McMillan Signs Five For 2025-26
11/13/2024 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. - University of Tennessee at Martin head women's basketball coach Kevin McMillan signed five players Tuesday that will become Skyhawks for the 2025-26 season. McMillan added size with a pair of post players and quickness and shooting with a trio of guards. Read below for more on each signee.
Sidney Blackwell is a 5-6, guard from Marshville, North Carolina and 1 of 1 Academy. In three seasons at Porter Ridge High School, Blackwell scored 1,123 career points and 169 total 3-pointers. She is a career 41.3-percent shooter from the field and 38.2-percent from beyond-the-arc. Last season, Blackwell averaged 15.4 points per game last season, had a 43.2 field goal percentage and a 37.8 3-point field goal percentage en route to All-District honors.
McMillan on Blackwell: "Sidney is a very smooth lefty shooter who can really score. She is an extremely hard worker who puts in the time on the game. With her size and skill, she can play multiple spots at the guard position and her tireless work ethic, hopefully is contagious."
Kennedy Horton is a 6-0, power forward from St. Louis, Missouri Pattonville HS. Last season for the Pirates, Horton averaged 11.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, including scoring 10-plus point in 13 of 19 contests with one double-double. A leading scorer for Pattonville last season, Horton is now a two-time All-Conference honoree, earning a second team nod in 2022-23 and a first team accolade in 2023-24.
McMillan on Horton: "Kennedy is an extremely hard worker inside who plays with a consistency that is very mature. She will be able to play wing and post in her career as her fundamental skills are very, very good. Her competitiveness stands out and she can make an immediate impact."
Sidni Middleton is 5-10, guard from Vilonia, Arkansas, and Vilonia High School. In 2023-24, she was one of only two unanimous first team selections to the Arkansas Sports Writers Super Team and the only junior. She has helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back appearances in Arkansas Class 5A state championship game, including a 24-point performance in last year's title tilt. In addition, Middleton was also named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps first team.
McMillan on Middleton: "Sidni is a versatile guard who can play the point or the wing position. She has a toughness about her that separates herself and she refuses to back down. She can really score and shoot the ball from anywhere and when she plays with a chip on her shoulder, she can put her game on another level."
Camden Ward is a 6-0, power forward from Smyrna, Tennessee, and Stewarts Creek High School. In her junior season, Ward 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on her way to All-District honors. In last season's district championship game, Ward led the Redhawks to the title with a game-high 16 points and was named to the All-Tournament team. In the classroom, Ward is an honors student who is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Beta Club.
McMillan on Ward: "Camden can play multiple positions with her skill set. When she realizes how good she can be, the sky will be the limit. She is a great teammate who really enjoys her teammates success, which is a rare quality these days. As she starts to figure things out, people should watch out."
Nyjha Webster is a 6-1, combo guard from Jackson, Tennessee, and Jackson Central-Merry High School. She was a key player in the rebuild for the Cougars under a new head coach last season. Her efforts on the court have made her a three-time All-District selection and she has twice been named to the district All-Tournament team.
McMillan on Webster: "Nyjha is an extremely versatile post/wing player that can put her game on another level and will be fun to watch mature and grow. She has a great feel for the game and wants to get better. She is another player that, as she figures things, out will be fun to watch."
Â
Sidney Blackwell is a 5-6, guard from Marshville, North Carolina and 1 of 1 Academy. In three seasons at Porter Ridge High School, Blackwell scored 1,123 career points and 169 total 3-pointers. She is a career 41.3-percent shooter from the field and 38.2-percent from beyond-the-arc. Last season, Blackwell averaged 15.4 points per game last season, had a 43.2 field goal percentage and a 37.8 3-point field goal percentage en route to All-District honors.
McMillan on Blackwell: "Sidney is a very smooth lefty shooter who can really score. She is an extremely hard worker who puts in the time on the game. With her size and skill, she can play multiple spots at the guard position and her tireless work ethic, hopefully is contagious."
Kennedy Horton is a 6-0, power forward from St. Louis, Missouri Pattonville HS. Last season for the Pirates, Horton averaged 11.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, including scoring 10-plus point in 13 of 19 contests with one double-double. A leading scorer for Pattonville last season, Horton is now a two-time All-Conference honoree, earning a second team nod in 2022-23 and a first team accolade in 2023-24.
McMillan on Horton: "Kennedy is an extremely hard worker inside who plays with a consistency that is very mature. She will be able to play wing and post in her career as her fundamental skills are very, very good. Her competitiveness stands out and she can make an immediate impact."
Sidni Middleton is 5-10, guard from Vilonia, Arkansas, and Vilonia High School. In 2023-24, she was one of only two unanimous first team selections to the Arkansas Sports Writers Super Team and the only junior. She has helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back appearances in Arkansas Class 5A state championship game, including a 24-point performance in last year's title tilt. In addition, Middleton was also named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps first team.
McMillan on Middleton: "Sidni is a versatile guard who can play the point or the wing position. She has a toughness about her that separates herself and she refuses to back down. She can really score and shoot the ball from anywhere and when she plays with a chip on her shoulder, she can put her game on another level."
Camden Ward is a 6-0, power forward from Smyrna, Tennessee, and Stewarts Creek High School. In her junior season, Ward 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on her way to All-District honors. In last season's district championship game, Ward led the Redhawks to the title with a game-high 16 points and was named to the All-Tournament team. In the classroom, Ward is an honors student who is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Beta Club.
McMillan on Ward: "Camden can play multiple positions with her skill set. When she realizes how good she can be, the sky will be the limit. She is a great teammate who really enjoys her teammates success, which is a rare quality these days. As she starts to figure things out, people should watch out."
Nyjha Webster is a 6-1, combo guard from Jackson, Tennessee, and Jackson Central-Merry High School. She was a key player in the rebuild for the Cougars under a new head coach last season. Her efforts on the court have made her a three-time All-District selection and she has twice been named to the district All-Tournament team.
McMillan on Webster: "Nyjha is an extremely versatile post/wing player that can put her game on another level and will be fun to watch mature and grow. She has a great feel for the game and wants to get better. She is another player that, as she figures things, out will be fun to watch."
Â
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 26
Tuesday, March 10
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 24
Tuesday, February 24
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 23
Tuesday, February 17
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 22
Tuesday, February 10