MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama women's basketball head coach Terry Fowler announced Wednesday the addition of James Madison University transfer Candice Williams (Alpharetta, Ga.).  The 5-6 guard will join the program during the 2015-16 season and have three years of eligibility.

"First of all, we are really excited to have Candice [Williams] join out program," Fowler said.  "She played at a high level of basketball in high school around Atlanta.  She was highly recruited out of high school.

"Candice is athletic and a really good ball-handler.  She has the ability to score and just raises the level of play of the players around her.  She has outstanding leadership out on the court and is just a great kid.  I love her athleticism.  She's going to be able to push the ball for us offensively and defensively, she's going to be able to guard and cause havoc on the opponents."

The Jag signee has a tie to the area as she was born in Mobile.

"Candice's mother is from Mobile and her grandparents still live here," Fowler said.  "It just ended up being a great fit for her and for us.  We are really excited to have her join our Jaguar family."

Williams joins fellow spring signee D'Andra Pringle (Lawrenceville, Ga. – Mountain View High School) who signed with the Jaguars last week, along with fall signees Christen Carter (Jacksonville, Fla. – The Bolles School) and India Hall (Antioch, Tenn. – Brentwood Academy) in this year's recruiting class.  

South Alabama is still looking at signing one to two more to the class this spring.  

Williams transfers to South Alabama from James Madison out of the Colonial Athletic Association.  She appeared in just one game for the Dukes after suffering an injury.

Williams – who also received interest from Florida and Wisconsin – originally signed with Louisiana Tech back during the fall of 2013, before eventually ending up on the JMU campus.  She was released from her NLI at Tech after a coaching.

Prior to her one season at James Madison, Williams was three-star recruit and ranked as the 64th-best point guard in the country by ESPN Hoopgurlz after lettering three seasons at St. Francis High School in Alpharetta, Ga., for head coach Aisha Gaddis.  She led the Lady Knights to the Class A private school state basketball championship in 2013 and the Region 6A title in 2014, finishing 25-4 in her final season.  

Williams averaged 16 points per game with four assists and 2.5 steals per game during her final prep season.  She was a team captain in 2013-14 and was named to the Class A all-state first team by the Georgia Sportswriters Association.

She was also selected as the Region 6 Co-Player of the Year and was a Naismith honorable mention selection.  Williams was selected as the MVP of the XXL2 All-Star Game.

As a junior, Williams averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 assists per game and was named first-team all-region both her junior and sophomore seasons.  She was also a member of the academic honor roll at St. Francis and lettered also in volleyball and track.

Williams played her freshman year of high school ball at Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Ga., leading the Tigers to a state championship.  

Williams also played AAU basketball with the Essence Girls Basketball program.

2015 South Alabama Women's Basketball Signees
Spring
Candice Williams – 5-6 – Guard – Alpharetta, Ga. – James Madison University/St. Francis High School
D'Andra Pringle – 5-8 – Guard – Lawrenceville, Ga. – Mountain View High School

Fall
Christen Carter – 5-10 – Forward – Jacksonville, Fla. – The Bolles School
India Hall – 6-2 – Forward/Center – Antioch, Tenn. – Brentwood Academy

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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