Tulane Women's Basketball Signs Four
Nov 12, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2003
NEW ORLEANS - Four high school standouts will join the Green Wave women's basketball team for next season after signing national letters of intent with Tulane University, Head Coach Lisa Stockton announced Wednesday. Stockton's 2004-05 signing class includes 6-3 local product Alendra Brown, 5-8 guard Nikki Luckhurst of Atlanta, Dallas, Texas native Jennifer Sands, a 6-0 swing player, and 5-10 guard Khadrereil (Kad-REE-el) Ferguson of Jackson, La.
"I'm really excited about this class," Stockton said. "We signed someone at nearly every position except point guard, and we brought in some size, even with the wing players. In addition, all of these players are versatile, with the ability to play several different positions. We get something different from each player, but they will really mesh well together and their strengths complement each other. When we talk about building chemistry, I think we will be able to do that with this group. They are great people and strong students who will represent Tulane well."
2004-05 Tulane Women's Basketball Signees
Alendra Brown, F/C, 6-3, New Orleans, La. (McMain HS)
Khadrereil Ferguson, G, 5-10, Jackson, La. (Jackson HS)
Nikki Luckhurst, G, 5-8, Duluth, Ga. (Wesleyan School)
Jennifer Sands, G/F, 6-0, Dallas, Texas (Lincoln HS)
Brown comes to Tulane from nearby McMain High School in New Orleans where she averaged a double-double in points and rebounds her junior year with 15.6 points and 10 rebounds. She was an All-District selection each of the last two years and was named MVP of the John Ehret Tournament last season. Brown and fellow signee Ferguson played AAU basketball for the Baton Rouge Lady Tigers last summer along with current Green Wave freshmen Jami Montagnino and Cashmir White.
"Alendra gives us a strong physical presence inside," Stockton said. "She has the defensive skills to contribute right away, and she's really just starting to come into her own as a basketball player. It's great to get a player from our own backyard."
Peach State native Luckhurst is a 5-8 guard from the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, Ga. who plays for Wesleyan School in Norcross and has earned all-state honors in each of the last three years. A Street & Smith's honorable mention All-American in 2002 and 2003, Luckhurst was the Class A State Player of the Year as a sophomore and earned first team AA all-state honors in 2003. She was a first team Class A all-state choice following her freshman and sophomore seasons as well. Luckhurst was the Region 8-2A Player of the Year as a junior and is already Wesleyan's all-time leader with 1,765 career points. She was ranked by All-Star Girls Report as the No. 47 player at her position this year.
"Nikki is a great competitor who knows how to win and has won at every level of basketball," Stockton said. "She's an excellent long-range shooter who comes from an athletic family. She's a very fundamentally sound player."
The Green Wave also added 5-10 guard Khadrereil Ferguson of Jackson High School in Jackson, La. to its guard line-up. Ferguson is a three-time first team All-District 7-2A choice who was an honorable mention all-state choice following her junior season. As a junior, she averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists per game.
"Khadrereil has a great upside," Stockton said. "She's a hard worker who has the potential to be a great player. She is an athletic, drive-to-the-basket type of player whose strengths right now are on offense, but she is certainly athletic enough to develop into a great defender."
Jennifer Sands, a 6-0 swing player out of Lincoln High School in Dallas completes the Green Wave's 2004-05 recruiting class. A three-time All-District and All-Region pick, Sands has played on the Class 5A state runner-up team in each of her first three seasons of high school. Her Lincoln High team is ranked No. 1 in the state entering the 2003-04 season. Sands is the No. 17-ranked player in Texas according to Texas Roundball Magazine, while the All-Star Girl's Report rates her as the number 36 player in the nation at her position.
"Jennifer has the ability to play the three or the four, although we recruited her as a wing player," Stockton said. "She has a great court sense and a tremendous ability to score. She's very versatile, a good shooter and can score in many different ways."
The Green Wave, which will play its second and final exhibition game of the year Sunday at 2 p.m. versus Xavier at Fogelman Arena, is replacing a trio of seniors from its 2003-04 roster. Stockton and her staff signed four freshmen this year. The regular season gets underway on Friday, Nov. 21 with a game at UL-Monroe while the home opener tips off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25th versus Oregon State. Season tickets are on sale through the Green Wave Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Center or by calling 504-861-WAVE.
-- THINK GREEN! --
