Iota trio inks with LSUE
IOTA – When it comes to recruiting, the hours and miles logged can add up quickly.
Fortunately for LSUE Lady Bengals’ coach Michael Bari, he didn’t have to travel far to ink three of his top recruits for 2008.
Wednesday, Bari was in Iota with a number of Lady Bulldog friends and family to witness senior starters Angel Simar, Candace LaCombe and Lindsey Miller sign national letters of intent to play for the Lady Bengals in the fall.
“Having them in your backyard was awfully convenient,” said Bari, “We got a chance to see them play a lot more than if we were a couple of hours away.
“They are great kids from great families, they’re good academically and they are solid basketball players. They know how to win, obviously, and to be able to get three of them is great.”
Winning is something that the trio has definitely grown accustomed to.
During their four years at Iota High School, the Lady Dogs compiled a mind-boggling record of 144-13, went undefeated in 2007 with a 43-0 record, advanced to the Ladies’ Top 28 four times and won back-to-back state titles the last two years.
“These girls have helped Iota reach national recognition,” said Iota coach Stan Baggett, whose team was ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation in 2007. “It has been such a joy and honor to have coached them and this is a great group of kids. I’m going to miss them a lot.
“What’s unbelievable is that a school of our size has five starters that are going on to play college basketball.”
All three of the girls played a key role in Iota’s success during their careers and that’s something Bari hopes will continue in Eunice.
“They each have that specific thing that they do on the floor that can help us so we’re excited to have them,” said Bari.
All three of the signess are equally excited about their decision to attend LSUE.
“I’m very happy that I made the decision to go to LSUE,” said LaCombe, who averaged 9.1 points and 7.2 rebounds while dropping 47 three-pointers her senior year. “I get to go with two of my teammates that I know very well so I’m very excited about that. We have a very close bound between us three so the transition will be a little easier.”
Miller, who transferred from Notre Dame after her sophomore season, averaged 10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds during her senior campaign. She also drained 74 three-pointers.
“I think that this is a great opportunity and I’m very excited about being able to play for two more years,” said Miller. “It’s one thing to get the opportunity to play by yourself but when you get to go play with two you already know and are comfortable with, it helps a lot. It will help us be better in everything we do, including waking up and going to practice because we will be living together. We’ll become even closer and that’s a great thing.”
Simar, a senior center, started for three years at Iota, averaging 6.3 points and 8.1 rebounds this year.
“I’m looking forward to playing for LSUE with two of my teammates,” said Simar. “I really like the coach and the girls that are coming back are really nice. I think if we work hard, we can really do something special there.”
The trio will also have the opportunity to make an immediate impact next year. The Lady Bengals return just four players from last year’s squad which fell one game short of making it to the national tournament.
“We are going to be a younger than normal team next year so these kids will have a chance to play a lot,” said Bari.