Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Four prep standouts sign with Lady Raiders
11/8/2017 9:12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Insell says class one of his best
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Head Women's Basketball Coach Rick Insell announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on the first day of the NCAA Early Signing Period Wednesday.
Joining Middle Tennessee in the Class of 2018 are Mykia Dowdell, a 5-foot-8 guard/forward from Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Taylor Sutton, a 5-4 point guard from Atlanta, Ga.; Alexis Whittington, a 5-11 guard from Murfreesboro; and Amanda Whittington, a 5-10 guard from Murfreesboro.
Insell said this signing class is one of the tops in his 13 seasons leading the Lady Raider program.
"I think this may be the best recruiting class we have signed since I have been here," Insell said. "We don't have a 6-foot-5 player in the class, but when you look at the point guard, as well as the two, three and four positions, I am extremely pleased with this class. I am excited to have these young ladies and their families as part of the Lady Raider program."
Mykia Dowdell | Guard | 5-foot-8 | Oak Ridge, Tenn. | Oak Ridge HS
Dowdell is a heralded recruit who Insell calls "one of the best all-around athletes we have ever signed at Middle Tennessee."
Dowdell has started 100 consecutive games for Oak Ridge High School, while leading the program to back-to-back 30-win seasons and consecutive appearances in the TSSAA Class AAA Girls State Tournament. Her high school coach is Paige Redman (Green), who was an outstanding player at Bradley Central and also played AAU Girls Basketball for Insell.
The electrifying Dowdell has scored 1,329 career points, which is currently 17th on the all-time list at Oak Ridge, a traditional state power. She is also 13th all-time in rebounding with 725 and 16th on the career steals list with 232.
"(Dowdell) is a tremendous athlete," Insell said. "Lad She has great hands. She has primarily played post in high school, but we would like to play her at the 3."
Dowdell also starred on the travel basketball circuit for Tennessee Flight.
Taylor Sutton | Guard | 5-foot-4 | Atlanta, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian School
Insell calls Sutton a true point guard who shines at the position.
"She is a legitimate point guard and we signed her to be a point guard, not a 2 or 3," Insell said. "Taylor pushes the ball, she facilitates, she knocks down 3s and she's a great passer and a hard-nosed defender. Taylor Sutton is everything you look for in a point guard. She has a very good high school coach in Lady Grooms, and her travel team (FBC Travel Basketball) is one of the top travel teams. We are very glad, and fortunate, to have a player with her qualities."
Sutton shined at Greater Atlanta Christian as a junior, averaging 15 points, eight assists and five steals as the team's floor general.
"Taylor is in the Ty Petty mode a far as competing and being drive for success," Insell said.
Alexis Whittington | Guard | 5-foot-11 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Riverdale HS
Twin sisters Alexis Whittington and Amanda Whittington have helped lead state power Riverdale to back-to-back TSSAA Class AAA State Championships and a National Championship, and have been a solid contributor to the team's dominance during that stretch.
"Alexis and Amanda Whittington are proven," Insell said. "They know how to win championships. They have won two state championships and have a chance to win another one. You see the same tendencies in both of them. They can shoot the ball extremely well. They can pass the ball, and they love competition."
Alexis has already surpassed 1,000 points in just three seasons, totaling 1,122 to date. She averages double figures scoring with an average of 12 points per game over the last three years, to go along with five rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Alexis is a three-time All-District 7-AAA selection and two-time All-Region 4-AAA selection, while also being named Region 4-AAA MVP. The well-rounded standout has also been named to the All-State Tournament team both years.
Amanda Whittington | Guard | 5-foot-10 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Riverdale HS
Amanda has been named to the All-State Tournament team twice, as well as the All-Region 4-AAA team. She is also a solid all-around player across the board who impacts the game offensively, defensively and helping set up others.
"I love that they are both Murfreesboro girls who wanted to stay close to home, play on a national level, execel on a national level, and they want to be the ones who help take MTSU to another level," Insell said. "Everything we talk about in our program, they bought into right away.
"Alexis and Amanda play for an outstanding coach in Randy Coffman at Riverdale High School, and he's one of the best out there."
