University of the PACIFIC

During the early signing period three high school seniors, Danielle Peacon, Taryn Garza and Gena Johnson, have committed to begin their basketball careers at Pacific next season, by sending in their National Letters of Intent.

"This 2010 recruiting class is an impact group for our program. We have a young team this season and will only lose two seniors to graduation this spring," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "With such a large group of returning players next year, we felt like we could be very selective in our recruiting - making certain that the players we bring in would definitively make us better. No doubt, this group of future Tigers has the potential to step in and immediately improve our program. I'm confident our fans will enjoy watching these three young women compete. Gena, Taryn and Danielle each exemplify the quality of student-athlete that University of the Pacific is all about. We are sincerely excited that they have decided to be Tigers."

Peacon is a 6-3 post and from Reed High School in Sparks, Nev., and former high school teammate of current Tiger Erica McKenzie. Peacon finished a stellar junior season as the Raiders made their fourth-consecutive trip to the state championship tournament and closed out the 2008-09 season as the Northern Nevada 4A Runner Up and Peacon wound up on the First Team All-State team for her presence in the championship tournament. One of the top prospects out of the post position on the West Coast, Peacon was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state of Nevada by ESPN after a phenomenal junior season. During her sophomore campaign Peacon led the squad with 14.5 points per game. Reed HS went on to finish the 2007-08 season with a 23-8-1 overall record and a perfect 13-0 mark in the High Desert League. For her efforts, Peacon was named as a 4A All-Region player and capped off the year as ESPN's No. 16 post prospect in the nation.

Prior to Reed HS, Peacon attended Carson HS as a freshman in Carson City, Nev. Peacon's high school career has been highlighted by perfect league performances and her freshman season with the Senators was no different. In 2006-70, Carson HS finished 23-6 overall and 9-1 in the Sierra League. Starting at Carson HS, Peacon has been named to the First Team All-League team all three years of her prep career.

"Danielle choosing to be a Pacific Tigers is a huge statement for our program. She was one of a handful of highly-recruited post players in the West," Roberts said. "Danielle has great size, is extremely skilled and is very mobile. At 6-3, she can run the floor, shoot the three and play two or three different positions on the floor. Without question, Danielle will make an immediate impact on our program."

A local player out of Modesto, Calif., Garza is a 6-0 forward from Modesto Christian. Last year, Garza and the Crusaders compiled a 27-8 overall record and went undefeated in the Trans Valley League with a perfect 13-0 record. Garza's finesse and power helped her to lead the team with a career-best 8.2 rebounds per game average. She also chipped in 11.9 points per game, en route to 369 total points to finish second among all Crusaders in 2008-09 along with 3.6 steals per game. That season Garza led her teammates to the Division IV State Championships where the Crusaders finished as runners-up by only three points. Garza found her name on the 2008-09 First Team All-Trans Valley League list and was given the Sportsmanship Award after the State Championship game. Her awards continued to roll in as Garza capped off her senior season as a 2009 First Team All-District Modesto Bee recipient.

As a sophomore, Garza continued to build upon her dominance in the post, boosting her team-leading rebounds per game average to 7.0. She also upped her scoring contributions, averaging 11.1 points per game with 288 total on the season to help Modesto Christian to a 28-5 record and a nearly-perfect 12-1 season in league play. During her freshman year with the Crusaders, Garza led the squad in rebounds per game when she averaged 4.6 in 2006-07. She also finished with 235 total points to average 7.3 points per game. That season the Crusaders compiled a 27-6 overall record and a perfect 13-0 mark in the Trans Valley League. In addition to her play on the court, Garza also letters in track & field at Modesto Christian. She has been a State qualifier in the 400 Meter race, finishing as the Sac-Joaquin Section Champion in the 400 Meter all three years. Her personal best time was set at 57.63.

"We have been watching Taryn since she was a freshman at Modesto Christian and we're fired up she has chosen Pacific," Roberts said. "She will be one of the most athletic players ever to have played here. She can run and jump with tremendous explosiveness. She has the potential to dominate on the boards and to be a lock down defender."

Transferring to Franklin High School in Elk Grove, Calif., as a junior, Johnson is a 5-6 guard. During her first season at Franklin HS in 2008-09, Johnson led the Wildcats to a 21-8 overall record and a 9-1 Delta Valley League finish. As junior in her first season with the Wildcats she established team-best marks in points per game average (16.9) which marked her as the Delta Valley League's leading scorer, steals (3.4) and blocks (2.1). She finished off the year and led Franklin with 473 overall points and 5.2 boards per game. For her stand-out junior season, Johnson is ranked as California's No. 21 guard prospect after being named the Delta Valley League's MVP and First Team All-League. Outside organizations recognized Jonson's authority on the floor and she was awarded to the 2009 First Team Sacramento Bee All-City team as well as Sacramento's top athlete on the River Cats' All-City team as a junior.

Prior to transferring, Johnson spent two seasons at Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove, Calif., where she closed out the 2007-08 season with team-leading figures in points per game (15.9), rebounds per game (3.9) and blocks per game (2.2). That year she began her presence in the Delta Valley League, this time from Laguna Creek, and was named Honorable Mention All-Delta Valley as a sophomore. She also earned Sacramento All-City Honorable Mention accolades playing in Elk Grove. As a freshman Johnson established her tradition of leading the team in statistical categories as her 1.4 blocks per game was a team-best mark. Johnson just missed out on the 200-mark in her first year of high school basketball, sinking 199 points to average 7.1 per game.

"Gena is an outstanding athlete and will be a tremendous fit in our system," Roberts said. "She can attack the basket, really elevate and finish in traffic. She has the potential to be a tremendous defensive player with her length and athleticism. We really anticipate Gena being an impact player in the Big West Conference."