Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Women's Basketball Signs Five for 2019
11/16/2018 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team will add five new players for the 2019-20 season, head coach Jim Jabir announced on Friday, Nov. 16. Tanyia Gordon, N'deye Astou Gaye, Allison Tylka, Lotta Vehka-aho and Alexa Zaph all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Owls.
"This group represents our effort to bring athletic, tough and talented players to FAU with the goal of winning championships," Jabir said. "We have a way to go but the 2019 class will help us to that end as they develop and grow."
Tanyia Gordon
Hometown: Plant City, Fla. | Height: 5'9" | Position: Forward
Gordon will stay in the Sunshine State to play collegiate ball after playing at Tampa Catholic High School. The combination guard has had a successful high school career highlighted by being named All-State and All-County. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the St. Pius X Christmas Classic and the Crusader Classic.
Jabir on Gordon:
"Tanyia Gordon is a great athlete who can create her own shot. She rebounds much bigger than her size and can post up for a guard. She has a chance to be a special player if she works and continues her commitment to be great."
N'deye Astou Gaye
Hometown: Creteil, France | Height: 6'2" | Position: Forward
Gaye will come to FAU from the junior college ranks after she wraps up this season with Gulf Coast State College. In her first season at GCSC, Gaye was named to the All-Panhandle Conference First Team after leading her team to its 12th FCSAA/NJCAA State Championship and fourth-straight Panhandle Conference title.
Gaye has also proven herself internationally, winning a gold medal for France in the 2016 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships while being named the tournament's MVP. She also led France to gold in the U18 European Women's Basketball Championship. As an individual, Gaye won the 3-point mixed Shoot-Out Contest at the U18 European Championships, showing her versatility as a post player who can step out and knock down the three.
Jabir on Gaye:
"Astou Gaye is a very skilled French player who comes to us via Gulf Coast State CC. She can shoot the three and handle the ball with a post player's body. On top of that she is a great kid and student."
Allison Tylka
Hometown: Wauconda, Ill. | Height: 5'11" | Guard
Tylka will add a little Midwestern flavor to the Owls, hailing from Wauconda, Illinois. Tylka is a three-year captain for her high school team and has scored over 1,000 career points. During the 2017-18 season, she averaged a double-double with 18.1 points per game and 10 rebounds per contest. She also averaged 3.8 steals, 2.8 assists and 2.6 blocks.
Through three seasons, she has racked up awards and honors already. She was named All-Conference First Team, Daily Herald All-Area Lake County team, New Gazette All-State Basketball Special Mention and Northwest Daily Herald Athlete of the Month.
Jabir on Tylka:
"Allie Tylka is a 5'11" shooting guard who can also play some point. She is long and a very good ball defender. Her best basketball is still ahead of her. I want her to look for her shot more."
Lotta Vehka-aho
Hometown: Ahtari, Finland | Height: 5'6" | Position: Guard
Vehka-aho is the second international athlete the Owls will be adding in 2019, coming to Boca Raton from Finland. The point/shooting guard will come to FAU with international experience after playing on both the Finnish 2016 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship Division B national team and the 2017 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship national team.
In 2018, she led the Finnish U18 team to a second place finish in the European Division B Championship. Also in 2018, Vehka-aho was named the MVP of the Baltic Sea Cup Tournament representing Finland.
Jabir on Vehka-aho:
"Lotta Vehka-aho is a scrappy point guard from Finland with good range and a great understanding of how to play the game. She, like Alexa, is a very strong and tough competitor."
Alexa Zaph
Hometown: Jupiter, Fla. | Height: 5'8" | Position: Guard
Zaph is a local product out of Jupiter, Florida. She will come to FAU from Oxbridge Academy. With one season left to play in high school, Zaph has already scored over 1,000 career points and has led her team to a FHSAA Class 5A State Championship.
Last season, she was named Class 5A Player of the Year by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC), the Sun Sentinel and Co-Player of the Year by the Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach County HOOPS District. She was the Florida Dairy Farmers 5A Player of the Year runner-up as well. She also earned FABC All-State team, Sun Sentinel Fab 5, and Palm Beach Post Players to Watch honors. In 2017-18, she averaged 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.9 assists.
Jabir on Zaph:
"Alexa Zaph is a local kid who committed to us a long time ago. She and her family saw the vision of what we are trying to build. Alexa is a smart player who is one of the hardest working players I've ever been around. She can shoot with range and will be a great fit in our system."
