09-20-2007, 12:59 PM
It's always nice to see a local kid sign with the Bucs.
Tricitiessports.com
Acting on a feeling she'd had for some time, Sullivan South's Natalie Pickwell announced on Tuesday that she would continue her basketball career at East Tennessee State University.
A rising senior, Pickwell visited the Johnson City campus September 6-8 and came away duly impressed.
"I really enjoyed my visit and I'd been thinking about making a commitment for the last few days," said Pickwell.
"I wanted to go ahead and get this behind me so there would be no pressure," added Pickwell. "I wanted to be able to concentrate on basketball and get ready for my senior season."
In her first three seasons with the Lady Rebels, Pickwell has already totaled more than 1000 points. She earned all-conference underclassman recognition as both a freshman and sophomore was named to the All-Big 9 first team as a junior last season.
"She's really meant a lot to our program," said Sullivan South Lady Rebels head coach Josh Tate. "I'm really excited for her and I know that she's glad to get this decision behind her. She's a hard worker and she will definitely contribute to the Lady Bucs program."
Pickwell said she expects to play the two spot as a Lady Buc but is versatile enough to play the three if needed.
"I haven't really talked too much with Coach Kemp about playing time or position," said Pickwell. "I know they have an up and coming program and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Pickwell said she had been pretty sure she was headed to ETSU for some time and after speaking with coaches and mentors on Tuesday afternoon, called ETSU's Kemp with the good news.
"She told me that the coaching staff was planning on calling me later today [Tuesday] to see where I stood," explained Pickwell. "She [Kemp] was really excited when I told her I wanted to play my college basketball at East Tennessee State."
The Lady Bucs finished runner-up in the 2007 Atlantic Sun Tournament and received a WNIT bid. This season, ETSU will open the season in the preseason WNIT at Western Kentucky. The Lady Bucs have a trip to Hawaii tentatively scheduled for 2008-09, Pickwell's freshman season.
Pickwell intends to study interior design while at ETSU.
"That's something I've known I wanted to do for a long time," explained Pickwell. "When I was on my visit, I stopped by the interior design college. They have a good program and that helped reinforce what I was thinking."
Pickwell had considered a visit to Austin-Peay later this month, but the chance to play so close home was also hard to pass up.
She'll also reunite in Johnson City with former volleyball teammate, Whitney Cogburn, a freshman this season on the Lady Bucs volleyball squad.
Pickwell's current teammate, Samantha Williams has also visited ETSU and could make it a trio of Lady Rebels with the Lady Bucs.
"I know she's got some more visits to take," said Pickwell of her friend Williams, who's also being courted by Elon and Georgia Southern. Members of the GSU staff are expected in two on Wednesday for an in-home visit.
"It'll be interesting to see what she does, but I hope she decides to come to ETSU, too."
Pickwell said she would sign during the early signing period in November at a ceremony at South. She'll also be honored that month for scoring the 1000th point of her career in last year's district tournament
Tricitiessports.com
Acting on a feeling she'd had for some time, Sullivan South's Natalie Pickwell announced on Tuesday that she would continue her basketball career at East Tennessee State University.
A rising senior, Pickwell visited the Johnson City campus September 6-8 and came away duly impressed.
"I really enjoyed my visit and I'd been thinking about making a commitment for the last few days," said Pickwell.
"I wanted to go ahead and get this behind me so there would be no pressure," added Pickwell. "I wanted to be able to concentrate on basketball and get ready for my senior season."
In her first three seasons with the Lady Rebels, Pickwell has already totaled more than 1000 points. She earned all-conference underclassman recognition as both a freshman and sophomore was named to the All-Big 9 first team as a junior last season.
"She's really meant a lot to our program," said Sullivan South Lady Rebels head coach Josh Tate. "I'm really excited for her and I know that she's glad to get this decision behind her. She's a hard worker and she will definitely contribute to the Lady Bucs program."
Pickwell said she expects to play the two spot as a Lady Buc but is versatile enough to play the three if needed.
"I haven't really talked too much with Coach Kemp about playing time or position," said Pickwell. "I know they have an up and coming program and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Pickwell said she had been pretty sure she was headed to ETSU for some time and after speaking with coaches and mentors on Tuesday afternoon, called ETSU's Kemp with the good news.
"She told me that the coaching staff was planning on calling me later today [Tuesday] to see where I stood," explained Pickwell. "She [Kemp] was really excited when I told her I wanted to play my college basketball at East Tennessee State."
The Lady Bucs finished runner-up in the 2007 Atlantic Sun Tournament and received a WNIT bid. This season, ETSU will open the season in the preseason WNIT at Western Kentucky. The Lady Bucs have a trip to Hawaii tentatively scheduled for 2008-09, Pickwell's freshman season.
Pickwell intends to study interior design while at ETSU.
"That's something I've known I wanted to do for a long time," explained Pickwell. "When I was on my visit, I stopped by the interior design college. They have a good program and that helped reinforce what I was thinking."
Pickwell had considered a visit to Austin-Peay later this month, but the chance to play so close home was also hard to pass up.
She'll also reunite in Johnson City with former volleyball teammate, Whitney Cogburn, a freshman this season on the Lady Bucs volleyball squad.
Pickwell's current teammate, Samantha Williams has also visited ETSU and could make it a trio of Lady Rebels with the Lady Bucs.
"I know she's got some more visits to take," said Pickwell of her friend Williams, who's also being courted by Elon and Georgia Southern. Members of the GSU staff are expected in two on Wednesday for an in-home visit.
"It'll be interesting to see what she does, but I hope she decides to come to ETSU, too."
Pickwell said she would sign during the early signing period in November at a ceremony at South. She'll also be honored that month for scoring the 1000th point of her career in last year's district tournament