Kristy Curry Signs Carter and Middlebrook

Alabama head women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry announced the signing of Khadijah Carter and Karyla Middlebrook on Monday. Carter and Middlebrook, Curry’s first signees since taking over the program on May 16, will join the team for the 2013-14 season.

“We are so excited to have Khadijah and Karyla join our program,” said Curry. “They will make an immediate impact in every aspect of the program. We are thrilled to sign their caliber this late.”

Carter, who comes in as a sophomore after spending one season at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas, earned NJCAA First Team All-America honors and was named the Region XIV Freshman of the Year after averaging 18.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. The 6-1 post player was also a three-point threat, hitting 40 percent of her shots from long range. Her top single-game performance came on Nov. 20, at Hill College, where Carter dropped 31 points in addition to a game-high 14 rebounds. She scored doubles figures in all but one game last season and collected 12 doubles-doubles along the way.

A native of Goodrich, Texas, Carter averaged 34.6 points per game her senior season at Goodrich High School, scoring over 1,000 points that year alone. She dropped in 40 or more points on 11 occasions and hit 60.7 percent of her attempts from the floor. Carter was a three-time all-state selection and was named Offensive MVP of her district.

“Khadijah is a versatile swing player who can get to the rim and step out and hit the three,” explained Curry. “She can guard multiple positions. She comes from a great program having been coached by Lynn Nabi, which has prepared her for this next step in her career.”

Middlebrook, a 5-7 point guard from Blue Springs, Mo., is ranked as the No. 22 point guard and No. 81 overall talent in the 2013 class by ESPN. She is a three-time all-conference and all-district selection and earned all-state honors from the Missouri Sports Writers Association in 2012 and 2013 and the Missouri Coaches Association in 2013. As a senior, she also was named to the Missouri All-Star Team and the USA Today All-State Team for Missouri.

Middlebrook led Blue Springs High School to the state Final Four for three straight years, finishing third in 2013. Averaging over 12 points and four assists per game as a senior, she was selected as a finalist for the DiRenna Award, given annually to the top player in the Kansas City Metro area. In addition to her success on the court, Middlebrook has also flourished in the classroom, graduating magna cum laude.

“Karyla is the consummate point guard,” Curry added. “All she knows how to do is win, and this is contagious with those around her. She possesses a great work ethic and will instantly impact the perimeter.”

Carter and Middlebrook will join the Tide’s five previous signees, Courtney Hunter, a 5-9 guard from Hoover, Ala., Brooksie McGraw, a 6-3 center from Gainesville, Fla., Kara Rawls, a 6-0 forward from Hoover, Ala., Sharin Rivers, a 5-3 point guard from Huntsville, Ala., who joins the team after playing two seasons at Shelton State, and Ashley Williams, a 6-0 forward from Covington, Ga.