5 All-State honors as a junior after averaging 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the Jefferson City Jays. Her sister Micah, is currently a redshirt freshman for Coach Pingeton’s squad, while their dad, Larry, their grandfather and great grandfather all played football for Mizzou. Linthacum played for Missouri Phenom on the AAU circuit.
Mizzou has always been my dream school,” said Linthacum. “Growing up, I always knew this was where I wanted to be and I’m so excited to make it official.”
Trusty, a 6-3 forward from Houston, Texas, will add size to the frontcourt for Mizzou. In her junior season (2019-20) at Alief Hastings High School, Trusty averaged 16.7 points, 12.1 rebounds and 7.6 blocks per game while earning first-team all-district honors. An incredibly talented rebounder and shot-blocker, at one point, Trusty led the nation in blocks during her junior campaign (8.3 bpg), as well as a rebounding average that was among the nation’s best. Outside of basketball, Trusty also lettered in volleyball and track & field, and received academic achievement honors.
“I’m so glad the day is finally here that I can officially say I have a second family,” said Trusty. “Since I became a prospect for Mizzou, I immediately clicked with the coaching staff and knew this would be the place for me. Mizzou is a school full of love, joy, and new beginnings and I’m eager to be a part of the basketball program as well as further my education in the medical field.”
For all the latest on Mizzou Women’s Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
QUOTES
Coach Pingeton on Kiya Dorroh:
“We have loved developing a relationship with Kiya over the past few years and watching her grow into a young lady who has found great success both on and off the court. She is a relentless worker and has shown consistent improvement in her game with each year we have watched her. This speaks not only to her desire to be great, but also to her focus and dedication to the process and the work it takes to get there. She is a talented scorer, rebounder, and defender, as well as a true competitor. Kiya is a kid who prioritizes hard work and family values, and we are so glad that she has chosen to spend her next four years at Mizzou.”
Coach Pingeton on Izzy Higginbottom:
“Izzy is a prolific scorer with an extremely high-IQ who we believe will have an instant impact as both a point guard and a shooting guard. She plays with a visible passion, is a vocal leader, and her energy and competitive spirit are contagious on the court. A 4.0 GPA and a state championship for her high school speak volumes to her work ethic. We have had so much fun watching her play and getting to know her throughout the recruiting process, and we are so grateful that she’ll be in black and gold for her next four years.”
Coach Pingeton on Sarah Linthacum:
“One Linthacum wasn’t quite enough for us, so we wanted to make sure we got a second,” said Pingeton. “Sarah is a well-rounded, multi-sport athlete and a high-quality young lady who we are so excited to have the opportunity to coach for the next four years. We love her versatility on the court and ability to play multiple positions. She is a vocal leader, a high-energy player, and a great teammate, and we fully expect her presence in our locker room to have an immediate positive impact on and off the court.”
Coach Pingeton on Da’Necia Trusty:
Our staff made an instant connection with Neci in the recruiting process. She is a genuine kid, motivated student, and incredibly talented athlete. Her ability to run the floor, block shots, rebound relentlessly, and finish at the rim will be huge additions for us in the coming years. Her size and athleticism make the ceiling so high for Neci, and we are super excited to see what she will accomplish in her four years at Mizzou.
