5-Star Guard Picks LSU

LSU may have elevated itself among the top 20 recruiting classes of 2007 by signing five-star guard Tyra White of Kansas City, Mo.

STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON

With most of the top prospects going to the perennially elite programs, this recruiting season has seemed very much the superpower dance. On the other hand, it didn't seem to be much of a party without LSU dipping into the riches as well.

Tyra White

That changed at virtually the last possible moment, when Tyra White of Kansas City, Mo., became the final HoopGurlz.com five-star prospect in the 2007 class to sign, doing so with LSU on Wednesday, the last day of the fall signing period.

White, the No. 17 overall prospect in the HoopGurlz National Hot 100, chose LSU over Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas Tech.

The 6-foot guard was expected to announce a choice earlier, but she added a late trip to Texas Tech, then wrestled with staying closer to home, with Kansas the likely benefactor, according to sources familiar with her recruitment.

The signing likely will land coach Pokey Chatman's recruiting class among the nation's leaders. She previously signed two other superb guards - LaTear Eason of Chicago, Ill., and Katherine Graham of Birmingham, Ala. Eason is ranked 52nd in the HoopGurlz Hot 100.

White averaged 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game last season as a junior at Hickman Hills High School. She was Metro Player of the Year last season, as well as a two-time All-Metro and All-State selection. Hickman Mills has compiled a 62-18 overall record and won three straight conference titles during White's career at the school.

Tyra White

One of the more explosive players in her class, White is an extremely creative scorer, who is adept at creating shots off the dribble, by either going past defenders to attack the rim or for pull-up jump shots. She is quick, athletic and strong, attributes which help her finish inside and make her a force at the defensive end. White also reacts well to defensive overplays, has good court vision and the ability to deliver the ball to teammates.

White's signing makes a whooping 98 committed members of the HoopGurlz Hot 100 for the 2007 class. The only two unsigned prospects - No. 57 Chimere Jordan of Gray, Ga., and No. 91 Megan Jackson of Manchester, N.H., - have been expected all along to commit by the spring signing period, April 11 through May 16, 2007.

Tennessee, with the Nos. 2, 5, 12 and 38 prospects, preliminarily is the No. 1 signing class in 2007. LSU is one of 22 schools to sign at least two Hot 100 prospects and one of just 16 to sign a five-star prospect.

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