SAN ANTONIO – UTSA women's basketball head coach Karen Aston announced three new signees – Idara Udo, Emma Lucio and Aysia Proctor - to join the Roadrunners in 2023.
"I am so pleased to announce these three young ladies as new members of our Roadrunner family," Aston said. "A special thanks to our staff for working so diligently to find players that fit our style and culture. They worked very hard to find perfect pieces of the puzzle as we continue to build this program."
Idara Udo • Forward • 6'1 • Plano, Texas • Plano East High School
Udo is set to join the UTSA family from Plano East High School. She helped lead the Panthers to district championships in her sophomore and junior years. As a freshman, she was named Second Team All-District and earned First Team honors her junior year. As a sophomore, she was named the Defensive Player of the Year. On top of her athletic achievements, she has excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-District and A Honor Roll throughout her high school career.
Aston on Udo: "Idara Udo, is going to be a very special talent. She provides us with more size and versatility in the post, and a very strong work ethic. She has such a wonderful family that is supportive of her dreams on and off the court. Idara is a phenomenal student-athlete and one that will immediate our team. She fits into that 'high-achiever mold' that we are looking for when we bring freshmen into our program."
Plano East High School Coach Derrick Richardson on Udo: "Idara is a great player and a great kid. She is our physical and vocal leader on and off the court. With her size, she is often the biggest person in the room, but she is almost always the biggest personality in the room. She is a passionate young lady that loves basketball and winning. More importantly she has a passion for life and a love for those around her. Roadrunner fans will love her energy and infectious personality."
Drive Nation Club Coach Ed Daniels on Udo: "Idara is a player who is a leader that loves the games and is super competitive. Even in defeat she understands the lesson within. She's a great young woman with a phenomenal personality, fun to be around and someone understands her influence. The impact I think she can bring to UTSA is endless. She'll be a great teammate, great for the locker room and on court once she gets acclimated to the system. I think she will make her case for Freshman of the Year."
Emma Lucio • Guard • 5'9" • Edinburg, Texas • Robert Vela High School
Joining the Roadrunners from Robert Vela High School in Edinburg, Texas, she has played varsity basketball for the Sabercats for four years. As a freshman, she was named the District Newcomer of the Year, Second Team All-District, and Third Team All-Valley. She was named First Team All-District and Second Team All-Valley during her sophomore year. In her junior year, she earned Co-Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-District, All-Valley Defensive Team, All State Team, and All-City MVP. She also played varsity volleyball all four years.
Aston on Lucio: "Emma Lucio is such an exciting player to watch and I know she will become a fan favorite. She has a bounce in her step and a flare to her game that people enjoy watching.
Another young lady that comes from a winning high school program and a very loving, wonderful family that fits UTSA. I want our program to feel like family and players like Emma fit the mold. She is another great student with high goals on and off the court. Emma will provide us with immediate scoring and shooting depth and is a guard that can play multiple positions. She will be a joy to watch grow and mature in a Roadrunner uniform."
Robert Vela High School coach Lottie Zarate on Lucio: "Emma is a go getter! Fierce competitor who is willing to do whatever it takes for a team victory. What she brings to the table as a basketball player: unselfish player. She is willing to make that extra pass for the higher percentage shot. She is the type of player who helps team mates that are less experienced than she is. She is a floor general. The impact that she will be bring to UTSA is leadership, selflessness, and a go to player. She is willing to play the decoy on a play or take the final winning shot.
Basketball trainer Nathan Gonzalez on Lucio: "In 11 years of having my basketball training academy, I've never met a player as driven as Emma. Her work ethic is second to none. Time after time, I've challenged her so much over the years and she has always stepped up to the challenge. As a player, she is tenacious and a major student of the game who is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team win. I believe that she will bring that mentality and more to UTSA next year."
Aysia Proctor • Guard • 5'9" • Schertz, Texas • Samuel Clemens High School
A local product from Samuel Clemens High School, Proctor played varsity basketball for the Buffaloes all four years, under coaches Nia Torru and Greg Williams. In 2020, Proctor was named to the All District First Team as a freshman. She earned Texas Girls Coaches' Association All-State honors and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region honors in 2021. Proctor was named to the 2021-22 UIL Girls All-Region Team. In 2022, she was named to the All-District First Team.
Aston on Proctor: "Last but certainly not least is a young lady that we identified as soon as we stepped on campus here in San Antonio. Aysia Proctor is going to be a name people on campus will know very quickly. She is a San Antonio product that is a part of a great high school program and the storied San Antonio Finest Club. She will make an immediate impact on our team because of her ability to score in so many different ways. Aysia has been a player that we got to know very quickly and it may sounds like a broken record, but comes from a family that is very tight knit and has high standards. She fits with UTSA and I am thrilled to be able to keep the best talent in San Antonio home so that the community recognizes our team and will get behind them."
Former Samuel Clemens High School Coach Nia Torru on Proctor: "Aysia is a great addition to UTSA! She can efficiently score on all 3 levels, and she has a midrange game unlike one I've seen in high school girls basketball in a while! She has a way of finding the ball and will even block a shot or two. Her familial support is unmatched! UTSA got a great package with this hometown kid!"
Current Clemens High School Coach Greg Williams on Proctor: "Aysia is a very talented kid who has never really had to lead before. She is working hard to become a better more effective vocal leader. She is a great kid with a good heart. Aysia has been working hard to improve defensively. On the offensive end she has shown the ability to score on all levels."
San Antonio's Finest Club Coach Ray Caldwell on Proctor: "Aysia Proctor is a throwback to the times when players loved and respected the game. A tireless worker, AP will embrace the challenges that come with division one basketball. Coach Aston landed a high character young woman who will help the Lady Roadrunners continue their rise while representing the program with dignity, on and off the court."
These three signees are set to join the Roadrunners as true freshmen starting in the 2023-24 season.
"Again, I am thrilled to welcome these young women to our Roadrunner family," Aston exclaimed. "Birds UP!!"
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