Lady Eagle Basketball Signs Three During Early Period
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - - Southern Miss Head Women's Basketball Coach Joye Lee-McNelis has announced the signing of three standout players, Jena High School's Nora Brooks of Rhinehart, La., Wayne County High School's Lauren Pittman of Waynesboro, Miss., and Acadiana High School's Vanity Ledet of Lafayette, La., to a national letter of intent and grant-in-aid scholarships for the 2006-07 academic year.
"We are very fortunate to have signed this group of young ladies," McNelis said. "They are quality people, students and athletes. Each of them fulfills a need we have as we continue to lay a solid foundation for women's basketball at Southern Miss."
Brooks, a 6-2 center, averaged 15.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots for Coach Glen Joiner as a junior. She is a two-time first team all-district selection, and was named first team all Central Louisiana and an all-state second team selection. As a sophomore, she averaged 10.10 points and 7.2 rebounds.
"Nora has the potential to be one of the best post players to have played at Southern Miss," McNelis said." "She is the only true center that I have coached in my career. She can really score with her back to the basket. Her attitude toward controlling the paint gives her an opportunity to be a major force as a freshman."
Brooks played AAU ball with the Domino's and Charlie Domino team this past summer. She also competed in the Adidas Top-Ten in July.
"Nora is one of the hardest working kids that I've ever coached," Joiner said. "She is respectful of authority and a pleasure to coach."
Pittman, a 5-10 forward, is averaging 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds for the 2-0 War Eagles this season. She is a member of the 2005-06 Clarion Ledger's Dandy Dozen team. As a junior, she averaged 14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds for Coach Gina Skelton. She helped lead Wayne County to the south state championship in for three straight seasons. A two-time all-division and all-south state selection, she was selected to the MAC Junior North/South All-Star game this past summer. She was nominated for the McDonald's All-Star game and averaged 10 points and four rebounds as a sophomore.
"Lauren Pittman is the most versatile player in this signing class," McNelis said. "She can play inside and out. Her 'warrior' like mentality and her will to succeed allows her to be a force at any position on the floor. Lauren has a real knack for team camaraderie. She brings tremendous leadership and energy to this program."
According to Skelton, who has coached Pittman for the last four years said, "I believe Lauren is an extraordinary person. She would be an asset to any program. We are happy she chose to go to Southern Miss because it's close to home and we can get a chance to see her play. She brings a lot of energy to the team and the people around her."
Ledet, a 5-6 guard, averaged 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists for Coach Catherine Cassidy. She led Acadiana to the district 3-5A crown last season, earning all-district first team honors. She received all-Parish MVP honors, and was also a member of the Daily Advertiser/Coca-Cola All-Acadiana and All-Parish team.
"Vanity has tremendous amount of speed and quickness and has a knack to get the ball to the open man in the open court," McNelis said. "She will give us an added dimension to our transition game. As she continues to develop her strength, she could be an impact point guard in C-USA."
As a sophomore, she averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists. She received all-district and all-Parish honors.
"Vanity is a superb ball-handler," Cassidy said. "She is the best point guard to come through the Lafayette area, as far as ball-handling skills. She has a good sense of team unity and extremely unselfish with the ball."