Alexis and Amanda also played travel basketball for Tennessee Flight.
Joining Middle Tennessee in the Class of 2018 are Mykia Dowdell, a 5-foot-8 guard/forward from Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Taylor Sutton, a 5-4 point guard from Atlanta, Ga.; Alexis Whittington, a 5-11 guard from Murfreesboro; and Amanda Whittington, a 5-10 guard from Murfreesboro.
Insell said this signing class is one of the tops in his 13 seasons leading the Lady Raider program.
"I think this may be the best recruiting class we have signed since I have been here," Insell said. "We don't have a 6-foot-5 player in the class, but when you look at the point guard, as well as the two, three and four positions, I am extremely pleased with this class. I am excited to have these young ladies and their families as part of the Lady Raider program."
Mykia Dowdell | Guard | 5-foot-8 | Oak Ridge, Tenn. | Oak Ridge HS
Dowdell is a heralded recruit who Insell calls "one of the best all-around athletes we have ever signed at Middle Tennessee."
Dowdell has started 100 consecutive games for Oak Ridge High School, while leading the program to back-to-back 30-win seasons and consecutive appearances in the TSSAA Class AAA Girls State Tournament. Her high school coach is Paige Redman (Green), who was an outstanding player at Bradley Central and also played AAU Girls Basketball for Insell.
The electrifying Dowdell has scored 1,329 career points, which is currently 17th on the all-time list at Oak Ridge, a traditional state power. She is also 13th all-time in rebounding with 725 and 16th on the career steals list with 232.
"(Dowdell) is a tremendous athlete," Insell said. "Lad She has great hands. She has primarily played post in high school, but we would like to play her at the 3."
Dowdell also starred on the travel basketball circuit for Tennessee Flight.
Taylor Sutton | Guard | 5-foot-4 | Atlanta, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian School
Insell calls Sutton a true point guard who shines at the position.
"She is a legitimate point guard and we signed her to be a point guard, not a 2 or 3," Insell said. "Taylor pushes the ball, she facilitates, she knocks down 3s and she's a great passer and a hard-nosed defender. Taylor Sutton is everything you look for in a point guard. She has a very good high school coach in Lady Grooms, and her travel team (FBC Travel Basketball) is one of the top travel teams. We are very glad, and fortunate, to have a player with her qualities."
Sutton shined at Greater Atlanta Christian as a junior, averaging 15 points, eight assists and five steals as the team's floor general.
"Taylor is in the Ty Petty mode a far as competing and being drive for success," Insell said.
Alexis Whittington | Guard | 5-foot-11 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Riverdale HS
Twin sisters Alexis Whittington and Amanda Whittington have helped lead state power Riverdale to back-to-back TSSAA Class AAA State Championships and a National Championship, and have been a solid contributor to the team's dominance during that stretch.
"Alexis and Amanda Whittington are proven," Insell said. "They know how to win championships. They have won two state championships and have a chance to win another one. You see the same tendencies in both of them. They can shoot the ball extremely well. They can pass the ball, and they love competition."
Alexis has already surpassed 1,000 points in just three seasons, totaling 1,122 to date. She averages double figures scoring with an average of 12 points per game over the last three years, to go along with five rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Alexis is a three-time All-District 7-AAA selection and two-time All-Region 4-AAA selection, while also being named Region 4-AAA MVP. The well-rounded standout has also been named to the All-State Tournament team both years.
Amanda Whittington | Guard | 5-foot-10 | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Riverdale HS
Amanda has been named to the All-State Tournament team twice, as well as the All-Region 4-AAA team. She is also a solid all-around player across the board who impacts the game offensively, defensively and helping set up others.
"I love that they are both Murfreesboro girls who wanted to stay close to home, play on a national level, execel on a national level, and they want to be the ones who help take MTSU to another level," Insell said. "Everything we talk about in our program, they bought into right away.
"Alexis and Amanda play for an outstanding coach in Randy Coffman at Riverdale High School, and he's one of the best out there."
Alexis and Amanda also played travel basketball for Tennessee Flight.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Rick Insell Conference USA Hall of Fame Announcement
Wednesday, July 09
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Women's Basketball Coach Rick Insell interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
