ELON, N.C. – Elon head women’s basketball coach Karen Barefoot has announced that prep stars Sam Coffer (Greensboro, N.C./Northern Guilford), Zora Stephenson (Vienna, Va./Oakton) and Shannen Cochraham (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) have signed national letters of intent to join the Phoenix next season.

“We are extremely pleased with our 2011 commitments,” Barefoot said.  “We feel these three will compliment this young talented team and fit in our up-tempo style of play.”

Barefoot's 2011-12 class garnered national praise, as Collegiate Girls Basketball Report ranked it No. 71 in the nation and second in the Southern Conference.

Coffer, a 6-foot-1 guard/forward, has tallied 1,272 points going into her senior season, as well as 664 rebounds and 236 blocks. A three-year captain, Coffer has earned first-team all-conference accolades every season at Northern Guilford, while also being named a Greensboro News & Record all-area selection three times and a first-team all-district selection twice. She has been named the Rio Grande Player of the Week five times in her career and was a nominee for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award in 2010. Last year at the Elon Position Camp, Coffer won the most outstanding post player award by the Phoenix staff. Coffer maintains a 4.8 grade point average and plans on majoring in biology when she arrives at Elon.

“Sam is a very versatile, left-handed post player that can do it all,” Barefoot said. “She can step out and shoot the three, drive it, pass it, and most importantly, she has a scoring mentality. We are very pleased to keep this local talent close to home.”

Stephenson, a 5-foot-10 shooting guard, averaged 19.0 points per game last season at Oakton and has tallied over 1,000 career points going into her senior season. Stephenson holds a 3.7 GPA and intends on majoring in education (pre-law) at Elon.

“Zora is one of the top shooters in the 2011 class,” Barefoot said. “She is a proven winner and will be a scoring threat within our system.”

Cochraham, a 6-foot-3 center, led Hayfield in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots last season, averaging 12 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks per contest. Cochraham maintains a 3.2 GPA and intends on majoring education or pre-law when she arrives at Elon.

“Shannen has great size and hands, is very physical, and is also a tremendously strong rebounder. She will give us a low block presence,” Barefoot said. “We are very excited about the addition of Shannen next season.”

All three players will be eligible to play for the Phoenix next season.