SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art women's basketball head coach Camille Williams and her coaching staff have announced the official signing of two new additions, Aniel Makuei (Phoenix, Ariz./Westview) and Aari'yanna Sanders (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West), who will make their respective collegiate debuts in the Urban Knights' 2019-20 campaign.

Makuei, a basketball and soccer student-athlete at Westview High School, was a one-year varsity letter winner in each sport and served as team captain. She also competed for her club team West Coast Wings for four years, earning Most Valuable Player, Sportsmanship, and Best Defensive Player honors.

"We are very fortunate to welcome Aniel to our Urban Knight Family," said Williams. "Aniel is an incredible young lady who has enormous potential. Aniel has already showed us her commitment to becoming a substantial player in our program. She's a hard worker and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. She has a great team spirit and we are very proud of her effort in the classroom and with the team."

A native of Khartum, Sudan and daughter to Akeir Nyvol and Malou Gum, Aniel hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a professional basketball player while working in the Academy of Art School of Fashion Design.

Sanders, a four-year letter winner in basketball at Clovis West High School, heads into her junior year after three impressive campaigns with the Golden Eagles. A team captain and First Team All-League, Sanders has helped Clovis West go 96-10 in three years which includes three consecutive Tri-Rivers titles following a 30-0 record versus the five other programs that make up the league. Thus far, Sanders' highlight run came in her sophomore season when the Golden Eagles captured an Open Division State Championship and became ESPN National Champions. Additionally, Sanders played for the Cal Sparks Extreme in Fresno for one year and the Cal Stars in Oakland for four years.

"We are exceptionally happy to welcome Aari to our Urban Knight Family," said Williams. "We are very fortunate to have such a gifted athlete who is as equally gifted as an artist join our program. Aari comes from great stock and surrounded by high achievers within her family of athletes and championship-level high school program at Clovis West High School under the leadership of Coach Craig Campbell. We benefit on both sides of the ball with Aari, athletically and academically. She's a unique fit to this university and women's basketball program."

Daughter to Tamara and Marcel, Aari'yanna hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a cartoonist/storyboard artist while in the Academy of Art School of Animation & Visual Effects next fall.