CHICAGO — The Chicago State women's basketball program has announced the signings of Aminata Tal and Charlotte Carvalho, both natives of Senegal.
Tal and Carvalho each attended the SEED Academy, a boarding school in Thiès, Senegal.
After Tal participated in the 2019 women's camp in Saly, her third appearance at the camp, the NBA chose her from a group of nearly 60 prospects to enroll at SEED.
"Aminata is an ultra-competitive guard who wants to win," Chicago State head coach Tiffany Sardin said. "She's a strong guard who will be a threat from the three-point line and is strong in attacking downhill. She will be giving us depth in the guard position. We can't wait for her arrival to campus."
At the camp's 2018 iteration, Tal was selected as Best Defensive Player. In 2020, Tal then traveled to Chicago to participate in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp in Chicago, which Carvalho played in, as well. The camp serves as the NBA and FIBA's basketball development and community outreach program, bringing together top talent from around the globe.Both Carvalho and Tal have each represented their country. Carvalho formed part of Senegal's under-18 National Team in 2020, while Tal was named Most Valuable Player at an under-16 youth regional tournament in 2018.
While competing for SEED at an under-16 tournament in Morocco in 2019, Carvalho helped power her squad to the tournament title. She joins the class of 2021, which also includes Tal, Aaliyah Collins and Taylor Norris, with more to come.
"Charlotte will give us size and versatility on both sides of the ball," Sardin said. "She's a skilled player with the potential to make an impact early in her career. Charlotte fits the pillars of our program and we are happy to be adding her to the Cougar family."
About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet.
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