The SA area is buzzing with excitement as signing week has ushered in a wave of emotions. Happiness abounds as girls basketball is celebrated throughout the city. Years of hard and deliberate work have culminated in the following kids having a day to remember:
Olivia Patterson (Steele HS)- Patterson signed her LOI to attend Southern Illinois University on Thursday. While ALL signings are special, this one is particularly so. Patterson caught the eye of her future college through the old way. While Patterson has played for two of the most prominent local clubs over the last two years and one of the most successful high schools in the SA area, she did not get her SIU offer through these environments. Her family used alternative means of letting the Salukis coaching know that she was worthy of a scholarship. Her story and her parents perspective will be posted here shorty. Her father is currently stationed in Korea( Thanks to all the service men and women for their sacrifices!!) and viewed the signing via a lap top.
Meighan Simmons (Steele HS)- Simmons accolades have been chronicled here frequently. She will leave the city as the all-time leading scorer but yesterday fulfilled her life long dream by signing with the University of Tennessee. Her mother followed up her signing with a mass email titled," Dreams Do Come True". Indeed!
CeCe Harper (Madison HS)- Harper will sign her letter of intent today in Madison High School's foyer at 2:30pm. Harper will ink her future with Kansas University Jayhawks and reunite with her high school teammate and friend, Monica Engleman. Harper turned down dozens of offers from others to answer the call of the Big 12 school.
Cheyenne Berry(Lytle HS-) Berry committed to Stephen F. Austin last night! Berry chose the Lumberjacks over Southeast Louisiana ,South Alabama, and Incarnate Word . Berry visited the school a couple of weeks ago and felt right at home. Berry will sign before the end of next weeks signing period. SFA is a member of the Southland Conference.
Jessica Kuster (Reagan HS)- Kuster signed with the Rice Owls yesterday. Kuster originally committed to UTA but later decided that Rice was a better fit for her. She can now concentrate on trying to earn her first district championship.
Kiante Ageous ( Sam Houston HS)- KiKi signed with the University of Arizona yesterday. Arizona is making waves in the Pac-10 with a young and aggressive coaching staff led by former Tennessee player Nia Butts. Ageous joins a long line of recent Sam Houston stand outs going on to play at the D1 level including, Tai Dillard(Texas), Sarah Miles(West Virginia) and Chanice Scott(Tulsa).
Chelsea Solis ( Wagner HS)- Solis will sign with Texas A & M Kingsville today at Wagner High School. Solis is an integral part of a team that has its eyes set on Austin.
Olivia Patterson (Steele HS)- Patterson signed her LOI to attend Southern Illinois University on Thursday. While ALL signings are special, this one is particularly so. Patterson caught the eye of her future college through the old way. While Patterson has played for two of the most prominent local clubs over the last two years and one of the most successful high schools in the SA area, she did not get her SIU offer through these environments. Her family used alternative means of letting the Salukis coaching know that she was worthy of a scholarship. Her story and her parents perspective will be posted here shorty. Her father is currently stationed in Korea( Thanks to all the service men and women for their sacrifices!!) and viewed the signing via a lap top.
Meighan Simmons (Steele HS)- Simmons accolades have been chronicled here frequently. She will leave the city as the all-time leading scorer but yesterday fulfilled her life long dream by signing with the University of Tennessee. Her mother followed up her signing with a mass email titled," Dreams Do Come True". Indeed!
CeCe Harper (Madison HS)- Harper will sign her letter of intent today in Madison High School's foyer at 2:30pm. Harper will ink her future with Kansas University Jayhawks and reunite with her high school teammate and friend, Monica Engleman. Harper turned down dozens of offers from others to answer the call of the Big 12 school.
Cheyenne Berry(Lytle HS-) Berry committed to Stephen F. Austin last night! Berry chose the Lumberjacks over Southeast Louisiana ,South Alabama, and Incarnate Word . Berry visited the school a couple of weeks ago and felt right at home. Berry will sign before the end of next weeks signing period. SFA is a member of the Southland Conference.
Jessica Kuster (Reagan HS)- Kuster signed with the Rice Owls yesterday. Kuster originally committed to UTA but later decided that Rice was a better fit for her. She can now concentrate on trying to earn her first district championship.
Kiante Ageous ( Sam Houston HS)- KiKi signed with the University of Arizona yesterday. Arizona is making waves in the Pac-10 with a young and aggressive coaching staff led by former Tennessee player Nia Butts. Ageous joins a long line of recent Sam Houston stand outs going on to play at the D1 level including, Tai Dillard(Texas), Sarah Miles(West Virginia) and Chanice Scott(Tulsa).
Chelsea Solis ( Wagner HS)- Solis will sign with Texas A & M Kingsville today at Wagner High School. Solis is an integral part of a team that has its eyes set on Austin.
Stephanie Wittman (Alamo Heights HS)- Wittman signed with Kansas State over SMU, Central Florida and UC Santa Barbara. Wittman's difficult journey was chronicled in a gripping piece by SA Express writer Chad Peters. Wittman's signing is truly a celebration and speaks to everything that is right about the power of girls basketball.
Ciara McLee(Judson HS)- According to her club coach, McLee has received two D1 offers in the past two days. Southeast Louisiana offered her a scholarship on Wednesday night and Texas State followed suit last night. McLee has not determined which school will gain her services but a decision should be eminent. The early signing period ends next week. Both schools are in the Southland Conference.
Len'Nique Brown (Wagner HS)- Brown has officially narrowed her choices down to USC, Michigan State and San Diego State. She is apparently using this weekend to finalize her decision. She is expected to sign on Monday.
Congrats to all the young ladies and their families! You all deserve the success it.
Parting Shot!!- In light of a disturbing trend of coaches advising players to wait to sign, I must say this. If your club coach or high school coach is advising the parents of their players to wait until the late signing period to sign in an effort to get a "bigger school" to recruit your child, here is a thought. How about asking that coach to put up the tens of thousands of dollars that it takes to get a college education as a back up plan? If these coaches are so sure that your child can hold out on valid offers to get a so-called better offer, they should not have a problem putting their money where their mouth is. As we all know, free advice can be extremely expensive!
Ciara McLee(Judson HS)- According to her club coach, McLee has received two D1 offers in the past two days. Southeast Louisiana offered her a scholarship on Wednesday night and Texas State followed suit last night. McLee has not determined which school will gain her services but a decision should be eminent. The early signing period ends next week. Both schools are in the Southland Conference.
Len'Nique Brown (Wagner HS)- Brown has officially narrowed her choices down to USC, Michigan State and San Diego State. She is apparently using this weekend to finalize her decision. She is expected to sign on Monday.
Congrats to all the young ladies and their families! You all deserve the success it.
Parting Shot!!- In light of a disturbing trend of coaches advising players to wait to sign, I must say this. If your club coach or high school coach is advising the parents of their players to wait until the late signing period to sign in an effort to get a "bigger school" to recruit your child, here is a thought. How about asking that coach to put up the tens of thousands of dollars that it takes to get a college education as a back up plan? If these coaches are so sure that your child can hold out on valid offers to get a so-called better offer, they should not have a problem putting their money where their mouth is. As we all know, free advice can be extremely expensive!
