Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Basketball Adds Six During Fall Signing Period
November 13, 2008 | Cowgirl Basketball
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State's women's basketball team has signed six players to National Letters of Intent it was announced today by head coach Kurt Budke.
OSU's fall class is comprised of six high school products as Keuna Flax, Heather Howard, Desiree Jeffries, Lindsey Keller, LaSharra Riley and Toni Young all cast their lot with the Cowgirls and will join the program for the 2009-2010 season.
“We needed to add size to our program and we feel we have accomplished that with this class,” Budke said. “We have a different mix of size. We added power, athleticism and a shooter.”
“We are pleased with this class and feel if they stick together, they can have a lot of success.”
A 5-9 guard from Haltom City, Texas, Flax earned all-state honors as a junior after averaging 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Flax was also named the district's most valuable player last season after being named its offensive MVP as a sophomore and its top newcomer as a freshman at Haltom High School.
“You can label Keuna as a scorer. Every time you look up, she is in the 20s. She can score from different places and she is going to remind people a lot of Danielle Green,” Budke said.
Howard, a 6-3 forward from Lenexa, Kan., averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game for Shawnee Mission West on her way to all-state honors a year ago. As a junior, she also helped the Vikings to a 16-7 record and a berth in the 6A state tournament. Howard was ranked among the nation's top 100 players by the All-Star Girls Report, checking in at No. 87.
“Heather has the ability to play the 3 or the 4. She intrigued us with her size and ability to step out and shoot the three. She is a very smart player,” Budke said.
A 6-2 forward/center prospect, Keller hails from Goddard, Kansas. She was an all-class selection by both the Wichita Eagle and the Topeka Capital-Journal as a junior after averaging 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while leading the Lions to the Class 6A state championship game. Keller was also named to the all-state tournament team after guiding Goddard's volleyball team to a third-place finish this fall.
“Lindsey is a powerful player that will remind people of Maria Cordero. She can post up hard and she can also shoot the three,” Budke said.
Jeffries, a 5-11 guard from Del City, Okla., averaged 15.2 points per game while helping the Eagles earn their third consecutive state tournament berth last season. The daughter of former Cowboy basketball standout Royce Jeffries, she was an all-city selection as a junior and enters her senior season with career averages of 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
“Desiree is a great athlete that can become a defensive stopper and can play the 1, 2 or 3. Having a player that can guard three positions is valuable to any program,” Budke said.
A native of Topeka, Kan., Riley earned all-state honors last season after averaging 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest for Washburn Rural High School. Riley was also chosen as the Centennial League Player of the Year after helping the Junior Blues to a 13-0 conference record.
“LaSharra is a powerful, athletic player. I feel she can average 10 rebounds a game for us in the Big 12,” Budke said.
The sixth member of OSU's class is Jeffries' Del City teammate, Toni Young, a 6-2 forward. Young averaged 12.6 points per game last season and has been a part of the Eagles' three state tournament teams. Young is currently listed No. 93 in the ESPNU HoopGurlz top 100 national ranking.
“Toni is a tremendous athlete with an unbelievable up side. Playing in the Big 12 South, you need athleticism that can play the 3 or the 4 and she fits our system,” Budke said.
Oklahoma State Women's Basketball Signees
Keuna Flax, 5-9, G, Haltom City, Texas (Haltom)
Heather Howard, 6-3, F, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (Shawnee Mission West)
Desiree Jeffries, 5-11, G, Del City, Okla. (Del City)
Lindsey Keller, 6-2, F/C, Goddard, Kan. (Goddard)
LaSharra Riley, 6-1, F/C, Topeka, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
Toni Young, 6-2, F, Del City, Okla. (Del City)
OSU's fall class is comprised of six high school products as Keuna Flax, Heather Howard, Desiree Jeffries, Lindsey Keller, LaSharra Riley and Toni Young all cast their lot with the Cowgirls and will join the program for the 2009-2010 season.
“We needed to add size to our program and we feel we have accomplished that with this class,” Budke said. “We have a different mix of size. We added power, athleticism and a shooter.”
“We are pleased with this class and feel if they stick together, they can have a lot of success.”
A 5-9 guard from Haltom City, Texas, Flax earned all-state honors as a junior after averaging 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Flax was also named the district's most valuable player last season after being named its offensive MVP as a sophomore and its top newcomer as a freshman at Haltom High School.
“You can label Keuna as a scorer. Every time you look up, she is in the 20s. She can score from different places and she is going to remind people a lot of Danielle Green,” Budke said.
Howard, a 6-3 forward from Lenexa, Kan., averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game for Shawnee Mission West on her way to all-state honors a year ago. As a junior, she also helped the Vikings to a 16-7 record and a berth in the 6A state tournament. Howard was ranked among the nation's top 100 players by the All-Star Girls Report, checking in at No. 87.
“Heather has the ability to play the 3 or the 4. She intrigued us with her size and ability to step out and shoot the three. She is a very smart player,” Budke said.
A 6-2 forward/center prospect, Keller hails from Goddard, Kansas. She was an all-class selection by both the Wichita Eagle and the Topeka Capital-Journal as a junior after averaging 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while leading the Lions to the Class 6A state championship game. Keller was also named to the all-state tournament team after guiding Goddard's volleyball team to a third-place finish this fall.
“Lindsey is a powerful player that will remind people of Maria Cordero. She can post up hard and she can also shoot the three,” Budke said.
Jeffries, a 5-11 guard from Del City, Okla., averaged 15.2 points per game while helping the Eagles earn their third consecutive state tournament berth last season. The daughter of former Cowboy basketball standout Royce Jeffries, she was an all-city selection as a junior and enters her senior season with career averages of 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
“Desiree is a great athlete that can become a defensive stopper and can play the 1, 2 or 3. Having a player that can guard three positions is valuable to any program,” Budke said.
A native of Topeka, Kan., Riley earned all-state honors last season after averaging 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest for Washburn Rural High School. Riley was also chosen as the Centennial League Player of the Year after helping the Junior Blues to a 13-0 conference record.
“LaSharra is a powerful, athletic player. I feel she can average 10 rebounds a game for us in the Big 12,” Budke said.
The sixth member of OSU's class is Jeffries' Del City teammate, Toni Young, a 6-2 forward. Young averaged 12.6 points per game last season and has been a part of the Eagles' three state tournament teams. Young is currently listed No. 93 in the ESPNU HoopGurlz top 100 national ranking.
“Toni is a tremendous athlete with an unbelievable up side. Playing in the Big 12 South, you need athleticism that can play the 3 or the 4 and she fits our system,” Budke said.
Oklahoma State Women's Basketball Signees
Keuna Flax, 5-9, G, Haltom City, Texas (Haltom)
Heather Howard, 6-3, F, Shawnee Mission, Kan. (Shawnee Mission West)
Desiree Jeffries, 5-11, G, Del City, Okla. (Del City)
Lindsey Keller, 6-2, F/C, Goddard, Kan. (Goddard)
LaSharra Riley, 6-1, F/C, Topeka, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
Toni Young, 6-2, F, Del City, Okla. (Del City)
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