The Lady Toppers’ 2010-11 recruiting class began to take shape this week with the signing of two players.

Chaney Means and Mimi Hill, both from Georgia, inked letters of intent with Western this week.

Means, a Lawrenceville, Ga. native, has recorded 1,068 points, 501 rebounds, 312 assists and 385 steals through her first three seasons at Greater Atlanta Christian School.

The guard was named first-team all-state the last two years.

Means’ coach, Cal Boyd, said the point guard was sold on Western’s tradition, along with the personalities of the coaches and players.

“She went up there last weekend and really had a great trip,” Boyd said. “She even made a comment to me that it exceeded her expectations. She spent a lot of quality time there and came back really excited.”

Western Head Coach Mary Taylor Cowles said that Means contains many of the intangibles that are sought after in a point guard.

“Chaney is a very intelligent player, and can really be that coach on the floor. I think she’s going to be a great fit for us both on and off the court,” Cowles said in a statement released through media relations. “Chaney is just a hard worker and a great student of the game. She will compete every day in practice for us and is the kind of player that will make it tough to keep her off the floor.”

Hill, a 6-foot, 3-inch forward, averaged 16 points and nine rebounds during her junior season at Winder-Barrow High School in Watkinsville, Ga.

Hill is coached by her mother, Brenda Hill-Gilmore, who played at the University of Auburn. Her older sister, Tasha Humphrey, is currently playing in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx.

Hill-Gilmore said that a big factor for her daughter’s commitment was her early rapport with the team.

“The players were great, the facilities are top-notch, and the academics are one of the most important things,” she said. “But I think a key was having that relationship with the coaches.”

Hill-Gilmore described her daughter as a versatile player who could play in the post or step out to the perimeter, and Cowles said that she sees a lot of different options for how to utilize Hill.

“Mimi is a very talented post player coming from a very athletic family,” Cowles said. “She’s got the ability to step in early on and do some really good things for us with her height and athleticism. With her basketball knowledge and background, I think Mimi is going to be a great asset for us during her career.”

Sophomore forward Janae Howard, a transfer from the University of Louisville, will also become eligible next season.