Lady Eagle Basketball Inks Junior College All-Stater
11/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss Head Women's Basketball Coach Joye Lee-McNelis has announced the signing of Tanecka Carey of Jackson, Miss., to a national letter of intent and grant-in-aid for the 2011-12 academic year.
"We have recruited Tanecka for several years," McNelis said. "As a Murrah High School stand-out, we hoped to sign her after her senior season; however, her basketball career steered her to play for Jones County Junior College where she led them to a state championship title. She finished her freshman year as the third leading scorer in the nation for all junior and community colleges. We are so excited to have Tanecka in our program. Tanecka is a winner on the court. She led Murrah to a state championship and now has impacted Jones Community Junior College on the same level of championships and winning traditions. Tanecka is expected to impact our program immediately. She possesses an uncanny ability to score and pass. She has a great feel for the game and is a winner at heart."
Carey, a 5-9 guard, is currently averaging 24.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Coach Sandra Sumrall at Jones County Junior College. She scored 31 points to go with 12 rebounds in her season-opener in a 85-73 win over East Mississippi. As a freshman, she averaged 21.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. She earned MJCAA All-Region 23 honors and was a honorable mention All-American. She led the state in scoring while ranking third overall nationally.
"I chose to continue my education and basketball career at Southern Miss because Coach McNelis has been there for me and never given up on me," said Carey. "I look at her as more than a coach, but someone who really cares about my education and my personal development and not just my basketball career. The coaching staff genuinely cares about me receiving a degree. I just think it is meant for me to be a Lady Eagle."
Carey prepped at Murrah High School where she help the team win a state championship. She was a member of the 2007 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen.