NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara women's basketball coach Kendra Faustin has announced that Kharysma Bryant, Tyler Newkirk,  Jayla Nichols and Nada Radonjic have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Purple Eagles women's basketball program starting with the 2015-16 season.

"We are thrilled to welcome four new Purple Eagles to the Niagara women's basketball family and to Niagara University," Faustin said. "These four young ladies are great fits for our program, both on and off the court, and embody everything we are about here at Niagara and certainly our program."

Kharysma Bryant | Guard | 5-8 | Rochester, N.Y. | Bishop Kearney

Bryant is a four-year varsity player at Bishop Kearney. She was named a Private-Parochial League all-star in 2014 after being second-team All-Greater Rochester in 2013. In her junior season, she averaged 15 points, six rebounds and five steals per game for the Kings, who were the 2013 Class C New York State champions.

"Kharysma is a strong physical wing player," Faustin said. "She is great in transition, she is a great defender, and she'll go rebound. She really embodies everything that our program is about on the court and off the court so we are thrilled to have her."

Tyler Newkirk | Guard | 5-7 | Canton, Ohio | McKinley Senior High School

Newkirk was named the 2013-14 Team MVP at Canton McKinley High School in her junior year. In 2013-14, Newkirk was also a first team all-county selection, First Team All-Federal League pick, All-Ohio Division I Special Mention and Division I All-Inland First Team honoree.

"Tyler is great in the open court and can really defend," Faustin said. "She can play a little bit of point and a little bit at the wing. She is a three-sport varsity athlete and her upside is really high and we are excited to have her."

Jayla Nichols | Guard | 5-7 | Detroit, Mich.| Romulus High School

Nichols is entering her second season at Romulus High School. The 5-foot-7 guard was a Western Wayne Athletic Conference first-team selection last year when she averaged 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per outing. At Western, where she spent her first two seasons, Nichols was an all-league selection. As a freshman, she scored 13 points while dishing out 3.5 assists per game. Her sophomore season, she improved her game and was posting 16 points and five assists per contest.

"Jayla is a guard that can really shoot it," said Faustin. "She is a phenomenal passer and that will really help her be successful and help us be successful in turn with our motion offense."

Nada Radonjic | Forward | 6-0 | Toronto, Ont. | Bill Crothers Secondary School

Radonjic, who attends Bill Crothers Secondary School, is a two-time member of Team Ontario which consists of the top female basketball players in the province.  In the 2012 Nationals, she earned Player of the Game for Team Ontario U15 after leading the team with 10 points and seven rebounds. The 6-foot forward was a 2009 Athlete of the Year at her school and 2011 Greater Toronto Area (GTA) All-Star at the HoopDome Tournament of Champions.

"Nada is a very skilled player and has a gift for passing," Faustin said. "Her feel for the game is phenomenal. She's great around the rim, rebounding and she has really expanded her game to the three point range."

The 2014-15 squad returns to the court on Dec. 18 when it travels to Cleveland State to take on the Vikings at 11 a.m. at the Wolstein Center. NU's next home game is not until Dec. 20 when it hosts Little Three rival St. Bonaventure in a Big 4 matchup at 1 p.m.