Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders sign Destinee Hooks
April 23, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech Lady Raiders have signed Destinee Hooks out of New Mexico announced by head coach Krista Gerlich on Friday.
"Destinee is one of the most underrated, prolific scoring guards in the portal," Gerlich said. "We have seen it firsthand two years in a row. She is a three-level scorer who loves to take the big shot. She has the athletic ability and physical stature to guard multiple positions while possessing that dog-mentality that we were looking for when constructing this roster. She is a great fit for Lady Raider basketball and she's ready to showcase her talents on the P4 level. I can't wait to coach Destinee."Â
Hooks spent her sophomore and junior seasons at New Mexico, while playing her freshman season at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Ind. In her past two years with the Lobos, Hooks went 344-for-805 from the field (.427) while shooting 87-for-277 from behind the arc (.314). She's has recorded 908 points, 87 threes, 233 rebounds, 90 assists and 57 steals.
As a junior in 2025-26, Hooks started in 31 games and appeared in all 32 contests for New Mexico. She led the team in points per game (13.4), points (428), free throws (70), threes (44) and field goals (157). Hooks shot 40.1 percent from the field (157-for-392) and added 105 rebounds, 32 assists and 29 steals on the year. The Indiana native helped the Lobos to a 21-11 record and a 14-6 Mountain West record to finish tied for fourth in the league.
She aided the Lobos to a quarterfinal appearance in the conference tournament where she led the way with a career-best of 29 points on 12-for-21 shooting from the field (.571). Against Texas Tech on Nov. 23, 2025, Hooks put up 24 points on 55.6 percent shooting (10-for-18) to lead the Lobos. Hooks recorded 25 double-digit scoring games, with five of those being 20-plus point outings. Hooks was named as one of 10 players to the All-Mountain West Team just a season after earning a nod as a Mountain West Honorable Mention selection.
As a sophomore in 2024-25, Hooks was second on the team with 15.0 points per game. She started in 31 games and appeared in 32, while going 187-for-413 from the field (.453). She added 43 threes, 128 rebounds, 58 assists and 28 steals. Hooks and the Lobos once again played the Lady Raiders as Hooks would lead her team with what was then a career-high of 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field (.611). She also added 26 double-digit scoring games, six 20-plus scoring games and two double-doubles on the year.
Hooks began her college career at Vincennes University, where she earned many accolades her freshman season. After overcoming an early-season injury, Hooks went on to lead the team with 21.1 points per game, which ranked sixth in the nation. She also averaged 6.5 rebounds per game, 5.0 assists per game and 2.9 steals per game, ranking 17th and 28th nationally in the last two categories. In addition, she shot 44.8 percent from the field (171-for-382). Hooks recorded double-digit scoring in 19 of her 21 games played, while adding seven games with 20-plus points, three games with 30-plus points and four double-doubles.
Named the 2024 Region 24 Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and a Second Team NJCAA All-American, Hooks posted her best performance against John A. Logan College with 37 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals. Hooks aided the Trailblazers to a 16-5 record in her 21 games played and to a 2-seed in the Region 24 Tournament where they reached the Region Championship game for the second-straight season.
