Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raider Basketball Signs Four to National Letters of Intent
November 10, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's basketball team has signed four standout high school basketball players to National Letters of Intent today. Krystal Cole (Brock, Texas), Darchelle "Teddy" Griffin (Seagraves, Texas), LaVonda Henderson (Lubbock, Texas) and Dominic Seals (Dallas, Texas) will attend Texas Tech University in the fall of 2005.
"We are excited to have this class as they all come out of strong high school programs in the state of Texas," said head coach Marsha Sharp. "They've all had success at the high school level, won a lot of games and there is no substitute for knowing how to win and I think they all bring that. I've watched them in high school and in AAU basketball in the summer for several years and have been really impressed with their work ethic and their talent. I'm excited to make them part of our program."
Cole, a 5-9 guard, averaged 18.4 points and 7.7 rebounds as a junior at Brock High School. She was a first team all-state selection, while helping Brock High to the Class 2A regional finals in 2004. Cole was also district Co-MVP as a junior. As a sophomore, she helped lead her team to the Class 2A state championship title and was named to the state tournament all-tournament team. Cole was second team all-state and district Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. In 2002, her team was the Class 1A state champions and the Class 1A Texas Cup champions, while she was named second team all-state, district Newcomer of the Year and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Newcomer of the Year. Cole is ranked as the 34th-best wing player in the country by the All-Star Girls Report.
"Krystal is a hard working, hard nosed player who strikes me as a person who does all the hard things," Sharp stated. "She is a blue-collar worker who will take a charge when we need a charge, gets the big rebound, makes the shot, shoots it well from the three-point line as well as off the move. She has known about our program for a long time. Her cousin Elesha Walker played in our program. Krystal has been somewhat a part of Lady Raider basketball since she was about seven years old."
Seagraves High School standout Griffin will be joining her older sister, Darrice, on the Lady Raider team next year. Griffin, a 5-11 guard, was second team all-state, first team all-region, first team all-district and first team All-South Plains as a junior. She averaged 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds last season. In 2003, Griffin was selected first team all-district, second team all-region and second team All-South Plains. As a freshman, her honors included second team all-region and second team All-South Plains. Griffin was a 2003 and 2004 adidas All-American. She was also state champion in the 100m hurdles as a junior. Griffin is the daughter of former Lady Raider Tami Wilson (1990-92). She is the 35th-ranked wing player in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report.
"Teddy has been a part of Lady Raider basketball since she was born," Sharp said. "I've watched her grow up from when her mom was in our program to now. She is a terrific athlete. I think she is one of the best athletes who play the perimeter position in this class. She really shoots the ball well and has a lot of up side. I think she will be a terrific college player."
Staying right at home is Lubbock Estacado High product Henderson. The 5-7 guard was second team all-state as a junior, while being named first team all-region, first team all-district and first team all-area and all-city by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Henderson averaged 20.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists during her junior year. She was a Nike All-American as well as a BCI All-American. The three-time Estacado MVP was Co-MVP of the district as a sophomore and was MVP of several tournaments. Henderson was chosen first team all-region and second team all-state in 2003. She is ranked in the top 100 by the Women's Basketball News Service.
"LaVonda is one of the most athletic point guards in the country," said Sharp. "She may be the best leaper of any point guard that I saw all summer. She shoots the ball well, has great mentality for a point guard and has a great work ethic. She has watched us play a lot of games and understands Lady Raider basketball. I think she will make an immediate contribution at our point guard position.
Rounding out the 2004 recruiting class is Dallas Lincoln standout Seals. The 6-3 center averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as a junior. Seals was selected second team all-district as a junior and is a Dallas Morning News preseason Top 10 All-Area this year. She is ranked in the top 25 by Texas Round Ball and is the No. 22 post player in the country by the All-Star Girls Report. Seals is ranked the 65th-best player in the country by the All-Star Girls Report.
"Dominic has as much up side as anybody in the country at the five position," stated Sharp. "She is one of those post players who runs the floor well, can get up in the rim, can guard you and certainly has an arsenal on the offensive end. She comes out of a program in Dallas that has won a lot of basketball games and has played at a certain level during the season and in the summer that gives her a chance to be a special college player.
