Aug. 8, 2008

NACOGDOCHES - Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head basketball coach Lee Ann Riley, and her coaching staff, brought in a huge signing class for the upcoming season. The newcomers, who consist of guards Courtney Conwright, Tammara Marion and Cambria Smith, forward Schera Sampson and post player Amina Sawyer, got a jump start on their academic career this summer. The group has spent the second summer session on the SFA campus taking six credit hours.

"The SFA coaching staff was in favor of us taking summer classes," said Smith. "They said it would help us adjust to (the upcoming fall semester), as well as giving us an opportunity to work on our time management skills."

"The fall may not seem quite as tough. Being here has giving us an opportunity to get familiar with the campus and community, and now we know what our professors expect from us," added Marion.

Despite being on campus for only a short time, the SFA rookies have already noticed a big difference in the life of a high school athlete compared to a collegiate freshman. That understanding could help each one become not only a better student, but may also help them on the court as well.

"There are some similarities to high school," said Conwright. "But the biggest thing that I noticed is you have more responsibility. You don't have your parents there checking to make sure your taking care of your classes. It is up to you to find the motivation to work harder, and study harder."

"At college punctuality is everything. You have to be to class on time, and the same thing applies to what we do on the court in terms of being on time for workouts," added Sampson.

The summer school experience has also given the future stars of Ladyjack basketball an excitement about the coming academic year. Whether its looking forward to stepping on the court, or adding to the program's rich history, all five are ready to be a part of the Nacogdoches community.

"The coaching staff told us about the tradition of the program," said Samson. "If you're a Ladyjack, you're expected to win the conference and advance to the NCAA Championships. I want to be a part of that. I want to experience winning a conference title, and being able to put on a championship ring."

"I'm really looking forward to being a part of this team. I can't wait to travel to the different cities, and see the schools that we will be playing. I'm also looking forward to having the opportunity to play for a ring."

The summer school session has come to a close for the Ladyjacks' five freshmen. They will now have a couple weeks of summer remaining to go home and rest before returning to Nacogdoches to open a new chapter in their lives. A chapter that will begin later this month, but one they hope will end with at least one Southland Conference Championship ring.

-SFA-