STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook women's basketball head coach Caroline McCombs is pleased to announce the additions of Kaela Hilaire and Victoria Johnson for the upcoming season. We feel very fortunate to have made a connection with Kaela and Victoria. They are both highly competitive student-athletes who have an unbelievable love for the game of basketball. They will continue to take our program to new heights. We welcome Kaela and Victoria into our Seawolves Basketball Family.
 
Hilaire comes to Stony Brook after spending the previous three seasons at Seton Hall where she was a unanimous BIG EAST All-Freshman team selection in 2016-17 – setting the program's freshman record in assists while also pacing all rookies in the conference in scoring, assists and steals.
 
"We are so excited to welcome 'KK' back home to Long Island as a graduate student-athlete," McCombs said. "She will make an immediate impact as our floor general. KK's experience over the past three seasons in the Big East Conference will continue to elevate our program. KK has a natural ability to lead on and off the court. She is very comfortable and confident with the ball in her hands and I look forward to surrounding her with our veteran group."
 
In her career as a Pirate, she appeared in 87 games with 31 starts and recorded 644 points, 391 assists, 127 steals and 146 rebounds.
 
Hilaire is no stranger to the area, hailing from Queens, New York. In high school, she was Newsday's 2016 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, leading Floral Park to a Long Island title. As a senior, she led all players on the island with 29.8 points per game and became just the 22nd player on Long Island history to eclipse the 2,000-point mark.
 
"Sometimes our lives have to be shaken up and changed to bring us to the place we're meant to be," Hilaire said. Stony Brook is that place. Tell my family I'm coming home!"
 
Johnson will arrive to the East Coast following a decorated career at Hinds Community College in Mississippi. The sophomore was named a National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-American this season, averaging 21.6 points per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three. Her 21.6 points ranked ninth nationally in the NJCAA and while her 83.9 percent free throw percentage was 13th.
 
"Victoria Johnson will bring scoring presence to our team," McCombs said. "She has an attacking-type mentality, but is also able to knock down the three. I love that Victoria wants the ball in late-clock situations and that she can make a play. We are thrilled that Victoria will join our team this summer in preparation for her junior season! We want to make this her home away from home."
 
As a freshman, the Camden, Mississippi, native was honored as a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American and First Team All-Region 23 as she finished second in the NJCAA with 22.6 points per game.
 
"I chose Stony Brook because Coach McCombs and her staff made me feel right at home," Johnson said. "I believe Stony Brook will give me a great experience and help me to grow even more as an athlete and a person. I also chose Stony Brook because of the academic side. They will provide me will all the tools I need to be successful. I am grateful and excited for this opportunity."
 
The duo along with incoming freshman Gabrielle "Gigi" Gonzalez (Miramar, Fla.) will round out McCombs' incoming recruiting class for the fall.