University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Ink Three in 2024 Signing Class
11/8/2023 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss women's basketball head coach Joye Lee-McNelis announces the signing of three members of the 2024 recruiting class, including the top-ranked player in Kentucky and top forward in Louisiana.
"All three of these young ladies are of high character and possess a competitive spirit," said McNelis. "Each one may have their own personal goals but will quickly tell you it is about the Lady Eagles winning championships. They come from great families and are great people, great students and great high school basketball players. All of them bring a bright future for Lady Eagle basketball."
The three Lady Eagle signees inked their national letters of intent at their high schools today, officially becoming members of the Lady Eagles' 2024 class. Learn more about each of the Lady Eagles below:
Micah Cooper
"We are thrilled to have Micah choose Southern Miss," said McNelis. "Micah has faced several challenges in high school that have proved she is an overcomer. She has played at one of the highest levels of Texas high school basketball and in the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). Her EYBL team has competed for the national championships. She has the versatility to play at multiple positions on our team. She is savvy on the offensive side of the ball and can score in many ways. We are blessed to have Micah cross state lines and choose Southern Miss.
Hailing from Carrollton, Texas, Cooper is entering her senior season at Hebron High School (Carrollton, Texas). Last season, she averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in just 16 games before suffering an ACL injury. She has since returned from her injury and is poised to lead the Hawks deep into the Texas playoffs under head coach ChaLisa Branch.
In addition to her prowess on the prep circuit, Cooper plays in the club level for CyFair Elite Sports and Coach Todd Cooper. CyFair has earned recognition in the Nike Championships, USA Basketball Championships and Mid America Youth Basketball (MAYB) Championships.
She is the only daughter of Todd and Andrea Cooper who played basketball at Washburn University (Topeka, Kan.) and Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, Texas), respectively.
"The first thing that stood out to me about Southern Miss was the amazing culture and family atmosphere created by the coaches, players and the community," said Cooper. "Once I saw that I was a good fit basketball wise, I could then very clearly see myself growin here on and off the court."
Whitney Hart
"We are excited to have Whitney wear the Black and Gold," said McNelis. "Whitney is blessed with great athletic ability and her game has continued to grow as she worked to continue to improve her skillset to meet her natural athleticism. She has a natural feel for rebounding the basketball and has taken that competitive spirit into other aspects of the game. We are blessed to have Whitney bring her talents to Southern Miss."
Hart, a native of Baton Rouge, La., signs after three seasons at Liberty Magnet High School (Baton Rouge, La.) under coach Valencia Wilson. Last season, she averaged 18.2 points per game to lead the Patriots to the third round of the LHSAA playoffs. She also tallied an average of 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2.1 blocks and 1.2 assists per game.
The senior is ranked as the fourth-best recruit in the state of Louisiana's 2024 class by Louisiana Girls Rankings. As the top forward in the state, Hart earned District MVP, Team Offensive MVP and All-State Second Team honors last season. In addition to her prep at Liberty, Hart plays for Coach OJ Fisher and the Louisiana United Basketball Club.
She is the daughter of Jeffery and Tammy Hart and has two siblings, Winston and Wesley.
"Everybody asks me: why Southern Miss, Whitney?" says Hart. "I simply reply, 'Why not the Southern Miss Lady Eagles?' They will bring me to the top!"
Trinity Rowe
"We are very fortunate to sign a point guard out of the state of Kentucky," said McNelis. "Trinity is a true point guard that has enjoyed success at several different levels. Trinity leads vocally and by example; she is a worker who strives to be better than the day before. Our staff believes that Trinity has a uniqueness in her game—she has the ability to lead, distribute and score the ball. Trinity is a young lady that will be a true asset to our program and university. We are blessed to have her wear the Black and Gold."
A truly generational talent, Rowe sits at 1,962 career points entering her senior season. The Pikeville, Ky., native averaged 16.2 points and 2.5 steals per game as a junior, tacking on another 67 steals and 184 assists for the Pikeville High School Panthers. The Panthers finished last season 28-6 overall, 10-0 in District 59 play and 16-1 against Region 15.
Rowe, a four-time District champion and two-time Region MVP, earned All-KHSAA First Team All-State honors in 2022. She also broke Pikeville's school record for three-pointers made in a season with 113 and owns the school's record for threes made in a career. Entering the 2023-24 season, Rowe sits at sixth on the KHSAA career assists leaderboards.
Along with her prowess at Pikeville, Rowe plays on the East Tennessee Air Thunder club team for coach Craig Campos.
Rowe is ranked as the No. 1 recruit in Kentucky's 2024 class by Prep Girls Hoops. She also runs for the Panthers' cross country and track and field programs.
She is the daughter of Will and Christen Rowe and has two siblings, Will and Landon. Landon plays football at UPIKE (Pikeville, Ky.).
"I chose Southern Miss because of the culture of the program," said Rowe. "The moment I stepped on campus, watched practice and spent time with the team, I know what was expected of me. Not only that, but I also knew I would have people around me to push me, encourage me and want to win as much as me. At the end of the day, it was a no brainer to me. Southern Miss To The Top!"
