Five high school players sign early letters
11/12/2014 3:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Five high school seniors have signed letters-of-intent to attend Sam Houston State University and play women's basketball for Bearkat head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols.
Set to join the Kats next year are Lydia Baxter of Austin Bowie; Ashleigh Cooper of Pflugerville Hendrickson, Laurynn McGowen of Arlington Seguin; Kamry Orr of Little Rock, Arkansas, Central and Berniezha Tidwell of Hot Springs, Arkansas, High.
Baxter, the younger sister of Sam Houston men's basketball player Paul Baxter, is a 5-10 small forward for coach Vicky Benson at Bowie. She averaged 12.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a junior. In her third season on the varsity, she has earned second team all-district and “Newcomer of the Year” honors. She plays for MP Elite in summer league for coach Herb Jones.
Her father Ron Baxter played basketball for the University of Texas.
“Lydia is aggressive on the boards and has scoring capabilities from the post and perimeter, which will make her tough to guard in the Southland Conference,” Nichols said. “She is a tireless worker with good instincts in the paint."
Cooper is a 6-1 forward playing for coach Norma Sierra at Hendrickson. She averaged 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and two blocks as a junior. She has produced a 3.31 GPA in the classroom. She has earned both all-district and academic all-district honors the past three seasons. She plays in summer league for AD Elite coaching by Steven King. Her father Earl Cooper was an NFL draft pick in 1980 who played seven seasons in the NFL.
“With her ability to score around the basket, Ashleigh is a tremendous workhorse in the paint,” Nichols said. “She will bring that tough true grit threat on the boards."
McGowen is a 5-8 combo guad for coach Courtney Phillips at Seguin High School. She averaged 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 5.3 steals per game as a junior. She plays summer league ball for United Elite Black coached by Jamarius Brewster. A first-team all-district selection, all-region selection and district “player of the year” who also earned academic all-district honors with a 3.73 GPA.
“Laurynn has lightning quickness, the ability to shoot and defensive tenacity,” Nichols said. “She is a speedy athletic guard who is a fierce competitor on the defensive side of the game, but extremely aggressive with the ball. She can make things happen.”
Orr is a 5-5 combo guard for coach Michael Green at Central High School. An All-Conference and All-Region selection, is has been ranked as a 3-star prospect by Prospectsnation.com and ESPN.com. She played in summer league for the Arkansas Lady Hawks coached by Gene Alexander. She has produced a 3.0 grade point average.
“A smooth offensive player who has great scoring abilities from the wing, Kamry has the ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and teammates,” Nichols said. “She possesses a desire to be the best."
Tidwell is a 5-5 point guard for Hot Springs High School coach Mark Upshaw Bree. She averaged 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a junior. She also shot 53 percent from the field last season. She is a two-time all-conference and all-state performer. She played for the Arkansas Mavericks coached by Lashanta Johnson in summer league.
“Bree is aggressive with the ball and can make things happen,” Nichols said. “She will bring excitement to the court with her ability to score but also with her tenacity, determination and quickness.
"We are so honored to have all five of these young ladies join our program here at Sam Houston State University,” Nichols said. “They are a talented group of student athletes not only on the court, but also in the classroom. Some of their honors include All-District, All-Region and All-State, All-Academic Honors and National Honor Society members. They are all high character individuals, who come from winning programs and great families."
