Heading into the 2023-24 season, JMU women’s basketball is welcoming four experienced transfers to the roster — graduate guard Carole Miller, redshirt junior guard Olivia Mullins, senior guard Hevynne Bristow and junior forward Ashanti Barnes.
“It’s a really, really strong transfer group,” JMU head coach Sean O’Regan said. “But they’re all different, and that’s what I like about it.”
Carole Miller: ‘Swiss army knife’
Miller, a transfer from U.Va., is playing for the Dukes as a graduate student in her final year of eligibility.
Being in such close proximity to JMU in Charlottesville at U.Va., Miller said she’s been familiar with head coach Sean O’Regan’s squad and that JMU’s been supportive in her transition to Harrisonburg.
“The team has welcomed me with open arms,” Miller said.
As a Cavalier, Miller averaged 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season. O’Regan described Miller as a “Swiss army knife.”
“She’s not high-flying, she’s not the fastest kid in the world,” O’Regan said, “but she is super smart. And, you know, if a rebound gets down here, she’s going to come up with it … Whatever we need, she comes up with.”
Miller said she’s excited to be a part of a team with a winning standard and that she’s ready to put in the hard work to aid her teammates.
“It’s no secret I came from a program that was the losing program for basically all four years I was there,” Miller said; in her four years at U.Va., the Cavaliers went a combined 33-59. “So coming into an environment where winning is, I wouldn’t say the normal, but like the standard, and the previous standard of last year to kind of live up to.”
Redshirt junior guard Olivia Mullins transfered from Saint Joseph’s. At the Philadelphia-based school, she averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebound and 3.0 assists per game last winter.
Olivia Mullins: versatile guard
Mullins, who comes from Saint Joseph’s in Pennsylvania, also joined the Dukes this season.
She said her transition to JMU has been smooth, with the biggest adjustment being the move from Philadelphia to Harrisonburg.
Since transferring, Mullins said she’s adjusted her routine as a student-athlete and begins her day in the gym when she’s not in class, adding that practice and getting reps is her favorite part of her day on campus.
“Depending on the day, I can come in early and get some treatment or extra shots, or [watch] film,” Mullins said.
Mullins averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season with the Hawks.
She said her focus this season is helping the Dukes win a second straight Sun Belt championship, with the mindset that she and the other transfer players are Dukes for a reason: to return to the NCAA tournament.
“That’s exactly what I want to do; that’s exactly why I came here,” Mullins said. “Coach O didn’t bring all of us in for no reason.”
O’Regan said Mullins has done well transitioning into the program and making her presence known on the court, adding that she did a good job in a scrimmage JMU had against Radford on Oct. 21.
Senior guard Hevynne Bristow previously played for Ohio State, the same team that knocked the Dukes out of the NCAA Tournament last year.
Hevynne Bristow: ‘wow’ talent
Bristow is a senior transfer guard from Ohio State, the same team that knocked the Dukes out of the NCAA Tournament with a 80-66 win in March.
For the Buckeyes, Bristow averaged 3.6 points and 3.0 rebounds on 10.5 minutes of action per game.
O’Regan said Bristow has “wow” talent and hopes she’s able to perform for the Dukes, as the team is waiting for a waiver allowing Bristow to play this season, which could happen any day.
“Bristow could be the most impactful we have,” O’Regan said. “People are going to buy tickets to watch her play.”
Ashanti Barnes is a junior forward transfer from Trinity Valley Community College in Texas. O’Regan said he believes Barnes could be the best rebounder in the Sun Belt this season.
Ashanti Barnes: high rebound potential
Formerly playing for Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, Barnes is another veteran joining the Dukes’ roster this season.
After Barnes averaged 10.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, O’Regan said he has high expectations for her this season. Despite not watching her play in the Dukes’ recent scrimmage — Barnes was out with an ankle injury — O’Regan said he believes she could be the best rebounder in the Sun Belt.
“She can score it; she has great hands; she can shoot a three, defend, rebound,” O’Regan said.
Basketball powerhouse influences
After an impressive season last year that included capturing the 2023 Sun Belt championship and making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, O’Regan said he believes this is a strong transfer group and is looking for them to step up this winter.
O’Regan said adding Bristow from Ohio State and other players from notable basketball schools such as U.Va. following the Dukes’ NCAA Tournament appearance helps the team put a name out for themselves.
“I just think they can see the quality of what we bring and what we have, and we’ve had some chances to get some really good kids here,” O’Regan said.