%20(2).png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Rylee Bess, Destiny Macharia, Bailee Duck, Avery Wagner
Mastodon WBB Welcomes Four Signees For 2025-26
11/26/2024 3:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball head coach Maria Marchesano announced her program's four-member signing class for 2025 on Tuesday (Nov. 26): Bailee Duck, Avery Wagner, Rylee Bess, and Destiny Macharia.
"We know we are losing a lot in this senior class but the two biggest needs are playmaking and size down low and we feel like we really addressed that with this recruiting class," Marchesano said.
Duck is a 5-foot-8 guard that averaged 14 points per game in her time at Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky. She was crowned the 2A State Champion her sophomore and junior year. In her junior year, she was awarded a spot on the 2A All-Tournament Team and All-District Team, followed by a spot on the First Team Seventh Region and 2A Sectional Team her senior year. Duck played for Kentucky Premier for two years followed by Sports City Angels for her last year. Duck also participated in track alongside basketball.
"Bailee is one of the few kids we have seen over the past few years that truly prides herself on her defense and her consistent effort to be a lock down defender," Marchesano said. "She's a tireless worker with a desire to get better and grow and we are excited to see her develop in our systems."
Wagner is a 6-foot-4 forward who owns game-highs of 25 points, 26 rebounds and six blocks. She earned 11 double-doubles in her junior season. She was named to the All-Tri Valley Conference Team and All-District Team her junior and senior year, along with All-Ohio Team honorable mention her senior year. She played in two state championships, one of which resulted in a state title. Wagner played for Thunder 740 for most of her club career until she switched to United Family Adidas for the last two years. Outside of basketball, Wagner was an All-Conference player on the volleyball and golf teams, and was also the student body president of her high school.
"Adding Avery to this class was exactly what we needed," Marchesano said. "At 6-4 with an even bigger wingspan, she brings a defensive presence we haven't seen in our program for years. She's a mobile post who has shown the ability to stretch the floor which plays right into how we run our offense."
Bess is a 5-foot-6 guard who averaged 13.4 points per game in her junior year. She was named to First Team District 11 and All-OCC Capital Division, along with Second Team All-Central District and an All-State Special Mention. She led her school to two conference, district and regional titles. She comes from a family background of collegiate basketball, following her father (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Little Rock), sister (Wilberforce) and two cousins (Illinois State, Kent State, Michigan State, Saint Louis). She played for the All-Ohio U-17 squad as an eighth grader, until she switched clubs to Sports City Angels for the last three years.
"Rylee was a huge get for us as she brings playmaking and handles but she also brings a lot of range and shooting ability which fits well with our system," Marchesano said. "She's not afraid to mix it up on the defensive end either and knows how to use her size and quickness to her advantage."
Macharia is a 5-foot-6 guard who averaged 15.1 points per game her junior year. She has been named to numerous First and Second All-County Teams in her high school career, along with an honorable mention nod on the Baltimore Sun Team this past year. She played at several clubs throughout her career, starting at Maryland Stars, then moving to Team Thrill, and ending up at Germantown Lady Panthers this past season.
"Destiny is about as smooth as they come," Marchesano said. "She is a talented scorer that loves creating for her teammates just as much as she loves shooting it. She has a great feel for her teammates and is willing to do whatever the team needs to win that day."
Duck, Wagner, Bess and Macharia will join the Mastodons in the summer of 2025.
"We know we are losing a lot in this senior class but the two biggest needs are playmaking and size down low and we feel like we really addressed that with this recruiting class," Marchesano said.
Duck is a 5-foot-8 guard that averaged 14 points per game in her time at Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky. She was crowned the 2A State Champion her sophomore and junior year. In her junior year, she was awarded a spot on the 2A All-Tournament Team and All-District Team, followed by a spot on the First Team Seventh Region and 2A Sectional Team her senior year. Duck played for Kentucky Premier for two years followed by Sports City Angels for her last year. Duck also participated in track alongside basketball.
"Bailee is one of the few kids we have seen over the past few years that truly prides herself on her defense and her consistent effort to be a lock down defender," Marchesano said. "She's a tireless worker with a desire to get better and grow and we are excited to see her develop in our systems."
Wagner is a 6-foot-4 forward who owns game-highs of 25 points, 26 rebounds and six blocks. She earned 11 double-doubles in her junior season. She was named to the All-Tri Valley Conference Team and All-District Team her junior and senior year, along with All-Ohio Team honorable mention her senior year. She played in two state championships, one of which resulted in a state title. Wagner played for Thunder 740 for most of her club career until she switched to United Family Adidas for the last two years. Outside of basketball, Wagner was an All-Conference player on the volleyball and golf teams, and was also the student body president of her high school.
"Adding Avery to this class was exactly what we needed," Marchesano said. "At 6-4 with an even bigger wingspan, she brings a defensive presence we haven't seen in our program for years. She's a mobile post who has shown the ability to stretch the floor which plays right into how we run our offense."
Bess is a 5-foot-6 guard who averaged 13.4 points per game in her junior year. She was named to First Team District 11 and All-OCC Capital Division, along with Second Team All-Central District and an All-State Special Mention. She led her school to two conference, district and regional titles. She comes from a family background of collegiate basketball, following her father (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Little Rock), sister (Wilberforce) and two cousins (Illinois State, Kent State, Michigan State, Saint Louis). She played for the All-Ohio U-17 squad as an eighth grader, until she switched clubs to Sports City Angels for the last three years.
"Rylee was a huge get for us as she brings playmaking and handles but she also brings a lot of range and shooting ability which fits well with our system," Marchesano said. "She's not afraid to mix it up on the defensive end either and knows how to use her size and quickness to her advantage."
Macharia is a 5-foot-6 guard who averaged 15.1 points per game her junior year. She has been named to numerous First and Second All-County Teams in her high school career, along with an honorable mention nod on the Baltimore Sun Team this past year. She played at several clubs throughout her career, starting at Maryland Stars, then moving to Team Thrill, and ending up at Germantown Lady Panthers this past season.
"Destiny is about as smooth as they come," Marchesano said. "She is a talented scorer that loves creating for her teammates just as much as she loves shooting it. She has a great feel for her teammates and is willing to do whatever the team needs to win that day."
Duck, Wagner, Bess and Macharia will join the Mastodons in the summer of 2025.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
WBB PFW vs Eastern Michigan Post game and highlights
Thursday, November 20
PFW WBB vs Southern Illinois post game and highlights
Sunday, November 16
WBB PFW vs Purdue Post game and highlights
Thursday, November 13
PFW vs Cleveland State WNIT Great 8 Highlights
Tuesday, April 01
