Apaches News
Thu, May 3, 2007 - [Women's Basketball]
SIGNING DAY: Tyler Junior College announced the signings of five basketball players to four-year schools on Wednesday. The players moving on are Laquisha Cook (Wayne State), Krystal VanHook (Missouri-Kansas City), Jamia Malone (Boise State), Kristin Moore (St. John’s) and Keshia Warren (Louisiana Tech).
By Joe Buie, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph
Signing Day 2007 was very satisfying for Tyler Junior College women's basketball coach Trenia Jones.
In announcing the signings of her five sophomores with four-year colleges, Jones looked on with pride in how they maximized their talent at TJC and enhanced their basketball portfolio.
Four Apache Ladies signed Division I scholarships - Kristin Moore (St. John's), Jamia Malone (Boise State), Krystal VanHook (Missouri-Kansas City) and Keshia Warren (Louisiana Tech) - while Laquisha Cook picked Division II Wayne State.
"A lot of them didn't get offers out of high school, and they took a chance on a junior college," Jones said Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium. "(By) coming to a junior college, most of them had four or five offers if not more."
That strong sophomore class led the Apaches Ladies to the Region XIV Tournament championship and a berth in the national tournament. TJC lost in the consolation final in Salina, Kan., to finish with a record of 28-8.
"They were good kids and they were hard workers," Jones said. "I was glad - after getting down to eight players - that those kids were able to get to the national tournament through their effort and desire."
Malone, who made honorable mention All-American, picked Boise State and the Western Athletic Conference over Florida and the Southeastern Conference.
"Florida's facilities are good, but their girls basketball program isn't as good as Boise's," said Malone, a 5-6 point guard who averaged a team-best 15.2 points and 3.8 assists per game as a sophomore. "Boise just went to the NCAA Tournament and they have a winning record, and Florida is trying to rebuild. I really wanted to go to a winning program."
Malone and Warren will be in the same conference in the WAC, and they were doing plenty of playful trash-talking Wednesday.
Warren, a 6-0 post from Lewisville, chose Louisiana Tech over Colorado State. Known for her hustle and rebounding, Warren will play small forward next season.
"That's what they said they liked about me the most was that I was always moving and that I hustled and went after loose balls," said Warren, who averaged 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
Warren's offensive game needs the most work.
"I prefer not to shoot the ball, but this year I'm actually going to try and shoot the ball," she said.
Moore, who made the all-tournament team at nationals, actually signed with St. John's in the fall. Her connection to the New York university is former John Tyler standout Recee Mitchell, who plays for the Red Storm.
Mitchell served as Moore's host during her visit, and the two communicate often.
"She likes it (at St. John's)," said Moore, a 5-8 wing from Irving who averaged 12.2 points and 3.3 assists at TJC. "I got a lot of my insight from her because she's from Texas."
Moore said she will work on her 3-point shooting this summer and improving her conditioning.
TJC's most athletic player, Cook, has Wayne State excited about what she will bring to the Division II program.
"I feel like I'll be able to bring more scoring, more athleticism and more competitiveness," she said. "I need to work on dribbling, but I have made improvements. I'll be ready next season."
Finally, VanHook will play in the Mid-Continent Conference as a member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She will compete against the likes of Valparaiso, Oral Roberts and Centenary.
VanHook, who also visited Arkansas-Little Rock, will play both forward and 3-guard at the next level.
"(Head coach Candace White) says I'm a pretty versatile player, and she's going to be putting me in a lot of places on the floor," said VanHook, who averaged 8.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for TJC.
VanHook said she also chose UMKC because of its accounting program.
Original Link to Article: http://tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/SPORTS01/705030303/-1/SPORTS
In announcing the signings of her five sophomores with four-year colleges, Jones looked on with pride in how they maximized their talent at TJC and enhanced their basketball portfolio.
Four Apache Ladies signed Division I scholarships - Kristin Moore (St. John's), Jamia Malone (Boise State), Krystal VanHook (Missouri-Kansas City) and Keshia Warren (Louisiana Tech) - while Laquisha Cook picked Division II Wayne State.
"A lot of them didn't get offers out of high school, and they took a chance on a junior college," Jones said Wednesday at Wagstaff Gymnasium. "(By) coming to a junior college, most of them had four or five offers if not more."
That strong sophomore class led the Apaches Ladies to the Region XIV Tournament championship and a berth in the national tournament. TJC lost in the consolation final in Salina, Kan., to finish with a record of 28-8.
"They were good kids and they were hard workers," Jones said. "I was glad - after getting down to eight players - that those kids were able to get to the national tournament through their effort and desire."
Malone, who made honorable mention All-American, picked Boise State and the Western Athletic Conference over Florida and the Southeastern Conference.
"Florida's facilities are good, but their girls basketball program isn't as good as Boise's," said Malone, a 5-6 point guard who averaged a team-best 15.2 points and 3.8 assists per game as a sophomore. "Boise just went to the NCAA Tournament and they have a winning record, and Florida is trying to rebuild. I really wanted to go to a winning program."
Malone and Warren will be in the same conference in the WAC, and they were doing plenty of playful trash-talking Wednesday.
Warren, a 6-0 post from Lewisville, chose Louisiana Tech over Colorado State. Known for her hustle and rebounding, Warren will play small forward next season.
"That's what they said they liked about me the most was that I was always moving and that I hustled and went after loose balls," said Warren, who averaged 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
Warren's offensive game needs the most work.
"I prefer not to shoot the ball, but this year I'm actually going to try and shoot the ball," she said.
Moore, who made the all-tournament team at nationals, actually signed with St. John's in the fall. Her connection to the New York university is former John Tyler standout Recee Mitchell, who plays for the Red Storm.
Mitchell served as Moore's host during her visit, and the two communicate often.
"She likes it (at St. John's)," said Moore, a 5-8 wing from Irving who averaged 12.2 points and 3.3 assists at TJC. "I got a lot of my insight from her because she's from Texas."
Moore said she will work on her 3-point shooting this summer and improving her conditioning.
TJC's most athletic player, Cook, has Wayne State excited about what she will bring to the Division II program.
"I feel like I'll be able to bring more scoring, more athleticism and more competitiveness," she said. "I need to work on dribbling, but I have made improvements. I'll be ready next season."
Finally, VanHook will play in the Mid-Continent Conference as a member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She will compete against the likes of Valparaiso, Oral Roberts and Centenary.
VanHook, who also visited Arkansas-Little Rock, will play both forward and 3-guard at the next level.
"(Head coach Candace White) says I'm a pretty versatile player, and she's going to be putting me in a lot of places on the floor," said VanHook, who averaged 8.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for TJC.
VanHook said she also chose UMKC because of its accounting program.
Original Link to Article: http://tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/SPORTS01/705030303/-1/SPORTS
