Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Lady Raiders land prized recruit in Willock
4/17/2019 6:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Forward rated No. 2 JUCO post player nationally
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee has landed the nation's No. 2-rated junior college post prospect, according to Girls Basketball Report, as the NCAA Late Signing Period began Wednesday.
New Mexico Junior College standout Eternati Willock has signed to continue her career with the Lady Raiders, according to Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell. Willock will be eligible for the 2019-20 season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
"We are very excited to have Eternati join our program," Insell said. "She is an ultra-talented young lady who has a chance to do something special at Middle Tennessee. We have locked in on specific needs as we continue building our roster for next season, and Eternati fits a specific need for us."
Willock, a 6-foot-4 center, helped lead New Mexico Junior College (30-5) to a runner-up finish at the NJCAA National Championship in 2018-19. The highly regarded post player averaged 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 59.4 percent from the field.
She was the Western Junior College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference, as well as being named to the All-Tournament team at the NJCAA National Championship. Willock turned in 24 double-figure scoring games and boasted eight double-doubles at New Mexico Junior College.
Willock said she chose Middle Tennessee as her next destination because of the closeness she felt during an official visit to campus.
"I chose Middle Tennessee because I loved how involved and committed everyone was to each other," Willock said. "It was a true family environment that I really wanted to be a part of. Now that I am, I can honestly say I am very happy to be a Blue Raider."
Dan Olson, who runs Girlsbasketballreport.com and compiles rankings for espnW, has Willock ranked as the No. 2 junior college post player nationally and says Middle Tennessee landed a "formidable post prospect who will prove to be an impact player."
"Eternati will be an impact player for Middle Tennessee at the post position," Olson said. "She is a proven, battle-tested, post prospect. In the world of women's basketball where there isn't a really, really good amount of post players, Eternati is the opposite. She is skilled, she finishes plays in traffic against contact consistently. She does all the little things and is a big-time rebounder."
Prior to New Mexico Junior College, Willock attended Kansas State where she was a unanimous choice for the Big 12 All-Freshman team after playing in 31 games and starting five. She averaged 6.6 points and had double figures in nine games overall. Willock was second on the team in rebounding with 5.1 per game, and she pulled five or more rebounds in 16 games.
"Eternati is very athletic inside and she is very good catching the basketball and finishing," Insell said. "She is active. She seems to really understand the position and also does a great job of passing and finding open players."
Willock is a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and was ranked as the No. 6 international prospect by Prospects Nation. Willock represented Canada in three international tournaments: 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships for Women, 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women and 2011 FIBA America U16 Championship for Women.
"Canadian basketball has really progressed over the last five years or so, and Eternati is an example of that," Olson said. "They are doing something right up there and she is proof of that. Eternati will be a formidable post player in Conference USA or wherever she would have decided to go."
Willock was ranked the No. 33 player in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz and Girlsbasketballreport.com coming out of St. John Paul II Catholic School.
Willock joins a stellar Lady Raider signing class that also includes McDonald's All-Americans Rellah Boothe and Anastasia Hayes, forward Ra'Shika White, and prep standouts Aislynn Hayes, Taylor Lewis and Kiya Turner.
New Mexico Junior College standout Eternati Willock has signed to continue her career with the Lady Raiders, according to Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell. Willock will be eligible for the 2019-20 season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
"We are very excited to have Eternati join our program," Insell said. "She is an ultra-talented young lady who has a chance to do something special at Middle Tennessee. We have locked in on specific needs as we continue building our roster for next season, and Eternati fits a specific need for us."
Willock, a 6-foot-4 center, helped lead New Mexico Junior College (30-5) to a runner-up finish at the NJCAA National Championship in 2018-19. The highly regarded post player averaged 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 59.4 percent from the field.
She was the Western Junior College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference, as well as being named to the All-Tournament team at the NJCAA National Championship. Willock turned in 24 double-figure scoring games and boasted eight double-doubles at New Mexico Junior College.
Willock said she chose Middle Tennessee as her next destination because of the closeness she felt during an official visit to campus.
"I chose Middle Tennessee because I loved how involved and committed everyone was to each other," Willock said. "It was a true family environment that I really wanted to be a part of. Now that I am, I can honestly say I am very happy to be a Blue Raider."
Dan Olson, who runs Girlsbasketballreport.com and compiles rankings for espnW, has Willock ranked as the No. 2 junior college post player nationally and says Middle Tennessee landed a "formidable post prospect who will prove to be an impact player."
"Eternati will be an impact player for Middle Tennessee at the post position," Olson said. "She is a proven, battle-tested, post prospect. In the world of women's basketball where there isn't a really, really good amount of post players, Eternati is the opposite. She is skilled, she finishes plays in traffic against contact consistently. She does all the little things and is a big-time rebounder."
Prior to New Mexico Junior College, Willock attended Kansas State where she was a unanimous choice for the Big 12 All-Freshman team after playing in 31 games and starting five. She averaged 6.6 points and had double figures in nine games overall. Willock was second on the team in rebounding with 5.1 per game, and she pulled five or more rebounds in 16 games.
"Eternati is very athletic inside and she is very good catching the basketball and finishing," Insell said. "She is active. She seems to really understand the position and also does a great job of passing and finding open players."
Willock is a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and was ranked as the No. 6 international prospect by Prospects Nation. Willock represented Canada in three international tournaments: 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships for Women, 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women and 2011 FIBA America U16 Championship for Women.
"Canadian basketball has really progressed over the last five years or so, and Eternati is an example of that," Olson said. "They are doing something right up there and she is proof of that. Eternati will be a formidable post player in Conference USA or wherever she would have decided to go."
Willock was ranked the No. 33 player in the nation by ESPN Hoopgurlz and Girlsbasketballreport.com coming out of St. John Paul II Catholic School.
Willock joins a stellar Lady Raider signing class that also includes McDonald's All-Americans Rellah Boothe and Anastasia Hayes, forward Ra'Shika White, and prep standouts Aislynn Hayes, Taylor Lewis and Kiya Turner.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballSeason Preview – MTSU Women's Basketball 2025
Friday, October 24
True Blue Testimonials - Savannah Davis MTSU Women's Basketball Guard - Presented by MMC
Thursday, October 16
2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
Wednesday, October 01
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
