Ayana Dunning, a 6-3 F/C, from Columbus, Ohio, played one season
at LSU last year and will sit out this season with the Mountaineers, in
accordance with NCAA transfer rules. She will have three years of
eligibility remaining at West Virginia.
“Ayana is truly one of the premier post players in the
country,” Carey says. “She’s a true low-post threat that has
excellent low-post abilities, passing skills and has tremendous shooting
skills away from the basket.
“Ayana was highly recruited by all the major programs in the
country coming out of high school. I’m happy she’s joining our
family. With the addition of her and our outstanding incoming class, the
future of Mountaineer women’s basketball is very bright.”
Dunning appeared in 23 games last year for the Tigers, averaging
5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 13.7 minutes per game. She scored a
career-best 20 points (8-12 shooting) with 10 rebounds at then No. 18
Vanderbilt last season. She finished with five double-figure scoring
games and two double-digit rebounding efforts.
In high school, Dunning averaged 17.6 points and 13.1 at
Eastmoor Academy, where she started 77 career games. She was ranked the
12th-best player in the nation by HoopGurlz.com and the third-best post
player. She played in the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Game, was a
WBCA All-American and a finalist for Ms. Basketball by Parade Magazine.
Dunning holds the career scoring and rebounding marks at
Eastmoor and she averaged 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and three blocks
per game as a senior. She tallied 19.8 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.2
blocks as a junior. A two-time first team all-state selection and the
2008 Central District Player of the Year, Dunning was a member of four
district championships and two regional championship teams.