For complete coverage of FAU women's basketball, follow us on Twitter (@FAU_WBB), Instagram (@FAU_WBB) and Facebook (Florida Atlantic Women's Basketball).
"This group represents our effort to bring athletic, tough and talented players to FAU with the goal of winning championships," Jabir said. "We have a way to go but the 2019 class will help us to that end as they develop and grow."
Tanyia Gordon
Hometown: Plant City, Fla. | Height: 5'9" | Position: Forward
Gordon will stay in the Sunshine State to play collegiate ball after playing at Tampa Catholic High School. The combination guard has had a successful high school career highlighted by being named All-State and All-County. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the St. Pius X Christmas Classic and the Crusader Classic.
Jabir on Gordon:
"Tanyia Gordon is a great athlete who can create her own shot. She rebounds much bigger than her size and can post up for a guard. She has a chance to be a special player if she works and continues her commitment to be great."
N'deye Astou Gaye
Hometown: Creteil, France | Height: 6'2" | Position: Forward
Gaye will come to FAU from the junior college ranks after she wraps up this season with Gulf Coast State College. In her first season at GCSC, Gaye was named to the All-Panhandle Conference First Team after leading her team to its 12th FCSAA/NJCAA State Championship and fourth-straight Panhandle Conference title.
Gaye has also proven herself internationally, winning a gold medal for France in the 2016 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships while being named the tournament's MVP. She also led France to gold in the U18 European Women's Basketball Championship. As an individual, Gaye won the 3-point mixed Shoot-Out Contest at the U18 European Championships, showing her versatility as a post player who can step out and knock down the three.
Jabir on Gaye:
"Astou Gaye is a very skilled French player who comes to us via Gulf Coast State CC. She can shoot the three and handle the ball with a post player's body. On top of that she is a great kid and student."
Allison Tylka
Hometown: Wauconda, Ill. | Height: 5'11" | Guard
Tylka will add a little Midwestern flavor to the Owls, hailing from Wauconda, Illinois. Tylka is a three-year captain for her high school team and has scored over 1,000 career points. During the 2017-18 season, she averaged a double-double with 18.1 points per game and 10 rebounds per contest. She also averaged 3.8 steals, 2.8 assists and 2.6 blocks.
Through three seasons, she has racked up awards and honors already. She was named All-Conference First Team, Daily Herald All-Area Lake County team, New Gazette All-State Basketball Special Mention and Northwest Daily Herald Athlete of the Month.
Jabir on Tylka:
"Allie Tylka is a 5'11" shooting guard who can also play some point. She is long and a very good ball defender. Her best basketball is still ahead of her. I want her to look for her shot more."
Lotta Vehka-aho
Hometown: Ahtari, Finland | Height: 5'6" | Position: Guard
Vehka-aho is the second international athlete the Owls will be adding in 2019, coming to Boca Raton from Finland. The point/shooting guard will come to FAU with international experience after playing on both the Finnish 2016 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship Division B national team and the 2017 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship national team.
In 2018, she led the Finnish U18 team to a second place finish in the European Division B Championship. Also in 2018, Vehka-aho was named the MVP of the Baltic Sea Cup Tournament representing Finland.
Jabir on Vehka-aho:
"Lotta Vehka-aho is a scrappy point guard from Finland with good range and a great understanding of how to play the game. She, like Alexa, is a very strong and tough competitor."
Alexa Zaph
Hometown: Jupiter, Fla. | Height: 5'8" | Position: Guard
Zaph is a local product out of Jupiter, Florida. She will come to FAU from Oxbridge Academy. With one season left to play in high school, Zaph has already scored over 1,000 career points and has led her team to a FHSAA Class 5A State Championship.
Last season, she was named Class 5A Player of the Year by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC), the Sun Sentinel and Co-Player of the Year by the Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach County HOOPS District. She was the Florida Dairy Farmers 5A Player of the Year runner-up as well. She also earned FABC All-State team, Sun Sentinel Fab 5, and Palm Beach Post Players to Watch honors. In 2017-18, she averaged 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.9 assists.
Jabir on Zaph:
"Alexa Zaph is a local kid who committed to us a long time ago. She and her family saw the vision of what we are trying to build. Alexa is a smart player who is one of the hardest working players I've ever been around. She can shoot with range and will be a great fit in our system."
For complete coverage of FAU women's basketball, follow us on Twitter (@FAU_WBB), Instagram (@FAU_WBB) and Facebook (Florida Atlantic Women's Basketball).
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