"All three of these young ladies are of high character and possess a competitive spirit," said McNelis. "Each one may have their own personal goals but will quickly tell you it is about the Lady Eagles winning championships. They come from great families and are great people, great students and great high school basketball players. All of them bring a bright future for Lady Eagle basketball."
The three Lady Eagle signees inked their national letters of intent at their high schools today, officially becoming members of the Lady Eagles' 2024 class. Learn more about each of the Lady Eagles below:
Micah Cooper
"We are thrilled to have Micah choose Southern Miss," said McNelis. "Micah has faced several challenges in high school that have proved she is an overcomer. She has played at one of the highest levels of Texas high school basketball and in the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). Her EYBL team has competed for the national championships. She has the versatility to play at multiple positions on our team. She is savvy on the offensive side of the ball and can score in many ways. We are blessed to have Micah cross state lines and choose Southern Miss.
Hailing from Carrollton, Texas, Cooper is entering her senior season at Hebron High School (Carrollton, Texas). Last season, she averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in just 16 games before suffering an ACL injury. She has since returned from her injury and is poised to lead the Hawks deep into the Texas playoffs under head coach ChaLisa Branch.
In addition to her prowess on the prep circuit, Cooper plays in the club level for CyFair Elite Sports and Coach Todd Cooper. CyFair has earned recognition in the Nike Championships, USA Basketball Championships and Mid America Youth Basketball (MAYB) Championships.
She is the only daughter of Todd and Andrea Cooper who played basketball at Washburn University (Topeka, Kan.) and Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, Texas), respectively.
"The first thing that stood out to me about Southern Miss was the amazing culture and family atmosphere created by the coaches, players and the community," said Cooper. "Once I saw that I was a good fit basketball wise, I could then very clearly see myself growin here on and off the court."
Whitney Hart
"We are excited to have Whitney wear the Black and Gold," said McNelis. "Whitney is blessed with great athletic ability and her game has continued to grow as she worked to continue to improve her skillset to meet her natural athleticism. She has a natural feel for rebounding the basketball and has taken that competitive spirit into other aspects of the game. We are blessed to have Whitney bring her talents to Southern Miss."
Hart, a native of Baton Rouge, La., signs after three seasons at Liberty Magnet High School (Baton Rouge, La.) under coach Valencia Wilson. Last season, she averaged 18.2 points per game to lead the Patriots to the third round of the LHSAA playoffs. She also tallied an average of 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2.1 blocks and 1.2 assists per game.
The senior is ranked as the fourth-best recruit in the state of Louisiana's 2024 class by Louisiana Girls Rankings. As the top forward in the state, Hart earned District MVP, Team Offensive MVP and All-State Second Team honors last season. In addition to her prep at Liberty, Hart plays for Coach OJ Fisher and the Louisiana United Basketball Club.
She is the daughter of Jeffery and Tammy Hart and has two siblings, Winston and Wesley.
"Everybody asks me: why Southern Miss, Whitney?" says Hart. "I simply reply, 'Why not the Southern Miss Lady Eagles?' They will bring me to the top!"
Trinity Rowe
"We are very fortunate to sign a point guard out of the state of Kentucky," said McNelis. "Trinity is a true point guard that has enjoyed success at several different levels. Trinity leads vocally and by example; she is a worker who strives to be better than the day before. Our staff believes that Trinity has a uniqueness in her game—she has the ability to lead, distribute and score the ball. Trinity is a young lady that will be a true asset to our program and university. We are blessed to have her wear the Black and Gold."
A truly generational talent, Rowe sits at 1,962 career points entering her senior season. The Pikeville, Ky., native averaged 16.2 points and 2.5 steals per game as a junior, tacking on another 67 steals and 184 assists for the Pikeville High School Panthers. The Panthers finished last season 28-6 overall, 10-0 in District 59 play and 16-1 against Region 15.
Rowe, a four-time District champion and two-time Region MVP, earned All-KHSAA First Team All-State honors in 2022. She also broke Pikeville's school record for three-pointers made in a season with 113 and owns the school's record for threes made in a career. Entering the 2023-24 season, Rowe sits at sixth on the KHSAA career assists leaderboards.
Along with her prowess at Pikeville, Rowe plays on the East Tennessee Air Thunder club team for coach Craig Campos.
Rowe is ranked as the No. 1 recruit in Kentucky's 2024 class by Prep Girls Hoops. She also runs for the Panthers' cross country and track and field programs.
She is the daughter of Will and Christen Rowe and has two siblings, Will and Landon. Landon plays football at UPIKE (Pikeville, Ky.).
"I chose Southern Miss because of the culture of the program," said Rowe. "The moment I stepped on campus, watched practice and spent time with the team, I know what was expected of me. Not only that, but I also knew I would have people around me to push me, encourage me and want to win as much as me. At the end of the day, it was a no brainer to me. Southern Miss To The Top!"
– #McNelisStrong –
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