NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A trio of talented freshmen are headed to the Music City to further their basketball and academic careers. Head coach
Bart Brooks and the Belmont University women's basketball program announced the signing of Tayli Dimarco, Samiya Jones and Chelby Jordan for the Bruins' 2026-27 season and beyond Thursday morning.
The trio represent Belmont's 2026 signing class.
Dimarco, a 5-foot-5 guard from Sale, Victoria, Australia, will join fellow Australian
Hilary Fuller (Brisbane, Queensland) in Nashville. Both 6-foot forward/center Samiya Jones (Memphis) and 5-foot-6 guard Chelby Jordan (Trenton) are west Tennessee natives.
Primarily playing the point, Dimarco has played for the Melbourne Tigers of the National Basketball League One South (NBL1 South) and the Geelong Venom of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). During an incredible 2024 season, Dimarco helped lead the Melbourne Tigers' U18 team to championships at the National Junior Classic, National Club Championship and VJBL Victorian Championship.
Dimarco was a key contributor for the 2025 Big V Youth Championship team, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.95 steals per game. A five-time national junior champion in Australia, Dimarco was named to the 2025 Victoria Under-20 State Team for the national championships. She also starred at the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta in 2023 and signed a development player contract with the WNBL's Geelong Venom.
Intending to study exercise science at Belmont, Dimarco is in her final year at Catholic College Sale.
"Tayli plays with an infectious enthusiasm for the game of basketball," spoke coach Brooks. "She plays selflessly and is a relentless worker, and she has shown elite leadership at every level she has competed. Her playmaking ability, quickness and relentless motor will be a perfect fit for our style of play, and her positive energy will be loved by our fans."
A three-time state finalist and four-year varsity letter winner at Bartlett High School, Jones played alongside Bruin freshman forward
Dacarra Ward. Named Music City Hoopfest MVP, Jones is a two-time Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Class 4A State All-Tournament Team performer. She was a first-team all-district selection as a junior last year and garnered All-Metro honors from
The Commercial Appeal. Heading into her senior season, Jones was tabbed as one of Memphis' top 30 high school athletes.
Jones plays for Tennessee Flight Silver 17U of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) and was a 16U national champion in 2024.
Samiya plans on studying accounting at Belmont.
"Samiya has all the tools to be a special college basketball player," commented coach Brooks. "She has a rare combination of size, athleticism, and explosiveness that will make her a really challenging matchup for our opponents. Samiya also brings a selfless mindset and a great teammate approach to everything she does. She will be an amazing representative of our program."
Serving as point guard for Dyersburg High School in Dyersburg, Tennessee, Jordan was a Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee (BCAT) Player of the Year finalist last season and earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State recognition. As a sophomore in 2023-24, she led the Lady Trojans to a TSSAA Class 3A state championship and was subsequently named to the BCAT All-State Team. The two-time reigning Class 3A Region 7 Tournament MVP, Jordan has been selected to each of the last two TSSAA Class 3A State All-Tournament Teams.
In AAU travel ball, Jordan plays alongside Jones for Tennessee Flight Silver of the Nike EYBL. The duo led Tennessee Flight Silver to a 16U national championship.
Both of Chelby's parents are athletes with her father having played baseball at the University of Tennessee at Martin and her mother being a former basketball and softball player at Columbia State Community College.
Jordan is a four-year honor roll student and National Beta Club member. She plans on studying kinesiology at Belmont.
"Chelby is a smooth guard who has the ability to score the ball from anywhere on the floor," said coach Brooks. "She can play multiple positions and will blend in seamlessly within our offensive system. Chelby is humble and talented, and she's a great teammate who has had an outstanding high school career. Our fans will love cheering for Chelby in the Curb."
The Bruins feature seven newcomers this season with five freshmen and two transfers.
Belmont (3-2) returns to action Monday morning in the Bahamas against receiving-votes Ohio State in the 2025 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship.
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